Beekeepers report above-average honey harvest in Estonia

Estonia’s honey harvest was better than average this year, ERR reported, as favourable weather gave bees a long period for gathering nectar. The beekeeping season ended in Karksi-Nuia, known as Estonia’s honey capital, with a festival where visitors could buy and taste honey and attend beekeeping lectures.

Many visitors used the festival to buy honey for the winter. “We largely choose honey based on taste, but we have found a good beekeeper from whom we have bought honey and whose products we are very satisfied with,” said Katri, a honey enthusiast from Paistu.

Her regular supplier, professional beekeeper Art Õun from Mulgi Municipality, praised the bees and the weather. “This year was more favourable for the bees than last year,” Õun said, citing suitable conditions with alternating moisture and sunshine.

The Estonian Beekeepers Association also assessed this year’s harvest as above average and said domestic honey should be available until spring. However, rising costs remain a major concern for beekeepers.

“All costs have risen, while the price of honey in Estonia has remained relatively stable at eight to 10 euros per kilogram when sold directly,” said Aleksander Kilk, deputy chairman of the board of the Beekeepers Association. He said honey costs 16 euros or more per kilogram in Finland under similar conditions, although input prices there are slightly higher than in Estonia.

Beekeepers are also concerned about the Varroa mite, which reached Estonia half a century ago. If the problem is ignored and treatment is abandoned, bee colonies will not survive, they said.

“We are currently dealing with the Varroa mite. But there are other mites moving here from the south, and they are considerably more aggressive than Varroa,” said Jorma Õigus, a trusted beekeeper in Viljandi County. He urged beekeepers to remain vigilant, monitor their colonies and report anything unusual to a trusted beekeeper.

The honey festival in Karksi-Nuia was held for the 18th time.