The beekeepers of our region consider the first day of August to be the new year. As the days get shorter and the sun moves lower on the horizon, beekeepers take the necessary steps to prepare their colonies for wintering. For successful wintering, it is necessary to provide enough healthy bees and enough good wintering quarters. Now is the time to stock up on bee food. If there is not enough high-quality honey in the hive, this deficiency should be compensated with supplementary food, i.e. table sugar syrup.
What should you do, beekeepers?
The first of August is the beekeeper’s New Year, because from that date a new cycle of life activities in the hive begins. Beekeepers prepare for this period by a detailed inspection of all colonies, after the end of sunflower grazing. During the inspection, the health status of the bee colony is determined. The production part of the apiary during the beekeeping was often moved and stayed on the grounds with many other apiaries, which requires additional attention.
The biggest danger for bees is infection with varroa. The inspection also determines the quality of the queen, the comb and the condition of the food. There should be about fifteen kilograms of quality honey in each colony, which must be distributed in frames on which there will be bee clubs. Honey should be light, but not honeydew. Honeydew honey is rich in mineral substances, which makes it good for human consumption, but it is fatal for wintering bees because it is digested with a large residue, which in the winter months represents an unsolvable problem.
If there is not much honeydew, feeding with sugar syrup in the amount of four to five liters provides food for safe wintering. The summers on the hives should be narrowed down, because there is a great danger of predation in the beeless period, especially during feeding with syrup. A long-time beekeeper, professor emeritus Dejan Kreculj, emphasizes the importance of these steps for the successful wintering of bees.
Education above all
Preparing bees for winter is crucial for their survival and productivity the following year. Beekeepers must be careful and thorough in providing all the necessary conditions for their bees. This includes regular check-ups, providing adequate food and protection against diseases and parasites. Proper preparation of bees for winter can significantly affect their ability to survive the cold months and be ready for spring pastures.
In addition to the technical aspects of beekeeping, beekeepers must also be educated and informed about the latest methods and practices in beekeeping. Continuous education and exchange of experiences with other beekeepers can contribute to success in this activity. Establishing cooperation with experts and institutions dealing with beekeeping can provide additional support and resources to beekeepers.
With all this in mind, beekeepers must be well organized and dedicated to ensure the health and productivity of their bee colonies. Proper winterization is only one of many steps in this process, but it is essential for long-term beekeeping success. Dedication, attention to detail and constant improvement are key to successful beekeeping and providing high quality honey and other bee products.
Source: Farmer
Source: boljazemlja.com
