NATIONAL HONEY MARKET NEWS Feb 6, 1998
COLONY, HONEY PLANT & MARKET CONDITIONS
DURING JANUARY 1998
ARKANSAS
Currently there are no pollen and nectar sources. Bee colonies are in good
condition.
There has been high moisture in Arkansas and it has also been unseasonably
warm.
This could cause starvation later in the Winter months. There is no honey
flow at
present. There was a low demand for honey but supplies are good.
CALIFORNIA
January brought no relief from the frequent rainshowers across the state.
On the lOth,
one storm system dumped 2" of rain onto Northern California and along the
central
and southern coast. The next week that ended on the 17th, Eureka, along
the coast,
received 4.59", the Sierra Nevada foothills reported 12.87" and Shasta Dam,
near
Redding had 9.33". Some relief came the next couple of weeks When warmer
temperatures were accompanied by only occasional showers but by the period
ending
the 25th, Eureka had accumulated 11.24" of rain or 232% of normal.
Bakersfield hit
a record high of 75 degrees on the 18th.
While the bees are reported to continue to be in fairly good condition, the
extreme weather
conditions were beginning to wear down the colonies by the end of the
month. They were
not able to take frequent cleansing flight because of the wind and rain.
This not only caused
them to eat large amounts of their winter stores it also began to slow down
the normal
growth of some colonies. Many colonies needed supplemental feed during
the,month. The
almond bloom is expected to begin around the 15th of February so hives bein
removed
from holdinlg yards or being brought in from other areas were being
stockpiled around the
edge or on higher ground near the orchards because the ground was too wet
and muddy to
set them in the middle of the orchards. They are hoping to move them once
the bloom starts
but unless conditions improve, they may have to do their pollinating from
where they are now.
Businesses that sell beekeeping supplies were very busy during January
filling orders for syrup
and sugar for feed and boxes. Migratory beekeepers were also coming in to
buy supplies, some
for now, some to take home. Some packers were still not buying a lot of
honey, even though
the price is considerably lower than a year ago, but the demand from
commercial users for
darker colored honey continues to be light.
COLORADO
Beekeepers around the state are once again reporting serious losses of bee
colonies, especially
in the Northern part of Colorado. Colorado Dcpt. Of Agriculture officials
report as much as
36% loss of colonies statewide. Investigations indicate imported parasitic
mites,.foul brood
-disease, starvation, inappropriate mite treatments and pesticides, or
combinations of those are contributing to the bee losses. Most migratory
bee colonies are currently working the cantaloupe
crops in Texas and the almond crops in California.
The weather in Colorado for the month of January was seasonal with average
amounts of moisture
in form of snow. Temperatures for the Denver area ranged from 10- 1 5
degrees for the low to 35-45 degrees for the high during the first part of
the month. The last part:of the month has been warmer statewide with
temperatures ranging 15-25 degrees for the low and the highs being from
45-55 degrees. Statewide there is an average snowpack of 90 percent of
normal for the month.
FLORIDA
Temperatures were about normal for the month of January with heavy rains in
some North Florida and panhandle locations. Activity was very light in
Florida. Bees were feeding on light supplies of Spanish Needle, maialeuca
and other maintenance crops. The bees are reported to be in fairly good
condition.
Demand for Florida honey was good.
GEORGIA
Colonies around the state were generally m good condition. Beekeepers were
begmng to closely inspect colonies for tracheal mite as the mortality rate
usually peaks in February. Reports of infestation were occasionally noted.
There were little reports of supplemental feeding as most colonies continue
to have more than ample stores due to a favorable buildup in the fall. The
month of January experenced mild temperatures which has triggered early
pollen sources.
Bees were brining in pollen from primarily red maple and alder to stimulate
broodrearing. Queens were laying brood in increasing numbers mostly in
the southern half of the state. Preventative treatment for American Foul
Brood will take place in the second half of February.
IDAHO - UTAH - NEVADA
Beekeepers were mostly inactive in the winter month of January except for
migratory beekeepers that have bees in California. Snowpack in the
mountains is about average and agricultural water shortages are not
anticipated for reservoir water users. Temeratures have been very mild for
the most part of the month. On the 17th and 18th, Salt Lake City notched
two daily-record high temperatures of 56 and 54 degrees while Boise also
set a record on the 18th of 57 degrees.
ILLINOIS
Most beekeepers and state apiary inspectors reported the states colonies
have continued to overwinter well. Temperatures have been unseasonably warm
for January. Most areas received varied amounts of snowfall. The last of
the month temperatures in the 60's were reported from Paris in the Central
area and Marion in the Southern part of the state.
Retail honey continued to move well while bulk wholesale movement was
reported slow. Hives were been checked for ample food stores and most hives
required more supplemental feeding than normal.
INDIANA
Beekeepers reported most hives were over-wintering well. Beekeepers had
treated hives early and some
beekeepers treated again during the last of the month due to the
unseasonable warm weather. Temperatures were reported in the high 50's and
niid 60's in Central and Southern areas. A few dandelions were noted in
southern Indiana.
Package bee demand picked up due to beekeepers buying and delivery problems
of last spring.
Honey movement continued to be slow for wholesale bulk honey but retail
sales continued to be good.
MISSISSIPPI
Colonies around the state were generally in good condition. Beekeepers
were beginning to closely inspect colonies for tracheal mite as the
mortality rate usually peaks in February. Infestation has not been noted
to any great extent.
The month of January experienced mild temperatures which has triggered
early pollen sources. Towards the end of January, red maple was blooming
throughout the southern half of the state. Bees were bringing in pollen
from red maple as a stimulant to brood reading. Queens were actively
laying brood in colonies in the southern half of the state. There were
little reports of supplemental feeding as most colonies have ample stores
due to a favorable buildup in the fall. Preventative treatment for
American Foul Brood will take place in the second half of February.
MISSOURI & IOWA
Total precipitation was slightly above normal in most locations.
Temperatures averaged well above normal for the month. The week of January
4- 10 was very warin; January 11 -17 and 18-24 was generally cold and
cloudy with the 11- 17th being probably the coldest week of winter;
January 25-31 was warm. Bees over the area should have had cleansing
flights during the first week and the last week of the month.
The next management concern is getting feed to the bees when needed later
this season. Many areas had a light fall flow and with the mild winter
food reserves will be used up faster by the hives.
MONTANA
In the northeast quarter of the state, where the latest first sub-zero
reading on record occurred on January 2nd, lows averaged niinus 9 degrees
including minus 27 degrees on the 10th. The cold front continued south
where lows plummeted to niinus 35-40 degrees on the 11th. Snowfall
varied, with the largest amounts falling in the mountains and in the
western half of the state. By the last of the month, weather conditions
were unseasonably mild which quickly melted most of the snow on the lower
elevations.
Beekeepers that winter their bees in California holding yards went down the
end of January to check on the condition of the colonies. Most reported
their bees came through the winter in good condition and still had feed
from patties that were added the end of the year.
NORTH CAROLINA
Apiary activity was slow during the month. On the whole, January was a
cold, wet month. Precipitation in the western part of the state was about
6" above normal. The western part of the state also experienced some heavy
snowfalls during the last few days of the month. Amounts ranged from a few
inches to around two feet.
There have been some colony losses reported and the condition of the bees
is variable. Some buds are beginning to swell and there will be some bloom
in the eastern part of the state before too long.
OKLAHOMA
The bees have been working goldenrod. Bees colonies are reported to be in
good condition. With the fluctuations in the weather, the bees may starve
in the months ahead, we will have to wait and see what happens during
February.
Honey supplies are good but the demand is low.
OREGON
The first major storm of the season came on the 11 th when moist Pacific
air met figid arctic air dumping snow and freezing rain over a section
from Portland east along the Columbia River. 17" of snow was recorded in
some sections of north-central Oregon along the Columbia Gorge closing the
free for more than 24 hours. contrast, Southern Oregon had daytime highs of
47-50 degrees. On the 12th, Portiand's high of 28 degrees was their lowest
on record for the date. Unsettled weather continued when winds gusts of
50-80 mph hit the coast. They also received additional rain, especially
along the northwest coastline. Through the 25th, Astoria had received
15.32" or 187% of normal and Salem had accumulated 8.80" or 181 % of
normal. The last two weeks of January were fairly mild in both Eastern and
Western Oregon.
Migratory beekeepers were busy getting their hives ready and hauling them
to California before the almond bloom. The bees are reported to be
wintering well but dry feed was added in case they get hungry before the
almonds start to bloom. Hives were being unloaded on high ground near the
orchards because all the rain in Northern California during January made
the fields very muddy.
Along the coast, some losses from mites were reported. On occasional warm,
dry days, bees were seen bringing in pollen from pussywillows, hazelnut
trees and camellias.
TEXAS
Bee colonies are presently reported to be in good condition. Bees were
working various weeds. There was more rain which might cause a feeding
problem later in the season. The was no honey flow.
The demand for honey is only fair but available supplies remained good.
WASHINGTON (state)
Weather conditions were fairly normal the first of January. On the 11th, a
winter storm moved across the state bringing heavy snow to areas of
Western Washington that usually gets more rain than snow. Olympia received
over 8", the Seattle area reported 3-4" and Yakima ended up with 8". The
snow turned to freezing rain and sleet in Southwestern Washington and just
plain rain in other areas. Yakima recorded 1.84" the week ending the 17th,
23% of their annual total. Unsettled weather continued across the state
for much of the week. The remainder of the month was unseasonably mild
with daytime highs in the 40's and 50's but occasional rainshowers were
still fairly frequent across the state.
The mild temperatures and an occasional sunny day in Western Washington
allowed bees to leave the hives for cleansing flights. While spring plants
are not blooming, the bees were still seen bringing in pollen.
Most beekeepers in Eastern Washington were busy the end of the month either
getting bees ready to move into the almonds or they were hauling the hives
down. Despite wet conditions in California, the almond bloom is expected
to start around the 15th. Nothing was blooming, except pussywidows, when
the bees took cleansing flights.
Those bees that were kept here over the winter were also seen out flying
and eating up stores rapidly. Some beekeepers thought they may have to
break open the hives and add more feed before they go to California.
Losses in colonies setting in California since last fall are sometimes as
high as 30-40%. Most of the losses have occurred in single hives that were
started last fall and in some colonies that spent the summer in North and
South Dakota. The losses are reported to have happened quickly and in
colonies that had been treated for mites.
The industry is still split over whether to retain the State Apiary
Program. At a senate hearing on the 19th, an advisor to the State
Agriculture Director presented their recommendations after meeting with a
bee advisory committee. They would like to see the legislation changed to
require mandatory registration for beekeepers with 5 or more hives rather
than 25 or more. The committe decided top priority for the State Apiary
Program should be to reduce damage to bees from pesticides, to offer
technical assistance to beekeepers and encourage access to public lands for
pasturing of bees.
WISCONSIN
The state enjoyed unseasonably waffn temperatures throughout the month.
January 5th Milwaukee set a record high temperature. Most hives are
reported over-wintering fairly well. Many beekeepers added extra candy
boards due to the mild weather. The Varroa mite population appeared to
remain high with some over-wintering kills blamed on mite infestations.
<EOF> REPRODUCED WITHOUT PERMISSION, USE AT OWN RISK.
|
