Bee keepers have a field day, honey

Topics: bees, benita ironside, ipswich and west moreton beekeepers association

AN INCREASING number of Ipswich land owners are beginning to learn that bees are essential for more than just the production of the sweet, sticky, amber stuff you put on your toast.

The Ipswich and West Moreton Beekeepers Association is buzzing with 130 passionate honey-makers, but as the country's bee numbers decrease, environmental concerns are becoming more of a priority for the group each year.

President Benita Ironside said the club field day at Pine Mountain Hall would address the issue of declining bee populations and strategies to increase them again.

"When there are no bees around to pollinate, that means there's no food," Ms Ironside said.

"At the moment there aren't enough bees around so farmers are bringing beehives in especially to pollinate crops."

Pesticide spraying and land-clearing can also have a detrimental effect on populations of honey bees, as can the presence of a small hive beetle which has been responsible for destroying many hives across the Ipswich region in recent years.

On a local level, the recent dry weather has had a noticeable effect on honey production, with beekeepers unable to rob hives due to their bees not storing sufficient honey.

The news isn't all bad, however.

Long-time association member Noela Geeves said more young people who were buying larger properties were getting interested in owning their own beehives.

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Bee keepers have a field day, honey