The figures published on Friday, November 15, confirm the fears of the beekeeping sector: the honey harvest should be around 20,000 tons in 2024, almost 30% less than in previous years. The estimate comes from a survey of 678 beekeepers by the National Federation of Beekeeping Development Network (ADA), which describes the year as “from catastrophic to unproductive”depending on the region. Production is declining sharply in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Brittany, Grand Est, Ile-de-France, Burgundy-Franche-Comté and Hauts-de-France.
In question “rain, cold and, very often, wind, [qui] stopped the first spring honey flows and colony developmentlists the ADA. Spring Foraging Has Become Difficult [très peu de fenêtres temporelles, fleurs lessivées]The bees quickly consumed the reserves collected at the beginning of the year ». In most regions, beekeepers have had to feed their colonies to keep them alive.
“This year was unprecedented.confirms Henri Clément, secretary general of the National Union of French Beekeepers (UNAF). If we had not fed them, many colonies would have died. » Their hives are mainly found in Lozère. Here, as almost everywhere in France, the winds were strong in spring, the temperatures cool, and the rains abundant.
Frank Alétru, president of the National Beekeeping Union (SNA) of France and the Association of European Professional Beekeepers, delved into the archives of The bee of Francethe centennial magazine of the SNA: “I have not found any trace of such a calamitous spring, which lasts several consecutive months and affects three-quarters of France. »
Weirdest food
However, this season is decisive for beekeeping. Resting for the winter, the queen begins to lay eggs again as sunny days approach, and the bees resume their work: collecting flowers, building the hive cells, feeding the larvae, producing and storing honey. Rain, strong winds and cold prevent pollinators from leaving. They then feed on their reserves. Outside, food is also scarce: plants started blooming late this spring due to the weather.
This episode occurred while previous years were marked by recurrent droughts. “Climate unrest and its different facets, felt by beekeepers for fifteen years, is omnipresent”says the UNAF. For Henri Clément, it is about “The biggest current challenge for beekeepers”.
You have 58.31% of this article left to read. The rest is reserved for subscribers.
