KIRKSVILLE, MO -- As we all know, the heat and dry conditions this summer have not been good for those in the agriculture business. That also includes area bee farms.
Like everything else in agriculture, a lot is dependent on Mother Nature. And although we saw a wet spring, flowering plants quickly shriveled up heading into the summer months with record heat and dry conditions taking over. Not a good combination for honey production.
"For the bees, sometimes drought years produce a little less honey production. That is a little more stressful for the bees. A lot of times we have to feed them and kind of make up for it going into winter to make sure they have plenty to eat. Sometimes their populations will be a little bit less. Weather just plays a real significant role in what the bees do and their population. If we have a hard winter it might be kind of tough on them coming through the spring," Hollenbeck Honey Farm’s Clifford Hollenbeck said.
The Hollenbeck Honey Farm typically produces around 50,000 pounds of honey annually. While the fall harvest season is not yet complete, honey production this year could be less than half. With honey supplies already in short supply world wide, prices are likely to go up.
"The price of honey is definitely going to come up because of the drought. We are actually in kind of a world shortage when it comes to honey for the last few years. This kind of adds into the price and stuff with the availability of honey. The United States has seen production down significantly this year because the drought has extended over a pretty good portion of the United States and drought always impacts prices," said Hollenbeck.
Hollenbeck has already seen stress in the hives with drone bees being brought out of the hive and other bees just dying off.
Hollenbeck honey farm operates close to 300 hives at various locations throughout northeast Missouri.
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