Experts say February winter storm slowed Texas honey production


The deadly winter storm had a significant impact on the lives and homes of millions of Texans. Experts say it has wreaked havoc on the state’s honey industry as well.

Texas A&M Agricultural Extension Service reports a drop in production and the number of bee colonies this year. Experts say the winter storm delayed the blooming of wildflowers and likely reduced the honey bee population. Drought conditions in the spring further complicated production.

Molly Keck, entomologist and beekeeping instructor with the Texas A&M AgriLife extension service, said that for the bees that remained, it was difficult to find flowers to build colonies.

“We didn’t see the same amount of wildflowers coming out in the spring that we love to see, which allows these colonies to build up nice and big ones,” Keck said. “When you have a nice large colony, then you have a lot of foragers collecting pollen and nectar later in the spring and early summer.”

The United States Department of Agriculture reports that Texas had 157,000 honey bee colonies in 2020, which contributed $ 17 million to production in the United States. This year, with lower production, Keck says the honey could sell for a higher retail price.

Keck says backyard beekeepers may not have seen a difference in production, but commercial beekeepers, who have at least 500 colonies, have been hit hardest.

Keck advises beekeepers to keep hives healthy before the cold winter months.

“So that involves making sure the queen is lying down and is present in the colony,” Keck said. “Otherwise, this colony will die before spring arrives. Also, make sure they have enough food to get through the winter … then check and manage the mites.”

Do you have any advice? Email Haya Panjwani at [email protected]. Follow Haya on Twitter @hayapanjw.

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