A new study shows the value of honey bees, estimating their contribution to the US economy at $15 billion. More than 90 crops benefit from honey bees aside from profitable products and by-products. Between 2020 and 2021, beekeepers lost about 45% of their managed honey bee colonies and they remain threatened by a loss of habitat, disease, herbicides, pesticides, and natural predators. Stacker compiled statistics on honey bee populations in West Virginia, showing so far in 2022, colonies are down by 22% across the state. Some colonies have been added and the hope is the population continues to rebound.