Beekeepers handfeed as drought decimates nectar and pollen production

South Australian beekeepers are on edge as drought spells havoc to bees’ natural food sources, leaving some with no honey or less than 10 per cent of the annual average to harvest this season.

It is a grim outlook for the state’s 77,000 bee hives, which produce more than $15 million worth of bee products per year.

Some trees and plants have failed to bloom due to the dry weather, leading to a reduction in pollen and nectar production.

Stripped of food sources essential for survival and honey production, some apiarists have been forced to handfeed their bees to keep them alive.

Riverland beekeeper Rob Johnstone described the situation as “pretty grim and horrible”.

“There is just no food for the bees, it’s having a massive impact on hive strength,” he said.

“Even when the trees flower, this season there is very little nectar and pollen in it, starving the bees.”

Placing some of his hives on irrigated watermelons and pumpkins was a lifeline for Mr Johnstone’s bees.

“I usually get 50 kilograms of honey per hive, this year if I get 10 kilos I’ll call myself lucky,” he said.

“If I wasn’t on the melons and the little bit of caltrop that’s there, I would be feeding my bees.”

South Australian Apiarist Association president Brenton Davis said the dry weather also affected hive strength, which was important for pollination services provided to almond, fruit and vegetable growers in spring.

“People are supplementary feeding their bees,” he said.

“They will do what they have to, to keep their bees as healthy as possible.”

Financial fallout to hit beekeepers

While parts of New South Wales and Queensland have recorded strong honey production, Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria and Tasmania are battling difficult seasons.

It is resulting in a lower annual honey production in Australia this year, according to Honey Bee Industry Council chief executive, Danny Le Feuvre.

“Beekeepers, like all other primary producers, rely on rainfall for good honey flows,” he said.

“In South Australia, beekeepers are really struggling. It’s been one of the worst years they’ve had in recent memory.”

Loxton-based beekeeper Ian Cass said apiarists were to bear the financial brunt of hand-feeding bees with sugar or pollen supplements.

“When you’re pulling honey at least you have some income, whereas at the moment it’s just trying to keep them going,” he said.

Mr Cass said overall costs for beekeepers were putting many under severe financial pressure, on top of low honey prices, the threat of varroa mite and little natural feed this season.

Low honey prices pinch apiarists

The drop in honey production is not expected to impact overall supply and prices for consumers, as recent seasons have created an oversupply.

“We’re not going to see a shortage of honey,” Mr Le Feuvre said.

“At the moment, honey prices are really low. Our beekeepers are only just scratching up cost of production.”

“While it really hurts beekeepers, we’ll hopefully just drain a bit of that supply in the system and create better pricing coming into next year.”

Mr Cass said the price of honey for apiarists in Australia was “shocking”, as cheap imports flooded the market.

“It’s destroying our industry, because we are not on a level playing field,” he said.

Mr Cass said at $4 to $4.50 per kilogram, honey production was not commercially viable for Australian apiarists.

“People are holding onto their supplies in hope prices will go up,” he said.

The combination of suppressed honey prices, low yields, increasing costs and the threat of varroa mite has led some to exit beekeeping, according to Mr Le Feuvre.

“We’ve got a perfect storm at the moment,” he said.

“Fifty-thousand hives have come out of the system and we’re starting to see beekeepers leave the industry.”