Jul 11, 2024 - Business
Louisiana's bee colonies are buzzing
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Honeybee colonies have increased in popularity on Louisiana farms in the past five years, according to the USDA.
Why it matters: These tiny creatures are the fastest-growing type of livestock in the country, writes Axios' Jacob Knutson.
The big picture: Domesticated honeybees have made a big comeback since the colony collapse crisis of the early 2000s.
- The numbers of colonies on Louisiana farms grew 60% from 2017 to 2022, the third biggest increase nationally, according to the USDA Census of Agriculture.
- Rhode Island (85.9%) had the most growth during that time period, followed by Alaska (70%).
- The overall growth in the U.S. was 21.2%.
By the numbers: As of 2022, there were 1,112 colonies on Louisiana farms, the USDA said.
- Texas had the most colonies with 8,939.
Go deeper: U.S. bee farms are buzzing.