Project on Honey Farming

[Buzz.93]

I am currently a sixth form student in the Scottish Borders and I am taking part in the Scottish Science Baccalaureate. As well as my regular studies in Physics and Biology I must conduct an interdisciplinary project. I have chosen to investigate the honey farming process and the chemical composition of honey. I have already studied various aspects of honey using books and internet resources, however I am currently researching the idea of sustainability within the context of honey farming. I have reached somewhat of a writers block and am struggling to write about it. I would greatly appreciate any help, as this is section is essential to the rest of the project.

Regards,

Andy

 

[Poly Hive]

Pm sent/

PH

 

[Easy Beesy]

Hi Andy
Let me know what you want/need and I'll try to help anyway I can.

 

[Midland Beek]

the idea of sustainability within the context of honey farming.

Well, I guess there is 'sustainability' in the context of financial sustainability, like the idea of making enough money from honey sales to run a commercial beekeeping operation profitably. Cheap imports of honey from places like South America, Australia and China impact greatly on the profitability of UK beekeeping operations, and this is the main reason why there are so few UK commercial beekeepers these days. There are very few 'full-on' beekeeping operations in the UK indeed, but there are quite a few 'sideliners' - generally people who have retired from some well paid profession and want to keep themselves occupied into retirement, and where financial sustainability is not so important because these people are typically well off.

And then there is environmental sustainability. Factors like the weather (bees do not forage in rain), the availability of forage and bee diseases can impact greatly on the success of beekeeping operations, be they commercial, sideliner or hobbyist.

 

[MuswellMetro]

you could also expand sustainable to materials

imported ceder for hives verus english cedar
polystyrene hives versu ply hives
plastic foundtion verus wax foundation
imported wax versus recycled wax
top bar non intervention hives to commercial farmers hives
% of honey removed versus sugar fed
specialist invert sugar feed/fructose versus granulated sugar/suctrose

osr honey and its problems versus blossom honey
OSR increase yeild etc with hives
pesticides versus loss of bees

 

[Saradan]

Hi Buzz

You may get some useful info from members of the bee farmers website:

http://www.beefarmers.co.uk/

 

[Buzz.93]

Thank you for the information, I will investigate the beefarmers website shortly. The idea of sustainability is not necessarily the most clear and straightforward aspect of honey farming to explain. However you have provided me with a good number of ideas to elaborate on.

 

[drstitson]

project

as well as sustainability the use of imported wax (in the raw, from africa, at not necessarily for beekeeping) is one of the prime candidates for the future arrival of SHB etc via our ports.

 

[RoofTops]

It would be worth contacting and hopefully visiting Chain Bridge Honey who are at Berwick upon Tweed. You can find them with a quick Google.

 

[Buzz.93]

I have already made contact with Mr. Robson at Chain Bridge Honey Farm and they have helped me a great deal with various aspects of my research. The excessive snow has held up their honey sales, and as such they are very busy right now.