The sudden changes in temperature this spring of 2024 have hit the blooms hard and are causing difficulties for bees and beekeepers in Emilia
There climate crisis which is involving Italy, but more generally the whole planet, is also having effects in the world of beekeeping and consequently in the production of honey. In particular, the beekeepers ofEmilia Romagna are reporting severe discomfort due to the temperature changes that are affecting the region in these first weeks of spring.
The effects of climate change on bees and honey
The concerns for the situation of bees in Italy have been expressed by many for some time. The high temperatures recorded in winter, in fact, confused this animal which left the hives on the hottest days even though the cold season would be the one dedicated to rest. The alarm for the “crazy climate” which risks confusing this precious insect and consequently the production of honey had already been launched some time ago by Coldiretti. The association had denounced the risk of saying goodbye to a vase of “Made in Italy” honey out of four.
After the sign of strong concern expressed by Ligurian beekeepers at the beginning of the year, in this spring of 2024 it is those from Romagna who are putting the problem back at the center of discussions. The climatic trend, with warm winters and frosts in spring, unfortunately puts bees have difficulty and the entire sector connected to these. The sector in question, which in 2023 in Emilia-Romagna was heavily affected by the problems resulting from the flood, is also at great risk this year due to the abrupt and sudden temperature changes. In March, in fact, the temperatures were high while after mid-April they dropped sharply, creating various difficulties for the bees.
The expert’s alarm on bees in Emilia-Romagna
Unfortunately, on the production and trade of Italian honey The competition from imported products from Eastern European countries and China weighs heavily, often appearing on the market at very low prices. Pietro Miliffi, a beekeeper from Civitella in the province of Forlì-Cesena and president of Afa, expressed himself on this worrying situation, i.e. Forlivese Beekeepers Association (Cooperative Agricultural Society).
Hundreds of members who operate not only in the province of Forlì-Cesena but also in the Rimini area belong to the association in question and the president has acted as spokesperson for the discomfort in the sector. His statements in this regard were reported by ‘il Resto del Carlino’: “We went from almost summer temperatures in March and the first part of April which anticipated the blooms with the bees starting to work immediately, to a sharp drop temperatures that forced them to return to the hives and now, as beekeepers, we are forced in many situations to feed them. Let’s just hope that it stops raining and that temperatures return to the seasonal average, otherwise there will be trouble for bees and beekeepers.”
Pietro Miliffi then recalled that the Italian honey sector suffers from competition from foreign honey often put on the market at a low price but at the expense of quality. For this reason the President recalled that Italian producers are instead right on the line quality that they must continue to aim. We always read in ‘il Resto del Carlino’: “We just have to focus more and more on quality if we want to defend ourselves and stay on the market”.
