Bee shortage is a lie.
I’m not sure where you live, but around my parts (Western PA) many of us lost lots of our hives last year.
I had to start from scratch this year and imported both Italian and Russian (collusion!) queen’s. So far I managed to split one hive so we are at a net positive.
One beekeeper I know had 33 hives last year and only 7 made it through the winter.
Bee shortage is not a lie here in the north east.
Yep, another nonexistent crisis.
As is the hysteria over the impact on crops. 80% of all bee pollination is for California almonds, alone. The other 20% is for every other crop that needs them... and most do not need them.