Honeybees are essential pollinators for crops like apples, blueberries, cherries, melons, almonds and broccoli. In the United States, they contribute an estimated $20 billion in crop pollination each year. But over the past 50 years, the number of managed honeybee colonies has declined significantly — far below what’s needed to meet national pollination demands.
In Oregon, honeybee colonies face increasing threats from pests, diseases and pesticide exposure. According to the Oregon Bee Project, colony survival rates have dropped while beekeepers' input and labor costs have risen. Honeybees are vulnerable to some pesticides used in agriculture, forestry and landscaping.
The lab’s applied research helps Oregon’s beekeepers and farmers protect pollinators while supporting healthy crops and a sustainable food system.
Researchers with Oregon State University Extension Service and the Agricultural Experiment Station are working to address these challenges. Led by Ramesh Sagili, professor of apiculture and honeybee Extension specialist, the OSU Honey Bee Lab focuses on honeybee health, nutrition and pollination.
The lab maintains more than 100 colonies across four research apiaries, totaling around 4 million honeybees. Most of the lab’s work is conducted in partnership with beekeepers and growers. Research findings and practical guidance from the lab are estimated to save Oregon beekeepers about $5 million annually in reduced colony losses and lower costs for medications and hive maintenance.
The lab is a national leader in honeybee nutrition research. Projects have examined the bees’ need for specific micronutrients, such as phytosterols, the nutritional composition of pollen, and the availability of forage during pollination. This work helps beekeepers provide more complete nutrition to support healthy hives.
Another major focus is controlling Varroa mites, external parasites that are one of the most damaging threats to honeybee colonies. The lab studies mite biology, tracks mite populations in hives and tests treatment options. Extension staff also support beekeepers by sampling hives and sharing timely data on mite levels.
To reduce the risk of pesticide exposure, the lab works with farmers to evaluate the toxicity of commonly used chemicals. Researchers study how exposure affects bees at different life stages and how residues vary across landscapes. This work has helped inform safer pesticide practices and recommendations.
Research from the lab directly contributed to the 2016 update of OSU Extension’s widely used guide, How to Reduce Bee Poisoning from Pesticides, which now includes a mobile app. Other Extension content developed by the lab include Sampling for Varroa mites and Honey Bee Colony Maintenance Expenses: Supplemental Feed, Requeening and Medication.
The lab’s applied research helps Oregon’s beekeepers and farmers protect pollinators while supporting healthy crops and a sustainable food system.