Honey shortage looms

Beekeepers have had a troubling season.

Beekeepers have faced a troubled 2013/2014 season and the New Zealand honey harvest looks to be patchy at best, with some commentators forecasting about 40 per cent below last year.

This may well raise financial concerns for those beekeepers less established, as the cost of production continues to rise with key elements like Varroa control non-negotiable.
Most beekeepers report the weather as the culprit as windy, cold and damp conditions have limited the opportunity for bees to leave the hive and work available flowers.
For eastern and southern parts of the South Island a good early nectar flow has been offset by a turn in the weather since December.

Even on fine days, cold easterly winds across Canterbury have kept the bees at home for a significant proportion of daylight hours.

Further south, the moist weather has meant a late clover flowering but only a string of two to three weeks of high temperatures could save the season by allowing the clover to produce nectar and the bees to work the crop.

The South Island's West Coast has had no rata bloom this year which has limited the expected honey flow. The manuka and kanuka flowering has been prolific in many areas but the weather has inhibited the bees' ability to gather nectar.

Reports from the North Island are that early flows of manuka were very promising but, again, cold winds and rain have affected flowering and limited bee flying days. Reports from the east coast indicate a very poor honey yield, with most beekeepers now heading across country with their hives in search of better foraging opportunities.

It is too early to tell whether there will be an effect on yield of small seed crops due to poor pollination. Still, growers and seed merchants report that there was good bee activity in the early part of the season, which is the key for pollination of crops such as brassicas and carrots. Shorter days, even in the key period, may be offset by higher hive numbers in key crops.

Where bee numbers are low, short days would likely have had an impact on the vital pollination that bees provide to white clover in pasture, limiting seed set and clover regeneration.

With demand for New Zealand honey at an all-time high and 2012/13 stocks totally diminished, a substantial fall in honey production this year will test industry exporters ability to service their markets.