Great Barrington— Honeybees play a vital role in our local food system. Not only do they pollinate flowers, they spread pollen among apple trees, they buzz among blueberry bushes and pollinate all kinds of vegetables. These tiny insects contribute enormously to the abundance we enjoy across the Berkshires and beyond. Yet beekeepers throughout the region are facing growing challenges as climate change alters the conditions that honeybees rely on.
As a result of climate change, seasons in our region no longer follow familiar patterns. The increased frequency of extreme weather and natural disasters can have drastic effects on the bees, disrupting their social structure, navigation systems and foraging behavior. Rain and flooding can make it difficult for them to fly. High winds can cause them to become disoriented and lost, wasting precious energy returning to the hive. Similar to humans, bees struggle to thrive in extreme hot or cold conditions. In extreme heat, they struggle to regulate their body temperature, which in turn decreases their foraging efficiency and brood production. Invasive species such as small hive beetles and yellow-legged hornets, as well as the parasitic Varroa mite can infest a hive in the warmer conditions caused by climate change.
One of the most significant challenges is an increasingly mild winter. While warmer temperatures may seem beneficial, honeybees are naturally adapted to a period of winter dormancy. Bees cluster in the colder months, forming a tight group to share body heat. This enables them to conserve energy, eat less and stay warm, despite the harsh winter temperatures. The reduction in energy expenditure ensures ample honey stores are reserved for the coming spring. During extended warm spells, bees become more active and consume valuable stored food. If cold weather returns before new nectar sources are available, colonies struggle to survive.
To help protect their hives, local bee farmers have adopted a variety of climate-resilient practices. John Jasmin of Bash Bish Honey in Copake, N.Y. has seen a huge benefit from simply increasing his monitoring efforts, “I watch, I read a lot, I watch the videos. I take notes on my work with each hive so I can be sure of things like when I medicated them and how each hive is progressing so that I don’t disturb them needlessly.”
Supplemental feeding can be a lifeline to bees when natural forage is scarce. Some beekeepers feed sugar syrup or pollen substitutes to help colonies bridge gaps between flowering seasons or recover from weather-related setbacks.
Less predictable spring weather brings anxiety to beekeepers. Heavy rains and cool temperatures can keep bees confined to their hives during critical periods when flowers are blooming and bees should be out foraging. Flooding and storm surges can cause water-logging in bee hives, quickly drowning all the bees trapped inside. If bees cannot forage, they miss opportunities to collect the nectar and pollen that they need to raise young bees and build strong colonies. Out of balance summer weather brings its own concerns. Drought conditions reduce the availability of nectar-producing flowers, negatively affect pollen production and its nutritional composition. Bee malnutrition can reduce their immune and detoxification capabilities, making them more vulnerable and potentially leading to colony loss. Extreme heat puts added stress on the colonies, forcing bees to spend energy cooling the hive rather than gathering food.
Despite these challenges, local beekeepers stay committed to supporting pollinators that are vital to our local food system. Their work not only produces honey and beeswax, it also helps sustain the vegetable farms, gardens and wild landscapes that depend on pollination. Dan Carr of Beavertides Farm in Falls Village, Conn. said, “I think there are a lot of things we can learn from honeybees, but one of the most important is their selflessness. In a single worker bee’s lifetime she will collect only about one-twelfth of a teaspoon of honey, but over the course of a single season a single colony can produce well in abundance of 100 pounds of honey. Honeybees show us that unimaginable things become possible when we work together.” Starting with nectar collection, processing within the hive and dehydration into honey, the bees’ process of producing excess honey ensures there is plenty for bees and human honey aficionados alike.
Beavertides Farm in Fall Village, Conn. Courtesy Berkshire Grown.
Habitat restoration offers another important strategy. Beekeepers and other farmers plant more diverse pollinator-friendly flowers, shrubs and trees that provide consistent blooms throughout the growing season. Planting trees to increase shade in apiaries and moving colonies to cooler, more elevated regions also help bees survive summer heat waves. Water access is also increasingly important during hot weather. Many beekeepers provide shallow water sources near their apiaries so bees can regulate hive temperature and stay hydrated.
Community members can support bees by planting native flowers, reducing pesticide use and buying honey and hive products from local beekeepers. Every action that increases pollinator habitat helps create a healthier environment for the bees and the farmers who depend on them.
Berkshire area beekeepers:
- Bash Bish Honey Hillsdale, N.Y.
- Beavertides Farm Falls Village, Conn.
- Berkshire Wildflower Honey Mill River
- Brattle Farm Pittsfield
- Fahey Family Honey Farm Pownal, Vt.
- Gray Raven Farm Hancock
- Mountain Falls Farm Sheffield
- Musante Farm Dalton
- Trumpet Hill Farm Sheffield
- Woodlife Ranch Williamstown
Courtesy Berkshire Grown