The hot, dry weather and drought conditions in the area have impacted honey production this year.
Honey BuZzz Apiary, a Mortlach-based business, manages 185 hives that each produce an average of 270 pounds of honey per year. However, because of the weather, those hives are now each expected to produce roughly 230 pounds of honey by year’s end — a substantial decline of roughly 40 pounds per unit.
For reference, it takes 12 bees to make one teaspoon of honey. It would take approximately 92 teaspoons to make one pound of honey.
The honey is still flowing reasonably well, but production will likely be below average, said Martin Gottselig, who runs the business with his wife, Kari. One reason for the decline is that a hard frost in the spring devastated the caragana plants, which are a big source of pollen and nectar. The dandelions — another source of nectar — didn’t fare well, either.
In the summer, though, the canola flowered earlier than usual because farmers seeded it early. Along with alfalfa and clover, this crop allowed the bees to pull enough nectar to kick-start honey production.
“Overall, it hasn’t been that great, but as far as what we’re hearing in other parts of the province, we’re doing better in this area … ,” said Gottselig. “More being that we had a couple good rains in June, which really pulled us through.”
The hot temperatures in July and August were not ideal for the honeybees since they prefer roughly 30 degrees Celsius in their hives to function optimally, he continued. They are cold-blooded creatures, so their production slows down the hotter it gets inside.
Meanwhile, there are still small pockets of water in the area the bees can use to survive. They use the liquid to feed the queen and worker bees and cool down the hives.
Just like any other agricultural business, the Gottseligs are concerned about the decrease in the production of their hives, he said. They have noticed a trend during the past 10 years of honey production slowly declining in their area. They have also seen pastureland — which grows perennial flowers — broken up into agricultural land, affecting honey production.
“Whether that trend continues, I guess we’ll have to see,” Gottselig added.
The Gottseligs started their business 10 years ago in the Parkbeg/Mortlach area and positioned their hives close to alfalfa, clover and water pockets so the hives could operate efficiently. But those pockets have dried up, which presents yearly challenges.
While supporting the honeybees is important, the Gottseligs let them rely on their surroundings to survive. European honeybees have been around for 50 million years, so they know what to do and can survive in all conditions. However, the couple still watches for signs of trouble in the hives, such as viability with the queen and ensuring enough water is available.
Starting the fourth week of August, Honey BuZzz Apiary plans to introduce high fructose corn syrup, which the bees will store in their hives to help them survive the winter. The creatures are also making one last push to collect as much pollen as possible to ensure their survival and so the queen can reproduce.
Not only did the hot weather affect honey production, but it also affected the quality of honey itself.
Gottselig noted that they have extracted two-week-old honey and have seen “a major colour shift” from light golden to dark-coloured amber. There is nothing wrong with this honey; it simply creates a stronger flavour. However, since major grocery stores prefer light-coloured honey, they will blend the two colours to create a mild product.
“It’s the agricultural sector … . It is truly a year-by-year gamble,” he added. “You do what you can do … . We wouldn’t trade it for the world. We absolutely love what we do.”
