By Betsy Finklea
Jim Allen, a local beekeeper, spoke to the local Emergency Planning Committee at their bi-monthly meeting.
Allen said he currently has 200 hives. He used to have about 400. He has been beekeeping for 20 years.
Allen has noticed a decline in the honeybee population. Allen stated that while he is “for farmers,” there is a farm chemical that some farmers use that is affecting pollinators.
Allen said there are two things that beekeepers focus on – honey production and pollination.
Allen said he has gotten away from pollination because he was seeing a decline in the bees. His focus in on honey production.
He said he has about 15 to 30 hives in each bee yard. The biggest bloom time is April and May. Usually between April 5-10, the honey flow starts. Allen said it is good to plant in your yards for bees, but that they need hundreds of acres blooming.
Allen said he was opposed to mosquito spraying and said there were natural ways to control mosquitoes. He said there were insect eaters such as guineas, bats, and martins. He said that mosquito spaying was killing off pollinators not just honeybees, and they have to find a balance.
Allen said if we didn’t have honeybees and other pollinators, we wouldn’t have as many fruits and vegetables to enjoy.
Allen said right now his bees look the best they have all year long. A hive makes about 49 pounds of honey. In a good year, he has made 150 to 200 pounds per hive, but not in a long time. He said every flower has its own taste. A flower can affect the taste and color of the honey.
Allen also noted that honey never goes bad sealed and properly kept.