4 August 2023
Chris Jooste
With good management, coupled with agreements and contracts with farmers, beekeeping is a profitable industry, says Mike Allsopp of the Agricultural Research Council’s Vredenburg research farm in Stellenbosch.
He spoke at an information day on beekeeping at the Outeniqua research farm in George, attended by commercial, small and aspiring beekeepers.
Allsopp emphasised that the placement of hives and bee colonies makes a big difference in productivity. “Hives should be placed within 2km of the nearest food source for the bees. Spread bee colonies as widely as possible. Bees don’t like to be close to each other. It also helps in combating diseases and pests.
Shield from the wind
“Place the hives in the sun rather than where it’s too cold, and away from the ground. Wind is a significant factor. Bees must be protected from the cold wind. Therefore, position the hive entrance away from the prevailing wind.”
Place the hives on stands to protect them from ants. Be careful with places where many people move. They can disturb the bees and may get attacked. Establish a good relationship with the landowner. Water is crucial for bees. If there is no natural water source, provide water.
Allsopp said it is difficult to determine how many hives should be placed in a specific area. Each area has a fixed amount of honey available. “Keep in mind that a hive needs about 80kg of honey per year to survive. So, only collect the surplus and leave enough for the bees to survive.”
Too many colonies can lead to the bees dying off. A good target is 30kg to 40kg of honey per colony per year. No one knows the exact loading. Test each area to determine the right loading. It may vary from year to year based on changing seasons.
Bees will sting
Make sure you are not allergic to bees by getting stung near a place where you can receive treatment, if necessary. “Bees don’t have a switch. They will sting.” Well-fitting protective gear is crucial. Clothing should be loose on you. Do not work alone. Use slow, calm movements. Relax and do not panic.
Be careful with a smoker. You can easily start an unwanted fire. Make sure the smoker has stopped burning before transporting or placing it somewhere. The smoke should be cool. If it’s too hot for your hand, it’s too hot for the bees. Use fuels such as pine needles, animal droppings or burlap, not cardboard or grass.
When harvesting honey, extraction methods are better than just cutting out the honey. In addition, they do not destroy the wax and they ensure frames remain intact.
The lifespan of bees depends on the time of year, the seasons and the climate. When a hive becomes too small, the bees form swarms and move. Swarms early in the season are good. To prevent bees from moving, give them more space and new frames.
Keep records of colonies
Allsopp said colonies leave hives in the case of fire, when they are disturbed or when their food runs out. To prevent this, bees must be provided with food. Bees live for only 20 days. If they have only 10 days left and run out of food, they will die.
Keep records of each colony. Try to mark the queen and keep track of her age. Inspect the colonies every three months and observe the condition of the young bees. Replace two to three frames a year. Remove the oldest frames and get rid of the old wax.
Ensure colonies do not become too large or too numerous. Beekeeping operations should have enough food available for the bees. An example of a good time to split colonies and remove problem bees is during canola flowering when plenty of food is available, especially early in the season.
Feed when necessary
“All good beekeepers feed their bees from time to time. It makes sense to feed bees as much as possible when needed. Waste sugar or various available mixtures with additives like amino acids or trace elements are suitable for this purpose. Stimulant feeding can be given to prepare bees for pollination or honey production. Start 30 to 40 days before the time and feed two litres of 30% sugar water every two weeks.
“If there is no food in the colony and you want to keep your bees, you will have to feed them, otherwise they will leave or die. Then give them 60% sugar water – usually a litre – as often as necessary. There are various methods to feed bees, but most farmers use bottles. Be cautious of ants.
“Keep an eye out for opportunities to provide a commercial pollination service. About 40 crops need to be pollinated, and that forms about 80% of a beekeeper’s income. Every beekeeper and producer should have a formal contract to protect both parties and develop a partnership,” said Allsopp.
