Drought Good for Honey Farmers

While most farmers can expect reduced yields this year, beekeepers look forward to a bumper honey crop. Flowering plants produce thicker nectar when moisture is scarce, and that makes a bee’s job a little easier. 

Ray Nabors is retired apiculture  specialist with the University of Missouri’s Delta Research Center in Portageville. He says the crop should be good if bees don’t have to travel too far for water.

“The biggest loss in honey production at this point in time is probably from having too many bees collecting water to keep the hives cool rather than nectar for honey," Nabors said.

Nabors adds the droughts should not affect honey quality.