The beekeepers of Haut-Rhin are sounding the alarm.
They face a disastrous year marked by particularly poor harvests.
“In general, a beehive produces 30 kg of honey per year.
There, we obtain between zero and three kilos of honey, ”testified Thierry Grieneisein, who owns 600 beehives in Buhl (Haut-Rhin), quoted by Actu Haut-Rhin.
He is also president of the Association of professional beekeepers in Alsace.
He realized that many of his colleagues drew the same picture.
"The Haut-Rhin is the region most affected, but throughout the Grand-Est, it is not brighter," noted the beekeeper.
The best beehives gave only nine kilos ”.
Flowers frozen or without nectar
In question, the weather conditions between February and July.
The buds froze and the flowers that opened were without nectar.
The bees therefore fed themselves less, slowing the development of the hives and less egg laying by the queens.
The icy wind also confined the bees to the hives.
Finally, at the beginning of May, the regular rains washed away the remaining flowers.
Thierry Grieneisein even had to add food to prevent his bees from starving.
Some beekeepers in very difficulty have applied for state aid in order to continue their activity despite the context.
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