“What that research said in 2015 is what I actually observed,” said Coy.

Other commercial beekeepers in the region — from businesses both big and small — said they believed their operations have been affected by dicamba, or were aware of others that were, but warned that many may be reluctant to speak out for fear of ruffling feathers with farmer clients who see dicamba as a valued tool for weed control.

“I’m in the situation where if I don’t speak up, I’d be out of business in Arkansas, anyway,” said Coy.

Missouri’s largest commercial beekeeper, Neal Bergman, also said he’s been affected. Bergman owns Delta Bee Co., based in Kennett, and by Nabors’ estimation, “probably pollinates most of the crop of the entire Bootheel.”

Bergman acknowledges that he thinks dicamba has been a problem for his bees, but says it’s tough to quantify or put a “finger on any one thing,” with other forces at play.

“Do I think it impacts me? Yes, I think it impacts me negatively. Can I put a dollar figure on it? No, I can’t,” he said.