Sticky situation for honey supplies
HONEY made in Scotland is becoming such a ‘rare commodity’ that an urgent call has been made for more bee farmers.
Beekeepers say this year’s crop of honey during the summer has been a ‘virtual failure’ following variable weather, which is expected to push up prices.
With demand for the produce outstripping supply, beekeeping organisations have called for more support to encourage more bee farmers.
It is estimated there are fewer than 30 commercial beekeepers in Scotland, with only around a dozen of those making a full-time living from selling honey.
John Mellis, Scottish director of the Bee Farmers’ Association (BFA) and a bee farmer in Dumfries, said: ‘There are very few people making a living keeping bees in Scotland. It is a tiny number of people producing something that is very important to the shops – the heather honey is what the tourists want to buy and there are only a few of us producing it.
‘Arguably we want to have more professional beekeepers.’
Mr Mellis said the BFA had set up an apprenticeship scheme in recent years to encourage young people in particular to become beekeepers.
But he warned more had to be done to ensure not just an increase in supplies but also to make sure there were enough bees pollinating crops to maximise production for farmers.
He said: ‘You need about £50,000 to start a bee farm with 200 hives. It is not easy and therefore if access to funding were available it could become much more viable in terms of the number of beekeepers and the number of hives.’
Mr Mellis said this year’s yield of honey was around 60 per cent of the average due to a ‘virtual total failure’ in the middle of the year – balanced out only by good supplies from heather.
Bron Wright, president of the Scottish Beekeepers’ Association, said: ‘If people think the price of honey is up, it is because it is becoming a rarer commodity.’
A spokesman for the Scottish Government said: ‘We value the role bee farmers play and encourage anyone who is interested in the industry to see what support they are eligible for under Scotland’s Rural Development Plan as young farmers and new entrants.’