Honey bees are another victim of Maine's drought

MAINE PUBLIC • August 15, 2022

Beekeepers in southern and coastal Maine are feeling the pinch of the ongoing drought, and many are bracing for a low honey harvest this year due to the dry conditions. Some hives are showing signs of food stress, said state apiarist Jen Lund. And yellow jackets and hornets are robbing honey bee hives looking for their own food. Many beekeepers are feeding their hives sugar or protein supplements to keep them healthy. The practice is common, Lund said, but it can get expensive. "This definitely does have an impact on our beekeepers," she said. "If they're having to spend a lot of money on supplemental feeds, the sugar budget, it goes up. That's going to be hard."