Storms hit beekeepers, but honey outlook's sweet
During California's prolonged, wet winter, beekeeper Gene Brandi said he had to spend twice as much money on a sugary syrup to feed his honeybees and keep them alive. That's because the bees sent to pollinate blooming almond orchards took longer than usual to emerge from their hives due to chilly temperatures, wind and rain. Since the bees weren't out gathering nectar and pollen for nourishment, the 71-year-old beekeeper provided sustenance for them. "Normally we have to feed some of our hives in almonds every year, but this year we had to do a lot more feeding because the bees were not able to fly. And we just want to make sure that they don't starve to death on us," said Brandi, of the Central Valley community of Los Banos. The challenge is one of many faced by America's beekeepers following the unusually wet winter that ravaged California's farm country, which feeds much of the nation. Most commercial beekeepers send their bees to California early in the year to help pollinate its $5 billion-a-year almond crop, then move them elsewhere to pollinate commodities ranging from avocados to cherries or to the Midwest to produce honey. The state was battered this winter by at least a dozen atmospheric rivers — long plumes of moisture from the Pacific Ocean — as well as powerful storms fueled by arctic air that produced blizzard conditions in mountainous areas. The wintry weather flooded homes, triggered power outages and brought much-needed rain to drought-parched agriculture, though in some cases, more water than the crops could withstand. It also took a toll on bees, who were slow to emerge from their hives during the cold front and weeks of showers.
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America's beekeepers have faced challenges during the unusually cold and wet winter in California's farm country.Â
