Spring weather is forcing bees to move from orchards to rapeseed fields and is slowing down honey production compared to 2025
29 April 17:51
forecast
Ukrainian beekeepers and honey exporters are closely monitoring the temperature swings that have swept across the country this spring. Given the nighttime frosts, leading industry experts are holding off on making final predictions about the current honey harvest season. According to preliminary data, bee colonies in Ukraine generally overwintered successfully. This refers to specialized farms that followed proper hive care protocols during the cold season. Most bees have already emerged from hibernation and are ready for the first major harvest—rapeseed blooming. Vadym Pankovskyi, head of the Association of Ukrainian Honey Exporters and Processors, noted in a comment to "Komersant Ukrainian" that the current April cold snap should not be critical for the first honey-producing plants.
“The bees have emerged from winter. For those who practice beekeeping properly, their bees are ready to work. We expect that these few days of cold weather will not significantly affect the first honey harvest, as warmer weather is still expected to arrive, and the rapeseed blooming period will be long enough for the bees to visit it,” explains Vadym Pankovskyi.
At the same time, beekeepers note that compared to last year, the situation this season looks somewhat worse. The temperature conditions in the spring of 2025 allowed beekeepers to start the active season without “temperature lulls” and with high honey yields from early spring blooms and garden flowers.
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As beekeepers explain, this year’s weather “swings” are forcing bees to expend more energy on heating the hive rather than on collecting nectar. However, experts reassure us: provided the warm weather returns quickly, there will be no critical lag behind last year’s schedules. While the situation with spring honey is more or less clear, Ukraine’s main export product—sunflower honey—depends on how well the crop survives the April chill during the planting season. The cold may force farmers to revise their plans or even resort to replanting fields.
The Association’s head is still not rushing to conclusions, as the honey production industry always depends on the whims of nature and the weather, which often throws a curveball at the last minute.
“As the saying goes, you count your chickens in the fall. It’s hard to predict right now. The only thing the cold might affect is those sunflower crops: whether they’ll need to be replanted or not. We’ll see a little later,” the Association’s head emphasizes.
According to him, the coming weeks will be decisive for understanding the outlook for the upcoming season. If temperatures return to normal, Ukraine will be able to maintain the stable harvest volumes observed in previous years.
As stated on the Ministry of Finance website, honey prices currently range from 120 UAH per liter to 430 UAH per liter, depending on origin.
Approximate retail prices for honey
- Acacia honey (most expensive): 500–650 UAH per liter (up to 500 UAH in some regions).
- Buckwheat honey: 250–320 UAH per liter.
- Linden honey: 220–430 UAH per liter.
- Wildflower / Meadow: 150–330 UAH per liter.
- Sunflower honey (most affordable): 120–250 UAH per liter.
- May honey: 155–300 UAH per 0.5–1 liter (or higher for fresh harvest).
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