Agroinform.hu: this season brought the worst acacia honey harvest in the past 2-3 decades

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The statement explained that Hungarian beekeepers were able to start this season with only 600-700 thousand bee colonies instead of the usual 1.2 million. Experts see the reason for the significant population decline primarily in the increasing resistance to active ingredients against the varroa mite that attacks bees.

A significant part of the preserved stock was used by farmers not for honey production, but for propagation

The severe frosts that devastated the first half of April caused great damage to the budding acacias: more than half of the approximately 500 thousand hectares of Hungarian acacia forests froze, mainly in the valleys and plains of the central mountains. Cold and rainy weather prevailed almost throughout the flowering period, and the plants did not produce nectar. For this reason, half of the country’s beekeepers were unable to extract any honey – neither acacia nor other flower honey – by the end of May. The little acacia honey is mainly found in Western Hungary, in Győr-Moson-Sopron, Vas, Zala and West Somogy counties. In the eastern, central and southern regions of the country, such as Nyírség or Bács-Kiskun, there was almost a complete failure, the statement said.

Péter Bross drew attention to the fact that producer prices are certain to rise due to the shortage

Anyone who wants good quality Hungarian acacia honey should buy it now, because there is little production. The announcement mentioned that the sunflower is expected to bloom in two weeks, which requires warmer weather, but precipitation is also essential. According to Péter Bross, this is the only hope left for beekeepers this year, and if this also fails, the beekeeping industry will inevitably continue to accumulate its losses that have already been accumulated in recent years.

MTI