Romanian Beekeepers Face Honey Production Uncertainty Amidst Temperature Swings

Romanian beekeepers are navigating a challenging year as unpredictable weather threatens honey production, particularly for prized acacia and linden varieties. While the early rapeseed harvest showed promise, with farmers increasing cultivation due to previous droughts affecting sunflowers and corn, the crucial acacia honey yield is now in doubt.

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The night needs to be above 10-11 degrees Celsius.

Cosmin Măndică, a beekeeper from Olt County, explained that acacia and linden honey, highly sought after in the market, are particularly vulnerable to the "whims of the weather." He noted that while bees are actively collecting nectar, the right temperatures are essential. "The night needs to be above 10-11 degrees Celsius," he stated, emphasizing that even with abundant flowering, plants won't secrete nectar if temperatures are too low.

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Everything is white, but at night it's 10 degrees Celsius and the next day the plant doesn't secrete nectar. But everything is white.

Măndică described the current situation in his apiary in Vâlcea County as "all white" with flowers, but nighttime temperatures hovering around 10 degrees Celsius are hindering nectar production. Ideal conditions require nighttime temperatures above 10-11 degrees Celsius and daytime temperatures above 22 degrees Celsius, with no rain. The rapeseed harvest, which followed the fruit tree bloom, has been good, with farmers in southern areas already finishing and those in the north nearing completion.

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And without rain.

After the acacia harvest, bees enter a resting period to rebuild their colonies. In mid-summer, they collect polyfloral honey, primarily from sunflowers, and in August, beekeepers hope for the most sought-after variety, honeydew honey. Măndică mentioned that he hasn't extracted honey yet due to the volatile weather, which has "confused" the bees. He has brought frames home and replaced them with others, indicating a significant workload. Despite these hurdles, the initial rapeseed harvest was promising, driven by farmers' increased planting of the crop.

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Rapeseed is a good year. Farmers planted rapeseed and wheat massively, because sunflowers and corn did not yield in recent years due to drought. At least in my area, there are farmers who, out of 300 hectares, did not plant a hectare of sunflower.