How many beekeepers in the U.S., or in the world?

[BjornBee]

As I was scanning articles of last weeks national honey bee day, I ran across a quote that due to Michelle Obama's two beehives, this has caused an increase of 2 million additional beekeepers.

I know numbers of late have been a bit off, missed in the "trillions" on some matters, but I find it incredible that 2 million more beekeepers came on board since the installation of a couple hives at the white house. Are we talking the U.S., or world wide?

The article is here...

http://www.gainesville.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090823/ARTICLES/908231014/1002&Title=This-day-was-all-abuzz-about-bees&template=printart

So how many beekeepers are there in the U.S.?

And since maybe they are talking the "world", how many are worldwide?

Anybody know?

[riverrat]

although the quote is not from the government. It sounds just like government. throwing out numbers that cant be verfied in reality

[Natalie]

I find it hard to believe myself, whether its worldwide or just our country.
There has been a steady increase reported at the beekeeping clubs in my area for the past 5 years, none of which is attributed to the obamas since it started picking up before the white house bees were installed.
My personal experience has been that many of our local beekeepers are also avid gardeners and it goes from there.
There has been an 80 percent increase in vegetable seed sales this year as more people are taking up vegetable gardening, which means people are realizing that they will need more bees for optimum pollination.
I know several people who took up beekeeping just for their garden pollination.
I think people are just getting back to the basics, keeping chickens, bees, gardening, recycling/salvaging, canning food etc. and trying to keep some sanity in their worlds as we go down the tubes.
More people are doing their part to "save the world".
But lets give Michelle Obama all the credit right? They don't even actively keep bees, they have someone do it for them so I have never considered them beekeepers.
While any good publicity for the honey bee is always a good thing I would not credit anyone for 2 million new beekeepers in the world/country.
I doubt anyone will ever know how many beekeepers there are since the numbers change all the time with people leaving beekeeping and people taking it up.
Unless every hive in the world were registered you will never know.

[BeeHopper]

If the First Lady introduced a pony on the WH Lawn, I'm pretty sure there'll be 2 million new pony owners worldwide  :roll:

[Kathyp]

http://www.presidentialpetmuseum.com/Pets/Macaroni.htm

i wish useless crap would not stick in my head.  i'd much rather remember where i put my coffee cup  :evil:

[BeeHopper]

http://www.presidentialpetmuseum.com/Pets/Macaroni.htm

i wish useless crap would not stick in my head.  i'd much rather remember where i put my coffee cup  :evil:

I would realy like to know the number of new Beeks worldwide if there is such a way to keep a census on a weekly basis or perhaps monthly, the more the merrier, but I  doubt there's 2 million new Beeks because someone said so, I want real numbers.  :)

[Bee-Bop]

Those States that require registration would be a good source to kinda get a average figure, I would think.

Don't some European Countries require Registration also ?

I believe Austrialia does & maybe New Zelend .

Just finding the registration data would be the problem, if available.

I've been wrong before.

Bee-Bop

[MustbeeNuts]

I think that there are numbers growing, me for one, but in the short time I have had bees, I see the steady stream of people leaving, when they find out there is actually work involved, the cost of growing nuimbers, woodenware, and getting enough honey to break even, well they leave, they don't get rich like they thought and working the bees becomes a chore. You see it everyday, hives for sale, used extractores, and lots of odds and ends. So,,,, beehive for sale only used on weekends. Great fixer upper. JK

[Jim134]

2009 67th Annual Worcester County Beekeepers Association BEE SCHOOL( Worcester MA.USA) had about 170


http://www.honeybeeclub.org/index.htm



   BEE HAPPY Jim 134  :)

[buzzbee]

Those States that require registration would be a good source to kinda get a average figure, I would think.

Don't some European Countries require Registration also ?

I believe Austrialia does & maybe New Zelend .

Just finding the registration data would be the problem, if available.

I've been wrong before.

Bee-Bop

Not so sure registrations will tell the whole truth. The county I live in has only a couple registered beekeepers,but there are many unregistered by local farmers and others.I saw the list myself,and my name was one of the few registered. My guess is many more are unregistered than registered,at least here anyhow.

[riverrat]

So how many beekeepers are there in the U.S.?

Bjorn you have bought yourself a job with this question :-D since I know you are a bee keeper and a darn fine one at that. You should have plenty of time to count them all so please start with me :cheer:

riverrat= 1

[buzzbee]

riverrat= 1
buzzbee=2

[Jim134]

riverrat= 1
buzzbee=2
Jim 134=3


  BEE HAPPY  Jim 134  :)

[lenape13]

riverrat= 1
buzzbee=2
Jim 134=3
lenape13 = 4


It seems the list keeps growing.  How long until we get a final total?

   

[Irwin]

riverrat= 1
buzzbee=2
Jim 134=3
lenape13 = 4
Irwin =5

[Natalie]

Couldn't you guys just go to the stats here and look up how many beeks are on this forum?

[buzzbee]

We could but that would be too easy!! :-D :-D   And are all members here beekeepers?
But it's like Bjorn said,they just throw a number out there and preach it as gospel,and how can we really tell the net gain? Just as there are some new beekeepers there are also some that have retired this occupation/hobby whichever the case may be.Where do they get these numbers.?
Chances are members piping up here could be just as accurate.Besides,maybe bees in the news and local beekeepers and clubs are more responsible for the increase than the two hives at the White House.

[BjornBee]

riverrat= 1
buzzbee=2
Jim 134=3
lenape13 = 4
Irwin =5

Ok, Ok....But I think we should break it into two groups.

We got the "post-Michelle" list going with the group above.

I'll be the first to add my name to the "pre-Michelle" list..... :lau:

[riverrat]

riverrat= 1
buzzbee=2
Jim 134=3
lenape13 = 4
Irwin =5

Ok, Ok....But I think we should break it into two groups.

We got the "post-Michelle" list going with the group above.

I'll be the first to add my name to the "pre-Michelle" list..... :lau:

come on bjorn just because I did some splits and picked up some swarms after michelle got into be keeping shouldnt put me into the post colum :brian:

[BjornBee]

Yeah, I better change that. I'm expecting Ken to drive up in the driveway any minute now carrying a baseball bat...... :fishhit: