Our time in the orchards has come to an end. Consummation of the kiwifruit means our tempo has slowed. Beekeeping activities are winding down as the temperature rises, and yeah baby, things are heating up.

When the kiwifruit vines begin to flower, beekeepers need to be ‘ready to rock-n-roll’ in the Bay of Plenty. Aimz sure is…

Dearth September. Admittedly a slower start than last year, but all of our hives have been boosted into action with regular manipulation and feeding. Frames of honey and pollen are added to simulate an early flow, and with the changing of the clocks, the real thing can’t be far behind.

August is over, the last of the beekeeping ‘breather’ months. Bee numbers are on the rise as lambs are on the ground. No rest for the multi-discipline farmers out there, even I find myself with extra mouths to feed after successfully caesarean sectioning a dead ewe with triplets.