Warm spring nearly doubles Salzburg honey harvest

Salzburg beekeepers are reporting their strongest honey harvest in years after a warm, dry spring created ideal conditions for bees, ORF reported. Following three poor years, hives are producing nearly twice the average amount of honey.

In an average year, beekeepers harvest about 15 kilograms of honey from each colony. This year, abundant spring blossoms, little rain or hail, and plentiful pollen and nectar have produced almost twice that amount.

The honeycombs are particularly full, with honey covering the entire comb, said Andreas Brieger, the state chairman for beekeeping and bee breeding.

Thomas Renner, director of the Imkerhof, said the food supply for bees had been especially rich. While this had previously been particularly strong in the Flachgau region, the alpine pastures in the Innergebirg region had also become good sources of honey, he said. The vegetation there was more diverse, the pollen more varied and the bees on the alpine pastures generally healthier.

The forest honey flow also began early after high temperatures and heat stress brought the forest season forward, almost directly following the spring blossom period. Honeydew honey produced from aphid secretions also had an unusually strong year, Renner said, adding that it was becoming increasingly important to beekeepers.

Bees are now collecting pollen for winter and are significantly healthier in many places than in previous years. However, Brieger said the most important task for beekeepers was currently treating colonies against Varroa mites. The colonies would then be fed for winter.

The high temperatures in July and August also put stress on the bees. They cool their hives with water and by beating their wings, making the summer particularly demanding and forcing them to spend more time searching for water.

Dry years produce honey with a lower water content, which generally indicates good quality, said Chris Steube, head of the Imkerhof laboratory. However, some water content is important for the honey’s flavour. This year’s honey will be tasted and judged at the Salzburg Honey Awards on November 13.