Cunniff/Beeline Honey BeehiveTheft

On January 17, 2017, our 488 honey bee hives, which were at a holding yard near Yuba City/Meridan, California, were stolen. These bees had been shipped to California to aid in the almond pollination and then were to return to Montana for summer honey production.

We are a third-generation, family commercial beekeeping business from a small community in Montana and this theft devastated us. We have struggled for the last several years with Colony Collapse Disease and our 1000 hives were reduced to these last 488 live colonies.

So, with the theft of our remaining hives (including the bees themselves as well as the equipment), the pollination, and the honey production, we anticipate losing over $400,000 in 2017. And, without this pollination income, we are unsure if we will be able to pay wages and fund the daily operations of the business for the rebuilding of the hives, which will take multiple years to fully recover.

Insurance coverage for the equipment is possible; however, there is no coverage for loss of income from pollination or honey production. And, the amount of help from insurance for equipment replacement is still unknown.

So, we find ourselves in a position where we are asking for your help to cover the costs of $100,000. All donations will be used to pay our employees and cover daily operation costs during this rebuilding year.

The LA Times reported on our loss in their January 20, 2017 edition. Here's a link to the article.
 
Thanks so much for your support which will help us recover from this loss. We are hopeful and confident that, with your help, we can rebuild.


Thank you 
Lloyd Cunniff/Beeline Honey Company
Choteau, Montana

Photo of our employee, Casey with hives last summer.