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DATA TOOL · WIDGET 40

Colony Replacement Economics

Set your operation size and loss rate — see how much of your honey revenue goes to replacement costs before the season begins.

255002,000
5%22% (best yr)60%
$100$155 (avg)$225
$3 (bulk)$6 (wholesale)$15 (retail)
Loss rate quick-set:
Colonies to replace
56
per year
Annual cost
$11,760
packages + labour
% of revenue
12.3%
of gross honey revenue
Cost breakdown56 replacements at 28% loss
Packages: $8,680 (56 × $155)
Labour est.: $3,080 (56 × 2.5 hrs × $22)
Packages (74%)Labour (26%)
Replacement cost as % of revenue — three scenarios
Your operation: 200 colonies, $155/pkg, $6/lb. Bar width = replacement cost as % of total revenue ($96,000/yr).
Best year21.9% loss (2012)
9.6%
$9,240 cost
44 replacements — packages $6,820, labour $2,420
Average28.2% avg (18-yr)avg← your slider
12.3%
$11,760 cost
56 replacements — packages $8,680, labour $3,080
Worst year48.2% loss (2023)
21.0%
$20,160 cost
96 replacements — packages $14,880, labour $5,280
Replacement is a real but manageable line item
At 28% winter loss, you spend $11,760 per year — 12.3% of gross honey revenue — just to maintain your colony count. This is the treadmill cost: it keeps the headcount flat, not profitable. A bad year (48.2% loss) would push this to 21.0%.
U.S. INDUSTRY TOTAL (2.7M colonies, 28.2% avg winter loss)
~762K
replacements per year
~$160M
annual cost (pkgs + labour)
~$2.9B
cumulative 2006-2024
The $2.9B figure covers 18 years of replacement labour: ~14M cumulative replacement colonies (from Widget 39) × ($155 package + 2.5 hrs × $22 labour). Widget 39's $2.1B figure covers package cost only; adding labour brings the total to ~$2.9B. See the macro colony trajectory →
METHOD & ASSUMPTIONS

Replacement cost = round(colonies × loss rate) × (package price + 2.5 hrs × $22/hr). Labour at $22/hr is the 2024 BLS median for agricultural workers; 2.5 hrs covers inspection, package installation, and first feeding.

Gross revenue = colonies × 80 lbs/colony × honey price. The 80 lb/colony/yr is the USDA NASS national average for 5+ colony operations. Migratory operations on pollination contracts often yield 50-70 lbs; dedicated honey crops 80-120 lbs. First-year replacement colonies typically yield 30-50% less — this model does not discount their revenue.

Not included: Varroa and disease treatments ($30-80/colony/yr), equipment depreciation, feed, transportation, and the reduced yield of first-year colonies. True replacement burden is typically 20-40% higher than shown here. Full methodology →

replacements   = round(colonies × loss_rate)
package_cost   = replacements × pkg_price
labour_cost    = round(replacements × 2.5 × 22)
total_cost     = package_cost + labour_cost
gross_revenue  = colonies × 80 × honey_price_per_lb
burden         = total_cost / gross_revenue
Widget 37
Colony Loss Monitor
18-year U.S. winter loss history
Widget 39
The Replacement Paradox
Macro colony-count simulator
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Frequently asked questions
What costs does this calculator include?+
Package or nucleus-colony purchase (your slider value, $130-$200/colony in the U.S.) plus labour fixed at 2.5 hrs per replacement × $22/hr (2024 BLS agricultural median). Not included: Varroa miticides, antibiotics, equipment, feed, transportation, or reduced yield from first-year replacement colonies. True burden is typically 20-40% higher.
Why is the revenue model so simple?+
Revenue = colony count × 80 lbs × honey price. The 80 lbs/colony/yr is the USDA NASS national average. This overstates revenue slightly because replacement colonies installed in spring often yield 30-50% less than established colonies in their first season. Adjust the honey price slider if your actual yield differs significantly from 80 lbs.
What is a realistic U.S. winter loss rate?+
The BeeInformed Partnership 18-year average is 28.2% (2006-07 through 2023-24), ranging from 21.9% (2012 record low) to 48.2% (2023 record high). This has exceeded the beekeeper-defined acceptable threshold of ~19% every single year on record.
How does this relate to the Replacement Paradox (Widget 39)?+
Widget 39 shows the macro story: the U.S. colony count held near 2.7M for 18 years because beekeepers replaced every loss. Widget 40 quantifies what that replacement costs your specific operation. Widget 39's $2.1B figure is package cost only; this calculator adds labour to reach ~$2.9B cumulative.
How do I embed this calculator on my site?+
Paste: <iframe src="https://rawhoneyguide.com/tools/honey-colony-economics" width="100%" height="1400" frameborder="0" loading="lazy" title="Colony Replacement Economics Calculator"></iframe>. Append ?theme=dark for dark mode. No account or tracking required. All 40 widgets at /tools/embed.
EMBED ON YOUR SITE — FREE
<iframe
  src="https://rawhoneyguide.com/tools/honey-colony-economics"
  width="100%"
  height="1400"
  frameborder="0"
  loading="lazy"
  title="Colony Replacement Economics Calculator"
></iframe>
Append ?theme=dark to the src URL for dark mode. All 40 embeddable widgets at /tools/embed.
Sources: USDA NASS Honey Bee Colonies (2024) · BeeInformed Partnership Colony Loss Survey (2006-2024) · BLS Agricultural Worker Wages (2024) · vanEngelsdorp & Meixner (2010) J. Invertebr. Pathol. | Methodology | All Widgets