'The Returning Honeybee'... Nongjincheong Recovers Honeybee Population to Pre-Damage Levels with 80% Increase Rate

Active control of Varroa mites this year has resulted in favorable honey production and colony increase before wintering (August to October).

According to the Rural Development Administration on the 23rd, the production of acacia honey this year was 26.8 kg per hive, which is more than 51% higher compared to the average year (2017). Additionally, a survey on the status of beekeeping before winter showed that the average increase rate of honeybees compared to the spring beekeeping period was 79.3%, recovering to the level before the damage occurred.

An official from the Rural Development Administration explained, "Last year (September to November), damage occurred due to the spread of resistant mites before winter, but after winter, active efforts to increase honeybee colonies and control measures were implemented, resulting in a slight increase in honey production compared to the average year. This was because a focused Varroa mite control period was established and most beekeepers actively controlled Varroa mites to prevent damage."

The Rural Development Administration expects that the supply of honeybees for pollination of winter crops such as strawberries will be smooth by fostering specialized pollination honeybee farms and establishing a mediation system between producers and users. The number of colonies raised by beekeepers from spring to autumn has increased, ensuring a smooth supply of pollination honeybees this year. Currently, about 18% (approximately 80,000 colonies) of the total required amount (426,000 colonies) is used for pollination of winter crops such as facility-grown strawberries. However, if there is a shortage of pollination honeybees during the wintering period, alternative technology using bumblebees will be promoted to actively respond to prevent crop production damage caused by honeybee shortages. Furthermore, support for Varroa mite control technology for pollination honeybees will also be strengthened.

As a result of investigating the increase status of honeybees before winter, it was confirmed that most beekeepers secured at least three frames of honeycomb (more than 8,000 worker bees), which is the minimum number of combs required for wintering.

Han Sang-mi, head of the Beekeeping Ecology Division at the Rural Development Administration, said, "So far, honey production and the number of colonies raised have been stable, but there were significant differences depending on beekeepers’ management, including Varroa mite control, which is a major cause of honeybee deaths. The Rural Development Administration will do its best to prevent honeybee damage caused by unpredictable winter weather and to spread necessary technologies for stable beekeeping next spring."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.