Beekeeping in Australia
Australia has around 9,600 registered beekeepers, but the majority of honey is produced by a relatively small number of honey bee businesses. Sixty-two percent of total honey production is estimated to have been produced by businesses operating more than 500 hives, around 250 businesses. Only 16% of Australian honey production is produced by businesses with 250 hives or less. Most honeybee operations are small family owned and operated businesses operating fewer than 500 hives and depending on a range of income sources in addition to those related to beekeeping. Typically, smaller operations, particularly those with less than 250 hives, derive the majority of the income for the operator's family from other enterprises, other businesses, or investment sourced income. Larger operations, those with more than 500 hives, are mainly dependent on the honeybee business as the source of family income.
Each year the Australian honey bee industry produces about 30,000 tonnes of honey, with an estimated gross value of production around $50 million. Approximately 25 to 30 per cent of production is exported. Australia is currently the world’s tenth largest exported of honey. In recent years, honey production has been reduced due to the combination of drought and bushfires in 2002-3 and the continuation of the drought. Despite reductions in output, the value of the industry has remained relatively stable due to increases in the price of honey. Currently prices are under pressure from low world prices and a high Australian dollar. In addition to honey, the honey bee industry generates value from the production of beeswax, queen and package bees, pollen, royal jelly, propolis and bee venom, and from the provision of paid pollination services. The gross value of production, accounting for all these products, is in the order of $65 million. In addition, the value of unpaid pollination services has been estimated to be between $100 million and $1.7 billion per year . |
