Winter 2025 into Spring 2026: A Beekeeper’s Report

A Season of Extremes

Last year was a weather anomaly. An unusually warm spring triggered early wildflower blooms, allowing bees to forage nearly a month ahead of schedule. The surge of pollen and nectar pushed queens into overdrive with some laying up to 2,500 eggs per day. By late spring, certain hives were producing as much as ten pounds of honey daily. We couldn’t add supers fast enough. Swarm activity followed suit. By early spring, we had already captured six swarms, with fifteen total by May. We eventually ran out of space to place them across our three small apiaries.

That abundance carried into the season. We typically sell out of Smoky Mountain Wildflower honey by Christmas, but demand surged by roughly a third with an influx of new customers. Even so, we fulfilled all holiday orders and continued shipping into the New Year.

Spring 2026: A Harsh Shift

This year tells a very different story. Mother Nature has been less kind this spring. Not only has it been exceptionally cold (38° several nights ago), but we are in a severe drought. Spring of 2026 is already delayed and without substantial rain, what limited flora emerges will be equally limited in nectar. Everything now hinges on how the weather unfolds in the coming weeks.

Winter Survival: A Measured Win

Despite the conditions, we lost just six of 48 wintered hives. I'll take this as a win. It's within the typical 10–20% livestock loss rate for bees. The good news is that most of the remaining colonies are busting out with bees. This wasn’t luck. Careful weather monitoring and early supplemental feeding beginning in late November played a critical role. Unseasonably warm temperatures in the 70s last Thanksgiving sent bees flying in search of nonexistent nectar. Bees that fly in winter rarely survive. Recognizing they were depleting their stores, I added probiotic fondant to sustain the colonies.

Then came January and February, bringing prolonged single-digit temperatures, with some nights dropping to 3°F. In these conditions, bees cluster tightly for warmth. Even when honey sits less than an inch away, they'll starve if they’re unable to break cluster to reach it. Years of beekeeping in the Midwest taught me the importance of proper wintering. Between aggressive mite management and insulation methods like bee cozies and green-boarding, our hives retained enough heat to survive and occasionally access their stores. On warmer days, I supplemented again with fondant whenever possible.

Building Forward: New Apiaries

This month, we consolidated operations, breaking down one outyard and relocating those hives into our home apiary. We also established a new apiary (above photo) deep within the Pisgah Forest, stocked with nine nucs. Each nuc contains a young, mated queen, developing brood, and house bees. With favorable conditions, these colonies should build strength and produce sourwood honey this fall. For sustainability, we’ll allow them to retain their mineral-rich wildflower honey for winter stores.

A Growing National Concern

While our operation fared relatively well, the broader outlook is troubling.

Reports from across the United States indicate another bad year for beekeepers, but not as bad as 2024/2025. Commercial operations are reporting average losses around 25%, with some regions approaching higher numbers. The primary driver appears to be resistance in the Varroa destructor mite. These mites are adapting to widely used treatments, particularly Amitraz, making them increasingly difficult to control.

Compounding the issue is chemical exposure. Fungicides, pesticides, and organo-silicone surfactants applied to crops like almonds and fruit trees weaken colonies, leaving them more vulnerable to disease transmitted by Varroa.

Globally, the trend continues. In parts of the UK, excessive rainfall prevented cleansing flights, leading to similarly devastating losses.

Why You Should Care

The implications extend far beyond the hive. Honey bees support more than $18 billion in annual U.S. agriculture, pollinating crops like almonds, blueberries, and vegetables. Losses at scale pose a real threat to food production and economic stability.

Looking Ahead

For now, everything depends on the weather for WNC. A well-timed stretch of rain and moderate temperatures could still turn spring around. Until then, we watch, we adapt, and we do everything possible to support the hive girls.

—The Beekeeper