Mass Bee Deaths in April May Cause Significant Crop Losses

In Ukraine, more than two-thirds of agricultural crops directly depend on bee pollination. However, the winter of 2025–2026 proved critical for beekeeping: mass deaths of bee colonies were recorded in several regions, and this issue has become particularly acute ahead of the flowering season.

This is reported by AgroReview

Losses for Agricultural Producers: Economic and Environmental Risks

The winter period has been devastating for beekeepers, especially in the Vinnytsia region, where over a hundred beekeepers reported losses of bee colonies after wintering to laboratories. To restore their apiaries, farms are forced to purchase new bee packages, the cost of which starts at 2,500 UAH for four frames. All this is happening just as the flowering period of willow, apricot, and apple trees begins — the most crucial phase for pollination and honey collection.

For farmers, this situation poses a direct threat to crops. Almost 70% of agricultural crop yields in the country depend on pollinators, primarily bees. Insufficient pollination can lead to a 40–60% decrease in sunflower yields. The dependence is even greater for rapeseed, as well as for crops like soybeans, buckwheat, and apple trees.

Scientific Findings and Legal Aspects of the Conflict

Research from Iowa State University has confirmed that the number of bees and plant diversity are closely linked. A decline in pollinator populations leads to a reduction in the species composition of flora, which in turn further decreases bee populations. Scientists have described this process as a “vortex of extinction”: experiments on 68,000 flowers showed that without pollinators, the number of plant species decreases by 23%, and seed viability drops by 50%.

“A farm that treats a field with insecticides without notifying beekeepers risks not only a fine but also its subsequent harvest. Because bees from a neighboring apiary pollinated both its rapeseed and sunflower.”

A systemic conflict continues between farmers and beekeepers in Ukraine. Legislation requires farmers to notify about field treatments three days in advance, specifying the substance, date, and time, but most do not comply. The consequences can be severe: in November 2025, a court ordered compensation of over 1 million UAH to a beekeeper due to bee deaths after rapeseed was treated with insecticides without prior notice. However, in practice, out of 75 official complaints from beekeepers last year, only three cases were confirmed, as the beekeeper is responsible for collecting and paying for laboratory analyses. The system, in fact, protects the interests of farmers more than those of beekeepers.

Practical Checklist for Farmers in April

April is the period of active field spraying and the beginning of mass bee flights. To avoid crop losses and lawsuits, farmers should adhere to three key recommendations:

• Check for the presence of apiaries within a 3 km radius of the farm through the State Agricultural Register or by contacting the local community.
• Before each insecticide treatment, notify beekeepers in writing three days in advance, specifying the substance, date, and time.
• Conduct treatments at night or in the early morning before bee flights begin, avoiding daytime hours.

Following these simple steps helps protect not only the harvest but also avoid legal issues in the future.