Capricious weather and lack of flowers threaten honey production in 2026. Alarm signal raised by beekeepers
This year's honey production risks being below expectations again, warns the Beekeepers Association, which points to the direct effects of the cold weather and the shortage of honeydew flora on bee families.
Cold weather affects honey production. PHOTO Shutterstock
Răzvan Coman, the president of ACA, stated for Agerpres that the beehives came out of the winter well, but their evolution was blocked by the low temperatures and the lack of natural resources.
According to him, although the canola provided a good start and the acacia flowered early in the south, the rains and wind of the last few days have drastically reduced the activity of the bees.
“In the southern part of the country, including near Calafat, the acacia bloomed earlier and it went well, but these days came with wind, rain and clouds and they barely left the hive. We are at the mercy of nature, until the flower picking is finished (sunflower no) and we don't have the honey we can take, because if we take the honey they kept for them too… Practically a let it be empty now after the acacia until the linden blossoms. We'll have big problems again.”Răzvan Coman explained.
Production below potential and low domestic consumption
ACA data show that Romania has approximately 30,000 beekeepers and 1.6 million bee families, but losses in recent years make an exact estimate difficult. National production remains below 70% of the annual average of 22,000 tons, and domestic consumption continues to be low, below one kilogram of honey per inhabitant.
What's next for beekeepers?
The sector now depends on the sunflower harvest and weather conditions in the coming weeks. Without a favorable development, beekeepers fear that 2026 could repeat the difficulties of recent years.
