Honey Bees are Essential!

At the Federation of American Scientists Data Policy Institute launch, attendees were invited to dress in costumes inspired by our favorite federal datasets. I chose to honor a trio of surveys from USDA on Honey, Honey Bee Colonies, and the Cost of Pollination. As a hobbyist beekeeper, I appreciate the survey data and the research they feed at places like the Bee Lab at BARC, to help understand and address problems faced by honey bees and beekeepers. As someone who eats food, I appreciate how the data and research support our food security!

The National Agricultural Statistics Service Honey survey tracks how much honey is harvested, how many colonies are producing it, and at what price. Quarterly Honey Bee Colonies data reveal when bee colonies are failing. Cost of Pollination data show what's at stake: 1.67 million acres of crops annually.