USDA/AMS’ Honey Monthly Update – 9/27/17 | APPALACHIAN DISTRICT (MD, PA, VA, WV)
October 2, 2017
From: USDA/AMS via Lancaster Farming
Colony, Honey Plant And Market Conditions During August 2017
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Additionally, colonies have begun early winterizing with Propolis and organizing their winter stores. It is still too early to assess the overall crop for the season as golden rod; knotweed and loosestrife are still blooming. At this point in time, reportedly most honey producers have been finding typically 30-40 pounds in supers and are calling it a so-so year, not the worst but definitely not a great season for honey yields. Most keepers reportedly saw very little honey early in the sea son. Recently, New England has been receiving sporadic rainfall so the previous dry conditions have continued into the latter part of August. There have been complaints regarding varroa mites, nosema disease and especially chalkbrood. Affected colonies that have been slow to build populations seem to bounce back after treatment with Fumidil – B., to the point that these colonies with heavy mite loads look like they will be able to right themselves before winter. Beekeepers are scrambling to treat in order to lower the mite populations. This is often at the loss of any late honey as you do not treat colonies when collecting honey. Utilizing screened bottom boards helps to keep the mite population down. Many keepers are working with brood interruption sys tem for mite control. Secondly, keepers are re-queening with local raised queens and this procedure seems to shut down brood production when nectar flows shut down. Consequently keepers are sugar syrup feeding and also feeding pollen with mega food patties as a substitute for natural pollen. Harvested honey this month has been averaging 35 lbs. per colony.
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