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Honeybee Corner

Honey Shortage Ahead
by Dick Johnson 3.11.10

March is the month that weak and hungry hives die without proper management. Even though we may see bees flying from some hives this does not mean that they are not running out of food. On a sunny day when the temperature is in the 40’s, open the hives and look inside to assure that there is enough honey and pollen to last until flowers bloom in your region. This is the time to feed sugar candy or dry sugar and pollen patties for colony survival and to raise brood for the spring nectar flow. It is normal to see brown spots on the snow as the bees void their waste. Many bees also drop into the snow as they are disoriented by the lack of familiar landmarks and cannot find their hive. On the mountaintop, the heavy snow cover will delay the spring flower bloom and even more supplemental feeding may be required.

Twenty-four years ago, before the destructive Varroa mites arrived in our country, 220 million pounds of honey were produced by about 7.5 million colonies. Recent USDA predictions expect only 119 million pounds from 2.2 million colonies. Domestic demand for honey is increasing each year as it is used in more products like cereal, breads, salad dressing and BBQ sauces. 60% of the honey consumed has usually been imported and this will probably increase. Major exporters of honey to the US are Canada and Argentina. Canada has just suffered the same poor weather and poor honey crop as we had last summer. Argentina has had drought and is converting to soybean farming that yields very little nectar. China has seen domestic consumption increases and is selling most of their product to Europe. All of this evidence points toward a severe shortage of both domestic and imported honey. Local honey in the Northeast is in short supply and some beekeepers have already sold out last summers’ crop. Prices will continue to increase, as the supply will simply not meet the demand. The only advice for people who like local honey is to “buy it now.”

Honeybee Corner Archive 2010

Honeybee Corner Archive 2009