High honey prices, more nectar drives profit for South Australian and Victorian beekeepers

South Australian and Victorian beekeepers say their fortunes have turned a corner thank to higher feed stocks and honey prices.

South Australian and Victorian beekeepers say their fortunes have turned a corner thank to higher feed stocks and honey prices.

For the past two years, beekeepers in those states have struggled through tough seasons, with little or no feed available for the bees.

As a result some beekeepers were forced to feed their stock sugar syrup in the place of nectar.

But good autumn rains and favourable weather patterns in spring across Victoria and South Australia, mean apiarists have been able to keep bees healthy throughout the year, and produce good quantities of honey.

AUDIO: Beekeepers from SA and Victoria discuss the good season their bees are having and the high price of honey (ABC Rural) In the Adelaide Hills, Buzz Honey apiarist Aaron McInnes says in two years he has gone from tending to near-starving bees, to rushing to remove the increased honey they produce.

"The first year I joined Buzz Honey we had to syrup feed some of our hives to keep them ticking over," he said.

"Now, the bees are filling up the boxes every 10 days, and even putting in double the amount for them to fill doesn't make a difference."

The honey is being snapped up by a domestic and export market in the midst of a major shortage.

Victorian beekeeper Bob Barnard said the yellow gums, canola crops and red box all yielded more honey during the spring.

He said the farm-gate price of honey has risen by 50 per cent from two years ago, and he was not expecting a drop anytime soon.

"These higher prices are going to stay around for a while yet, because nationally stocks are still low," he said.

"And with the dollar lower than it was, those honey packers, who are exporting, are also seeing more demand."

News Source From abc.net.au http://goo.gl/eK5dKS