A Study of Beekeeping Practices: Influences and Information Sources

Background

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) commissioned People Science & Policy Ltd (PSP) working with East Malling Research (EMR) to undertake a study to enable a better understanding of how beekeepers access and respond to advice and information about beekeeping husbandry.  This will help Defra and the Welsh Assembly in consultation with stakeholders to deliver the Healthy Bees Plan, which sets out ways to sustain: “the health of honey bees and beekeeping in England and Wales over the next decade”.

This research involved a number of elements:

  • 20 semi-structured interviews with bee farmers;
  • 30 semi structured interviews with bee keepers who had two or more years of experience;
  • an internet survey of 906 beekeepers and 31 bee farmers; and
  • 20 in-depth follow-up interviews with beekeepers with less than two years experience who had taken part in the survey.

Practices of beekeepers and bee farmers

The 906 beekeepers who responded to the survey were mostly male (68%) and the age profile was relatively mature.  Additionally, 31 bee farmers responded to the survey.

Almost half of the beekeepers who responded to the survey (47%) were relatively new to the craft and had been keeping bees for less than two years.  Most had taken-up beekeeping out of general interest, and many were motivated by honey production.  The environmental benefits of keeping bees were also important, particularly to newer beekeepers.  These newer beekeepers were especially keen to attempt to keep their bees in a chemical free manner.

Beekeepers who responded to the survey were well aware of the need to be vigilant in monitoring diseases in their hives.  Almost all (97%) said that they regularly monitored their hives for pests and diseases.  Virtually the same proportion (96%) used controls for the varroa mite, a pest that is endemic in beehives and which almost nine out of ten (86%) beekeepers had experienced.  While it is the most common pest affecting beekeepers, varroa is not alone in causing problems for beekeepers.  More than half (52%) of beekeepers had experienced other pests and diseases including chalkbrood (a fungal infection), Nosema (parasites of adult bees), as well as several other pests and diseases.

In order to combat the number of diseases, beekeepers used a range of methods with one beekeeper who had been keeping bees for two years or more who was interviewed by telephone claiming that they used “every weapon in the arsenal” they could against pests and diseases.  Of those who used controls many (53%) used oxalic acid even though it is not authorised for use in the UK.  Various other controls against pests and diseases were reported, and beekeepers with more hives tended to use a greater number of different controls than those with fewer hives.

Those with longer experience of beekeeping felt that the recent increase in pests and diseases has meant that the practice is now far more time consuming than it once was.  One beekeeper who was interviewed by telephone felt that it was no longer possible to be a “leave alone beekeeper”.  Bee farmers agreed with this perception and felt that beekeeping now requires a scientific approach with modern techniques to guard against disease.  Bee farmers were particularly vigilant and reported treating all of their hives for disease if they noticed diseases occurring in just one of them.

Influences on beekeepers and bee farmers

Beekeepers and bee farmers gained their information about the craft from a range of sources, though perhaps the most important influence was the beekeeping associations, of which almost all beekeepers (98%) and bee farmers who responded to the survey were members.  These were felt to be invaluable in gaining access to the support and knowledge of others. 

The majority of beekeepers (57%) who responded to the survey obtained information from beekeeping associations before they began keeping bees.  Books and journals and friends or acquaintances were also important sources of information prior to starting beekeeping.

Many beekeepers (66%) who responded to the survey, especially those newer to beekeeping, reported learning about the craft through taking courses often provided through the beekeeping associations.  Most also appreciated the need to keep up-to-date with developments in beekeeping.  The vast majority (91%) of respondents to the survey had attended a course or talk on general husbandry practice since taking up the practice and a similar proportion (94%) of respondents stated that they wanted to attend talks or courses in the future.  Bee farmers who responded to the survey as well as those who were interviewed by telephone also indicated that they were interested in attending courses on bee husbandry, particularly to learn about developments in pest and disease treatments.

Beekeepers were not complacent about their level of knowledge.  Most searched widely for information to keep up-to-date with developments in beekeeping using a variety of sources including; friends and contacts at local associations; beekeeping suppliers; books; and leaflets.  Magazines and newsletters were used by four out of five respondents (78%).  Among those who read print publications BBKA News and BeeCraft were the most widely used sources.  The most commonly cited online sources were; the British Beekeeping Association (BBKA) website; BeeBase, the National Bee Unit (NBU) website; and the Defra website.

BeeBase acts as both an information resource and as a database for the bee inspectorate from which beekeepers and bee farmers can access their inspection records.  Three-quarters (77%) of beekeepers were aware of BeeBase, and just under half (45%) had registered themselves on it.  The NBU was a popular choice amongst beekeepers looking for information and advice, particularly amongst those with more experience.  Most felt that the NBU provided a comprehensive service for those involved in beekeeping and bee farming, and many emphasised the importance of its role in disseminating advice.

The NBU also coordinates the bee inspectorate which monitors hives for pests and diseases.  Over half of beekeepers (55%) who responded to the survey and most bee farmers had been visited by a bee inspector.  Most beekeepers found the visits of the bee inspectors to be helpful and reassuring.

Conclusions and recommendations

Beekeepers and bee farmers were extremely conscious of the need to keep up to date with modern beekeeping techniques and were very open to new developments in order to prevent outbreaks of pests and diseases.  Those with more experience, who knew a large number of other beekeepers, and who were confident using information about beekeeping from written sources were more likely to employ a wider range of control methods.

There was a desire amongst new beekeepers for more information and training but many have found it difficult to secure places on training courses.  In line with the increased uptake in beekeeping in recent years, there needs to be a corresponding increase in the provision of training places, particularly for the less experienced beekeepers. 

BeeBase can play an important role in the dissemination of advice and information and therefore raising awareness and use of BeeBase could promote good beekeeping practice.  It also plays a valuable role in disease control as a database for the NBU, and by offering beekeepers accessible information and advice, registration among beekeepers may also increase.

Messages about good beekeeping practice should also be tailored to the individual.  Those with more experience in beekeeping or those who farm bees commercially are more likely to be comfortable with in-depth scientific advice than those who are new to the craft.  There also needs to be greater clarification over what constitutes good husbandry practice as many different approaches to husbandry are used within the beekeeping community.

The full report is available from http://randd.defra.gov.uk/Document.aspx?Document=PH0508_9067_FRP.pdf