This has truly been a year of unusual weather here in the Arkansas Delta. We have seen cooler temperatures and more rain than normal. The change in the weather has caused a considerable reduction in the production of nectar by some of the reliable bee plants. This was often due to the reduction in photosynthesis on overcast days causing a lesser amount of the sugars to be produced by the plants. Sugars produced were often more diluted than normal. Further, rain washed much of the nectar from exposed flowers. With a weak nectar flow, the honey bees shifted to survival behaviors. They killed their drones on several occasions through the summer, an event that usually occurs after the first frost of late fall. Bees were also observed cannibalizing their brood. Many colonies withheld food from their queen causing her to stop brood production. Each of these actions by the bees meant less food would need to be consumed by the colony. The colonies were able to adjust their food requirements in response to the changing conditionsWith a diminished food supply of nectar from the flowering plants, the honey bee colonies also consumed large portions of their stores of honey. The honey bee is the only insect in the temperate zone that stays active throughout the year. All other insects either die off annually or go into hibernation. The honey bee exists over winter by consuming its high-energy food, honey. Beekeepers throughout the region are finding that there is not a great surplus of honey in the hives this year. Today’s picture shows a not too unusual finding during this year’s honey harvest, completely empty frames. This year’s interrupted brood cycles left fewer bees on hand to produce honey. The beekeeper’s task this year will be to keep the bees alive and healthy. There won’t be a great surplus of honey to harvest this year.
--Richard
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I wonder what our coming season will bring Richard .. It doesn`t sound like yours has been that fruitful. Because I do not make a living from honey, to me any extra is a bonus.I keep bees because they are the best pollinaters around and there are not as many as there used to be after varroa got here.I also find them fascinating little creatures with an amazing life style.
ReplyDeleteI hope next summer for you is better - thank you once again for the insightful posts, I have learnt loads about your place in the world.
Ngaio,
ReplyDeleteWe are warned to not expect to be able to predict the honey harvest of one season from past performance. This is particularly true of beekeeping which seems to have more variables than even other agricultural endeavors. Honey production is largely the result of the success of timing the population growth of the hive to meet the largest nectar flow. This year, in this Mid-South of the United States, it seems that the major nectar flows virtually failed due to the weather. The weather is of course a major determining factor in agriculture. As we hear of global climatic change, we know that some things can be readily measured, like the extent of polar ice coverage. As average global temperatures rise, local weather does not simply warm. Instead, weather conditions tend to shift toward the extremes. The seasons may become wetter, more droughty, or with more storms.
While this is not proving to be a very good year for honey production, the wet weather has been helpful elsewhere on our farm. Trees that we planted as part of a wetlands reforestation project are thriving. Best wishes to you in New Zealand. I enjoy following your beekeeping and horticulture, six months ahead of ours.
--Richard