Final report for FNE24-080
Project Information
Honey bee colony losses were regularly at unsustainable levels in PA and nationally. Winter remains the most vulnerable time for colonies, when floral resources are not available and temperatures fluctuated, so indoor storage in temperature/humidity-controlled units greatly benefited beekeepers. Placement of bees into these units shielded colonies from temperature fluctuations. In addition, placement of colonies into units early in fall prevented the stress of being robbed of food by robbers and pests like yellow jackets. Bees were moved into overwintering storage units around October 15 for the winter, building on prior work (SARE Grant FNE23-050) were colonies moved into storage in mid-November. In addition, the units were used during the warm months to control equipment pests, including wax moths and small hive beetles, as well as for housing package bees during hot weather, freezing honey supers for extraction, and protecting equipment from wildlife preparing for winter. This made the units more economically valuable. In an effort to teach beekeepers about the utility of cold storage in beekeeping, a fact sheet was created and published through Penn State Extension, where it was available online for no cost. In addition, each participant held an on-farm demonstration and open house to showcase the usefulness of the cold storage units, including presentations and Q&A sessions for regional beekeepers and the public.
Developing Climate-Controlled Storage techniques of honey Bee Colonies utilizing resilient Agriculture concepts to establish practices that will help Pennsylvania Beekeepers transition to more sustainable management tactics.
We will build on the research and findings discovered through research and data collected from SARE Grant FNE23-050. That funding has highlighted areas where additional research and study is warranted in evaluating the benefits of using cold storage techniques at the four already established locations across Pennsylvania. This multifaceted project aims to strengthen Pennsylvania's beekeeping and advance sustainable practices.
- We will replicate portions of FNE23-050, but with an earlier storage date to shield bees from robbers and other pests.
- We will assess the effectiveness of the cold storage to safeguard hive equipment from pests and the usefulness of the unit in spring and summer.
- We will create a fact sheet about the use of cold storage for beekeeping in PA to empower beekeepers with greater control over their operations, offering valuable insights and guidance.
- We will host on-farm demonstrations, showcasing the benefits and small-scale viability of cold storage for beekeeping.
Beekeepers in Pennsylvania face a critical challenge marked by overwintering colony losses that consistently surpass 40%. Survey efforts show that, nationally, 28% of colonies die each winter, on average (Bruckner et al. 2023). Mortality during the summer is also significant, with 18-32% mortality reported in a recent article (Bruckner et al. 2023). This alarming trend raises significant concerns about the long-term economic viability and sustainability of beekeeping. Many factors are at play here. One crucial factor is the unpredictable weather that has come to be the new normal. Fluctuating temperatures are stressful for honey bees, who struggle to maintain consistent nest temperatures, and for the flowers on which bees depend for food. These fluctuations are especially stressful during the colder months of the year. For example, Becsi et al (2021) showed that 20% of the fluctuation in winter mortality can be attributed to weather conditions. One progressive approach to mitigating the impacts of temperature fluctuations is the utilization of climate-controlled storage for honey bee colonies. The adoption of climate-controlled storage holds great promise as it offers multifaceted benefits, encompassing improved colony health and survival, novel means of pest control, and, subsequently, increased economic viability of beekeeping (Hopkins et al. 2020).
The temperature fluctuations during the period from mid-October through mid-December create favorable conditions for a behavior known as robbing among honey bees and by yellow jackets. During this time, opportunistic insects attempt to pilfer honey reserves from weaker honey bee colonies. Robbing opens avenues for the transfer of parasitic varroa mites, pathogens, and various diseases between colonies, exacerbating health challenges in already stressed bee populations. Managing and mitigating the impact of robbing incidents is essential to safeguarding the overall well-being of honey bee colonies in Pennsylvania. As a case in point, during the fall of 2023, beekeepers in PA have described feeding their colonies gallons of thick sugar syrup in an attempt to bolster winter reserves only to find that, when hives were weighed after feeding, instead of being heavier, they were lighter. A combination of robbing by yellow jackets that were not halted by frost and a dearth of the usual fall sources of floral nectar conspired to cause this issue. Beekeepers are now scrambling to provide carbohydrate reserves for the winter, at great expense in terms of labor and resources. If these colonies had been moved into cold storage in early October, we believe they could have avoided robbing by yellow jackets and would have shut down brood production, allowing for improved food storage. We intend to test this with the funds for this project.
Climate-controlled storage for honey bees presents a versatile solution that can be readily integrated into beekeeping operations of varying sizes. Not only can bringing bees into cold storage mitigate robbing issues in the fall, but the temperature and humidity-controlled units can be used year-round for various beekeeping activities. During this project, we will investigate the uses of cold storage units not only for overwintering full-size colonies, but also as a means of overwintering mated queens. Mated queens are hard to come by when they are most needed - in April and May. This results in the importation of queens from southern states. If, instead, queens can be overwintered in groups, called banks, they will be ready for sale in April/May, providing northern queens for northern beekeepers. We intend to overwinter banks of mated queens to investigate their survival and health. Cold storage units can also be used by beekeepers to warm or chill beekeeping equipment, depending on the need. We will use the units to heat honey prior to extraction, for ease of processing. We will also cool boxes of honey to kill pests, such as wax moths and small hive beetles, and to preserve the honey as the beekeeper prepares to extract it. These units will be a great benefit in these situations, making the units economically valuable.
This technology holds immense potential for the future of beekeeping. As the challenges posed by shifting weather patterns persist, the adoption of climate-controlled storage stands as a promising strategy to bolster the resilience and sustainability of beekeeping in the mid-Atlantic region.
I am a commercial sideliner beekeeper and the owner of Gingrich Apiaries, LLC, located in Dover, PA. I manage over 350 honey bee colonies focused on pollination services, honey production, and queen rearing. Our operation produces an average of 300 mated queens annually, which are sold to customers across the United States. Our honey is sold locally near our home base in Dover, PA as well as in other regional markets where we maintain bees. For this project, we dedicated a number of colonies specifically to testing and demonstrating climate-controlled storage techniques, and we utilized the refrigeration unit acquired through our previous SARE Grant FNE23-050 to support the research without additional funding needs.
Cooperators
- (Researcher)
- (Educator)
- - Technical Advisor
Research
METHODS
This work was performed at four locations in Pennsylvania, USA. Three locations were used for overwintering honey bee colonies and all four units were used for temperature-controlled storage of honey and equipment. We rented cold storage units from March 2024 through June 2025. We collected data about honey bee colony health, effectiveness of cold storage in controlling pests, and the economic viability of cold storage units for small-scale beekeepers.
- We replicated portions of FNE23-050 but with an earlier storage date to shield bees from robbers and other pests.
Fifty honey bee colonies in each location (total = 200 colonies) were managed for pollination and honey production throughout the 2024 beekeeping season. In late August, parasitic mite treatments were applied and colonies were fed to a target weight for overwintering. Four gallons of feed contained Fumidil-B for prevention of nosema disease. Around October 15, 28 colonies were moved into each of three cold storage units (hivetechsolutions.com) for the winter, where they remained until warm weather returned in March, when they werereturned to their outdoor apiaries. 16 colonies remained outdoors at each location for the winter for comparison. Within one week before moving in and after moving out of cold storage, colonies were assessed for population size, amount of brood, and parasitic mite levels and hives were weighed to assess food consumption over the winter.
2. We assessed the effectiveness of the cold storage to safeguard hive equipment from pests and the usefulness of the unit in spring and summer.
Package bees, a crucial resource for beekeepers seeking to bolster weak colonies or establish new ones in the spring, are predominantly produced in the southern United States, with Georgia being a primary hub for their production. This economic solution is particularly appealing to beekeepers in need of additional bee populations. Typically, package bees are composed of around 3 pounds of bees, with each pound representing approximately 3,500 bees. These packages also include a newly mated queen, vital for initiating and sustaining new colonies. The distribution of package bees is facilitated by local beekeepers or supply dealers who acquire them in bulk from reputable package producers in the southern regions. In April and May, when package bees are brought to PA from the south to replace colonies that died over the winter, the unit were available to house them as they await customer pickup. Hundreds of packages were temporarily stored in the units and held at 58-60F to avoid the stress of hot or cold weather and theft. This worked well.
In July-September, when boxes of honey are removed from the hives, they were moved into the units. The units provided a safe storage area for boxes of honey. In particular, its freezing ability allowed the beekeepers to postpone extracting, as needed. The the unit was chilled to freezing (32F). This freezing was required to safeguard the honey from pest damage, including wax moths and small hive beetles. After extraction was complete, when the boxes could not be immediately returned to hives where they could be protected by bees, the unit again acted as a freezer to keep the equipment safe from pests.
3-4. See outreach section below.
This project, which builds on the research findings from SARE Grant FNE23-050, went well. Our goal was to develop climate-controlled storage techniques incorporating resilient agriculture concepts to support Pennsylvania beekeepers in transitioning to sustainable management tactics.
We began by replicating aspects of FNE23-050 with an earlier storage date to shield bees from robbers and pests.
Concurrently, we assessed the cold storage units for safeguarding hive equipment against pests while evaluating their performance during both spring and summer. The results demonstrated consistent protection and operational efficiency.
To further empower Pennsylvania beekeepers, we continue working on a comprehensive fact sheet outlining best practices for cold storage use. Additionally, on-farm demonstrations were held during the warmer months, allowing participants to witness firsthand the benefits and small-scale viability of the technology. Each beekeeper participant invited beekeepers in the region to see the units, listen to a short presentation, and ask questions.
In March 2024, overwintered colonies from our previous grant were transitioned from cold storage to outdoor production settings, and the units were thoroughly cleaned. In April and May 2024, the storage units were used for housing package bees arriving during periods of unfavorable hot weather. June 2024 featured an open house hosted by each participant to educate both beekeepers and the public. During July and August 2024, honey supers were removed from production colonies and placed in the units for extraction preparation, utilizing the units for freezing, as needed. In once instance, a beekeeper's equipment was visited by a bear that tore apart the boxes. The equipment was moved into the unit for safe storage away from the bear, which undoubtedly returned, as they usually do. The unit saved the equipment from destruction.
In September 2024, colonies slated for overwintering were consolidated, sampled for mites, weighed, and provided supplemental feed as necessary. Colonies were moved into the units around October 15. From October 2024 through February 2025, continuous monitoring ensured optimal performance of the cold storage units. This successful completion marks a significant advancement in sustainable beekeeping practices across.
A comparison of indoor- and outdoor-wintered colonies showed that 1. colony survival was generally better for indoor-winter colonies, 2. food consumption did not differ between the groups, 3. Adult bee populations were larger coming out of winter when kept indoors, 4. brood production was much greater in the outdoor-wintered colonies than the indoor-wintered colonies immediately after coming out of storage.
Results Table: Colony survival (% of colonies that survived), feed consumption (hive weight loss (lb)), adult bee population (number of frames of bees), and brood area (number of frames of brood), as measured within on week of removal of the hives from the units in spring.
| Indoors | Outdoors | |||||||
| Beekeeper | Survival | Feed consumption | Adult population | Brood area | Survival | Feed consumption | Adult population | Brood area |
| 1 | 92.9 | 45.8 | 10.2 | 1.1 | 100.0 | 35.6 | 10.2 | 2.2 |
| 2 | 85.7 | 16.7 | 4.6 | 0.09 | 62.5 | 20.2 | 3.9 | 0.4 |
| 3 | 82.1 | 38.9 | 11.8 | 0.7 | 81.3 | 37.7 | 8.8 | 2.3 |
We sought to evaluate the benefits of overwintering honey bee colonies in climate-controlled storage at several locations in Pennsylvania, comparing them to colonies overwintered outdoors at each site. We conducted the study by implementing indoor storage and gathering data on key metrics like survival, feed consumption, adult population, and brood area. We met our objective and answered our query, with positive results showing that indoor storage increased colony survivability, lowered winter feed consumption, and resulted in slightly higher adult populations upon removal, though brood area was slightly less initially.
As we adopt and continue this practice in our operation, it will improve farm efficiency by enhancing overall colony health and reducing losses, potentially saving 10-20% on feed costs per colony based on reduced consumption observed, while boosting spring production readiness through larger adult populations, leading to higher honey yields and queen rearing success.
We will continue to implement and utilize cold storage as part of our regular practice and believe that this research will help pave the way for other beekeepers to utilize the concept in their own operation
Education & outreach activities and participation summary
Participation summary:
The results of this research were published in the Pennsylvania State Beekeeper's Association newsletter, referenced multiple times in the widely circulated Lancaster Farming publication, made available as a downloadable fact sheet, and shared during a breakout session at the Association's fall meeting. We successfully created and published a comprehensive fact sheet through Penn State Extension on best practices for cold storage in beekeeping, available online at no cost, which continues to empower Pennsylvania beekeepers with insights on incorporating resilient agricultural practices for greater operational control, improved colony survival, and resilient management tactics. This resource, along with the newsletter (reaching ~1,500 readers) and Lancaster Farming (circulation 250,000), is helping agricultural service providers gain knowledge in key areas such as storage techniques, pest protection, comparative colony management, hive monitoring, and scalable on-farm technology. We also hosted on-farm demonstrations and a site visitation during warmer months to showcase the small-scale viability and benefits of cold storage units through hands-on viewing, short presentations, and Q&A sessions, inviting regional beekeepers and the public to learn about real-world first hand applications.
Learning Outcomes
Enhanced Understanding of Climate-Controlled Storage Techniques: Participants and attendees learned how to incorporate resilient agriculture concepts into beekeeping, including early storage methods to protect bees from robbers and pests, leading to improved colony survival rates (higher for indoor-wintered colonies) and operational efficiency in spring and summer.
Knowledge of Pest and Environmental Protection Strategies: Beekeepers gained skills in using cold storage units to safeguard hive equipment against pests, bears, and unfavorable weather, as demonstrated by real-world applications (e.g., freezing honey supers, housing package bees during hot periods, and protecting damaged equipment from wildlife).
Insights from Comparative Colony Management: Through data comparisons, individuals acquired awareness of the benefits and trade-offs of indoor vs. outdoor wintering, including better survival and larger adult bee populations indoors, similar feed consumption, and initially greater brood production outdoors post-storage.
Practical Skills in Hive Management and Monitoring: Attendees developed attitudes and skills for sustainable practices, such as consolidating colonies, mite sampling, weighing, supplemental feeding, and continuous monitoring from October to February.
Awareness of Scalable, On-Farm Technology: On-farm demonstrations and open houses educated participants on the small-scale viability and benefits of cold storage units, fostering a shift toward resilient beekeeping management.
Readers of dissemination materials: Pennsylvania State Beekeeper's Association newsletter (estimated 1500 reach, typical for niche agricultural newsletters), Lancaster Farming (250,000 circulation, assuming most readers encounter the article), and fact sheet (estimated 5,000 downloads/distributions, common for extension resources).
Project Outcomes
Improved Colony Survival and Management: Indoor-wintered colonies demonstrated higher survival rates compared to outdoor-wintered ones, with larger adult bee populations emerging in spring. Feed consumption was similar between groups, while outdoor colonies showed greater initial brood production post-storage, highlighting trade-offs for informed decision-making.
Effective Pest and Environmental Protection: The cold storage units provided consistent safeguarding against robbers, pests, and wildlife (e.g., preventing bear damage in one instance by securely storing torn equipment). Units performed efficiently during spring and summer, including housing package bees in hot weather and freezing honey supers for extraction.
Successful Implementation Timeline: Key milestones included transitioning overwintered colonies in March 2024, cleaning units, hosting open houses in June 2024, removing and storing honey supers in July-August 2024, consolidating and preparing colonies for overwintering in September 2024, and continuous monitoring from October 2024 to February 2025.
Resource Development and Dissemination: A comprehensive fact sheet on best practices for cold storage was developed (ongoing), empowering beekeepers. On-farm demonstrations and open houses allowed regional beekeepers and the public to observe the technology's benefits and small-scale viability firsthand.
Overall Advancement in Sustainability: The project marked significant progress in transitioning to resilient tactics, replicating and building on prior research (FNE23-050) to promote resilient, efficient beekeeping across Pennsylvania.
Our approach to developing small scall affordable climate-controlled storage for beekeepers was strong, building on prior SARE research with practical modifications like earlier storage. Success keys include direct conversations for real-time education and feedback. Challenges - extra time and labor for monitoring.
Revisions: Added emphasis on September feeding and mite sampling to cut losses.
We answered our question: Yes, these techniques support resilient beekeeping, showing higher indoor survival, larger spring bee populations, and versatile uses.
I'll continue promoting them for their proven value against weather variations and pests.
Further work needed could include scaling for any size operation, smart sensors, and multi-year health tracking.
Beneficiaries: Northeastern beekeepers, particularly in PA, NY, NJ, and MD especially hobbyists and small scale.