Beekeeping has become a very popular hobby, and it's no wonder why; beekeeping is essential for both local ecosystems and global agriculture, as bees are critical pollinators for many plants.

Luckily for enthusiasts in Texas, beekeeping here in the Lone Star state is actually perfect! Texas has ranked fourth best state for beekeeping according to Lawn Love!

Lawn Love compared 39 of the 50 states with available data based on 4 categories. More specifically, they looked at rates of honey production, annual and quarterly colony loss, and apiculture establishments, among 29 total metrics.

Of Texas, they found that there are 111,000 honey-producing colonies, and ranked high with 28 beekeepers associations and 56 apiculture establishments.

What is Beekeeping?

Beekeeping, also known as apiculture, is the practice of managing and maintaining bee colonies, typically in man-made hives, for the purpose of collecting products like honey, beeswax, and royal jelly, or for crop pollination.

It involves the care and breeding of bees, usually honey bees, to sustain a productive hive. Beekeepers, also called apiarists, provide bees with shelter, food, and a safe environment, while also ensuring the hive’s health by monitoring for pests, diseases, and other potential problems.

The main components of beekeeping include

• Hive Management: Beekeepers set up, inspect, and maintain hives to ensure optimal conditions for the colony.
• Harvesting: Honey, beeswax, and other byproducts are collected periodically without harming the bees.
• Colony Health: Beekeepers watch for signs of illness, parasites (like Varroa mites), and environmental stressors.
• Pollination: Bees help pollinate crops, benefiting agriculture by increasing crop yields.

Save the bees!

You can see the full study here.