Bees feed us much more than honey. Honeybees pollinate over 100 crops across the United States. According to the Maryland Department of Agriculture, the value of Maryland crops that need pollination is $40 million annually. Beekeepers play a crucial role in ensuring that bees survive. Pesticides, parasitic mites, weather, and queen issues are all foes fought by dedicated commercial businesses and backyard beekeepers. Having more beekeepers means more bees, as annual hive loss rates range from 39% to 50%. In Maryland, 2,300 beekeepers maintain over 18,000 hives, or colonies.