Subcommittee Reports

I. Apiculture

Keith S. Delaplane

The number of managed bee hives in Georgia declined from 80,000 in 1994 to 70,000 in 1995¹. This parallels a long-standing national trend toward declining hive numbers that began in 1947. However, overall honey production in Georgia, including the 1995 crop year, has stayed uniform over nine years². Thus, production efficiency is good. Parasitic tracheal mites and Varroa mites continue to kill colonies and cost beekeepers, large sums for control. Mites, coupled with chronically low honey prices, continue to take their toll on hive numbers and beekeeping businesses.

Conditions in 1995 were good for honey production. Beekeepers with five or more hives harvested 4,340,000 pounds of honey, compared to 5,040,000 in 1994. Production per hive (62 pounds) was virtually unchanged from 1994 (63 pounds). Value of the 1995 crop was $2,995,000 compared to $2,873,000 in 1994. In 1995, average price per pound rose to 694, compared to 574 in 1994¹ which may reflect an increasing price trend following declining world-wide honey reserves. No data are available for income from pollination rental fees, queens, or package bees.

Extension programs reached 1,881 people in educational efforts aimed at honeybee parasite biology and control, optimum bee management, and public awareness of the value of bee pollinators. The fourth annual Young Harris College/University of Georgia Beekeeping Institute drew over 90 participants. Research focused on identifying economic treatment thresholds for Varroa mites in a cooperative study with Dr. Mike Hood at Clemson University.

¹Georgia Agric. Statistics Service, Mar. 4, 1996
²Hoff, F.L. 1995. Honey. U.S.D.A. Agric. Econ. Rep. 708