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An apiary (also as a bee yard) is a place where beehives of honeybees are kept. Traditionally beekeepers (also known as apiarists) paid land rent in honey for the use of small parcels. Some farmers will provide free apiary sites, because they need pollination, and farmers who need many hives often pay for them to be moved to the crops when they bloom.
Size
For pollination, apiaries are rarely set up; the bees are only present during the bloom period of the crop. But in a few cases, such as for organic farms, long term apiaries are established, with the rule of thumb being one hive per acre (4,000 m²) of the crop that needs pollination. Depending on the nectar and pollen sources in a given area there is a maximum number of hives that can be placed in one apiary. If too many hives are placed into an apiary the hives compete with each other for scarce resources. This can lead to lower honey and pollen yields, higher transmission of disease and robbing.
There are beekeepers - from hobbyists to commercial - in every state. The most lucrative areas for honey production are Florida, Texas, California, and the Upper Midwest. For paid pollination, the main areas are California, the Pacific Northwest, the Great Lakes States, and the Northeast. An apiary may have other hive management objectives including queen rearing and mating.
US honey production
| Major US Honey producing States | Number of colonies (in thousands) | Yield per colony in pounds | Production in millions of lbs. (2004 Data) |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 390 | 45 | 17.6 |
| Florida | 205 | 98 | 20.0 |
| North Dakota | 390 | 78 | 30.4 |
| South Dakota | 215 | 105 | 22.6 |
| Minnesota | 135 | 75 | 10.1 |
| Texas | 116 | 76 | 8.8 |
| Montana | 146 | 77 | 10.8 |
| Nebraska | 51 | 89 | 4.5 |
| Wisconsin | 68 | 86 | 5.8 |
| Idaho | 100 | 63 | 6.3 |
| Total 2004 U.S. Honey Production | 2,560 (based on beekeepers who manage five or more colonies) | 71.8 | 220.7 |
Source:
- National Honey Board Press Release June 2005
- USDA
Location
In the northern hemisphere, east and south facing locations with full morning sun are preferred. In hot climates shade is needed and may have to be artificially provided if trees are not present. Other factors include air and water drainage and accessibility by truck, distance from phobic people, and protection from vandalism.
See also
External links
- The River Wey and Wey Navigations Community Site — a non-commercial site of over 120,000 words all about the Wey Valley and includes a photo-essay about honeybees and apiary
"Apiary"