Life will be difficult for Italian bees and beekeepers in the first eight months of 2025, with spring frosts, excessive heat at the beginning of summer, and then intense thunderstorms , combined with a resurgence of the parasitic mite V arroa destructor, which is widespread resistance to treatments.

The companies associated with Miele in Cooperativa are taking stock region by region, after national production in 2024, according to the Honey Observatory, was 21,850 tonnes, a slight drop compared to 2023 , with an average per hive of 10/11 kg compared to the ordinary 15/20 kg.

Regarding Sardinia, Miele in Cooperativa is raising the alarm: the island is unfortunately losing its iconic red eucalyptus honey due to climate change. Production is plummeting, estimated at 70%.

As for the other regions, acacia and multiflower honey are making a great recovery in Lombardy , while the high mountain harvest is good, with Alpine multiflora, rhododendron, and wild raspberry, and in the plains with thyme, yarrow, and golden shower honey.

Production was uneven in Emilia-Romagna , where honeydew and spring and summer wildflowers performed well, as did lime, chestnut, and acacia. Tuscany also performed well, with differences in quantity and characteristics in the Lucca, Arezzo, and Grosseto areas; the quality of honeydew and very pale chestnut was excellent, despite the massive presence of varroa mites .

An average of about 5 kg per hive of acacia characterized spring in the Marche region , where bad weather and frost damaged the plants; however, the rain did well for the subsequent flowering of coriander, alfalfa, and wildflowers.

Multi-flower honey, acacia, and chestnut honey are the most popular in Umbria , with an average production of 15 kg/hive for hobbyist beekeepers, who outnumber professionals. The season in Molise was similar, with Apennine multi-flower honey producing 15-20 kg per hive. Harvesting was intermittent in Campania : heather honey started well in spring, but was halted between April and May due to bad weather, before resuming with summer multi-flower honey, which was good in quantity but below average potential. Excessive heat damaged several monofloral blooms, such as chestnut; coastal areas up to 10 km from the sea performed better, while inland areas of Cilento performed worse.

In Puglia, the weather has cancelled out the first spring harvests of asphodel, almond, cherry, and citrus trees. Instead, coriander, blackberry, and wildflower crops, which had benefited from summer rains, performed better. However, thyme, eucalyptus, centaury, and probably ivy have seen zero harvests.

Finally, Sicily , where spring and summer wildflower production has doubled compared to 2024, with a good harvest of citrus honey as well.

(Unioneonline/lf)

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