As winter approaches, colder weather can be quite the struggle for beekeepers raising honeybees.

Savannah Meier | @SavannahMeierTV

The demand for honey increases around this time of year and also comes at a cost.

According to a nationwide survey, nearly half of the honeybee colonies across the country died last year. 

Tim Urich with T. Creek Bees and Honey said he loses at least 10% of his honeybees every fall. 

This time of year in Kansas, there are a couple things to consider for survivability for the bees ahead of the winter. 

“One, does each colony have a healthy queen? Second, does each relatively free or at least have a low Varroa Mite count?” Urich said. “That’s a pest that preys on bees and then third that they are heavy enough, meaning they have enough stores of honey or sugar water to make it through the winter.”

To help decrease the number of mites that prey on the bees, he uses an acid to prevent similar parasites from killing them. 

The chemicals crystallize so that the mites fall off, but he says during this time, it’s best to also cull the weaker bees. 

“Losing a colony to the varroa mite or to a weak queen or just to starvation represents an economic loss to every beekeeper,” Urich said. “But I found that when colonies are weak, it’s best to cull them this time of year and combine those bees with a healthy colony. “

Urich says when doing this it will make predicting the spring harvest easier. 

Following the spring season and harvest, the risk of bees dying decreases, allowing us to enjoy honey during warm weather at a lower price.