A Rhinelander-based beekeeper reports that 2025 was a challenging year, marked by significant colony losses last winter and a severely reduced honey harvest this summer.

Chris Hansen of Hansen Honey Farm tells Mid-West Farm Report the season began with an aggressive focus on recovery due to high overwintering losses. 

"Coming off last year being just an absolute horrible year for losses, pretty widespread," he says, noting that high bee sales and prices added to the burden.

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