Beekeeping during and after drought

Following the devastating impact of fires and drought, it is important that bee hives can recover and the welfare of our bees and beekeeping industry is supported.

During and after drought beekeepers need to manage the nutrition of honey bee colonies.

Hive management

Drought conditions have severely impacted the honey bee industry, with above average temperatures and lack of rainfall affecting the flowering cycles of many native plant species. This includes Eucalyptus which normally produce around 70% of the NSW honey crop.

Beekeepers heavily rely on native flora to provide for their colonies’ nutritional requirements and for maintaining a viable business.

During these times it is crucial that beekeepers provide colonies with access to clean water and supplementary feed sources as necessary.

There are different strategies to manage honey bee nutrition depending on individual circumstances.

For more information about the Management of bee nutrition in drought and fire affected areas, visit AgriFutures Australia.

Supplementary feeding is just as important after bushfire events. In the video link below, Liz Frost explains several feeding strategies for honey bee colonies that apply to both drought and fire affected areas.