Death, retirement or physical disability of the original owner and lack of 
sceond or third generation interest in the established business would appear 
to be a big part of the decline based on the dates given.  Add in 
diseases/pests (mites, beetles,ccd, N. Ceranae), HARD work, big investment 
at risk, etc. and I'm guessing you would have the majority of the remaining 
answers why commercial beekeeping #'s are declining.  Is this a big problem? 
The big outfits will get bigger and fill the gap in my opinion.  What type 
of profile does the new entrant into commercial beekeeping possess? 
(age,background, education level,region of country,etc) 

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