Oregon beekeepers play a direct role in ensuring pollinators remain a dynamic part of Oregon’s unique specialty crop sector. The honey bee is the most recognizable bee species in the state, and our state’s 80,000 colonies produce an abundance of products such as honey, wax, propolis, and pollen. Moreover, our beekeepers are uniquely invested in the success of crops grown in the state, with over 75% of their income coming from rental fees paid by growers from over a dozen different crops. These rentals are strongly connected with the competitiveness of some of the state’s most delicious crops, including Columbia Gorge cherries and pears, Hermiston watermelons, Willamette Valley blueberries and caneberries, and south coast cranberries. Honey bees also play a key role in boosting yields of seed crops, notably Willamette Valley vegetable and clover seed, and central Oregon hybrid carrot and onion seed. The seeds from these crops are planted throughout the US and worldwide.