 these issues started. So it said, and the buzz for bees continues to be positive. Last week, some independent research helped set the record straight on honeybee health and the minimal effect neonicotinoid insecticides have. And this week, the USDA released its honey report, which stated that honey production in the U.S. increased 19 percent in 2014 and that honeybee colonies increased by 100,000 or 4 percent.