Beekeeping in the Sverdlovsk region: apiaries and farms, bee breeds and prospects

Despite the harsh climatic conditions of the Sverdlovsk region, beekeeping in this region has all the prerequisites for further development. The area is considered the northern border, within which you can engage in beekeeping and get a good income. In order to implement the plan and maintain the he alth of insects, it is necessary to take into account the climatic features of the region, its topography and other factors that affect the bees.

Climate of the region

The Sverdlovsk region is located in the Ural region, in the temperate continental climate zone.Its length from north to south (about 600 km) is the reason for the diversity of the climate in the region. On the flat terrain, summers are warm, and in the mountains - cool. Annual rainfall varies from 655mm in the west to 467mm in the south.

Winter in the region is cold and long, forcing beekeepers to carefully prepare insects for frost. Snow cover lasts from early November to early April.

Bees don't have much time to collect honey - the first time the bees leave the hives in mid-April. The entire honey harvest lasts about 3 weeks, however, weather changes can significantly reduce this period.

Sverdlovsk region has a good honey base, but its disadvantage is that it is very unevenly distributed. The main vegetation of the region is coniferous and mixed forests and a small part of forest-steppes.

Where do lime trees grow in Sverdlovsk?

There are very few pure linden forests in the Sverdlovsk region. Such trees are found in broad-leaved and broad-leaved-coniferous forests. Small-leaved linden grows along the rivers in the Urals and in areas such as Artinsky, Shali and Nizhneserginsky.

In the climatic conditions of the Sverdlovsk region, linden blossoms on July 5, flowering lasts no more than 2 weeks. Experienced beekeepers calculate the flowering time of the honey plant, starting from a plant such as coltsfoot. Since then, the first flowers appear on the grass, 80 days pass before the linden blossoms begin.

Since there are few small-leaved lindens in the region, it is recommended to plant these trees on your own near the apiary so that the bees have a place to collect nectar from.

Apiaries and farms in the Sverdlovsk region

There are no large bee farms in the Sverdlovsk region, small farms are engaged in honey production. According to statistics, there are about 45 thousand bee colonies in the region, which are annually replenished with young breeding material. In the south-west of the region there is a good honey base for the development of the industry, so the bulk of beekeeping farms are located here.

Partly, local residents continue to engage in beekeeping, but industrial enterprises located near forests become an obstacle to this. Bees are very sensitive to pollution, therefore, in large industrial areas, their mass death is observed.

From private households and entrepreneurs of the Sverdlovsk region, it is worth noting the following:

• HRC "Magic Bee";
• PC Stepanov A.;
• PC Detkina T.;
• LLC Pasika.

Suitable bees

At the beginning of the 20th century, Caucasian and Carpathian breeds of bees began to be imported to the territory of the Sverdlovsk region. The Central Russian variety remained only in the Urals zone. In recent years, the Karnika breed has become popular in the region.

Description of suitable bee breeds for the Sverdlovsk region:

1. Carpathian. A worker bee of the Carpathian breed can be easily recognized by its appearance - it has a gray body color and a silver edge on its stomach.The uterus differs from working individuals not only in size, but also in color - it can be either almost black or richly cherry. Carpathian bees work even in bad weather, and they are not afraid of drizzling rain. This breed tolerates wintering well, consuming food economically, so there is little death in the hives in spring. In spring, the growth of the bee colony occurs very quickly, and they make their first flight a few days earlier than other varieties. Another advantage of the Carpathian is the maximum use of herbs for collecting nectar. The long proboscis of working individuals allows insects to reach the deepest nectaries. During the season, one bee family is able to produce up to 20 frames with honeycombs. The nature of the insects is peaceful, and many beekeepers note that they can be worked with without even using protective equipment.
2. Karnika. The bees of this breed are quite large - the weight of the fetal uterus reaches 205 grams. The color of the karnik bee is silver-gray, without yellowness.The insect has a pointed abdomen and a proboscis 6.5 mm long. The nature of the bees of this breed is peaceful and calm, they allow the beekeeper to clean the hive without any problems. When transporting insects over long distances, there are also no problems, since they behave quietly. Karnika are excellent pollinators, they collect nectar even on meager plantations of honey plants. The only drawback of the breed is that the queen lays an average number of eggs (no more than 2000), according to this indicator, the karnika loses to other varieties.

Currently, attempts are being made to reproduce the bees of the Central Russian breed, as the most suitable for the climatic conditions of the Sverdlovsk region.

What kind of honey is produced

In the northern part of the region, the main varieties of honey are linden and fireweed. Raspberry and flowery meadow varieties are also harvested here.

A brief description of honey:

1. Lime. It has a light yellow or golden color and is especially popular with consumers. The product is characterized by a sweet taste, strong floral aroma and hints of bitterness. If you keep linden honey at room temperature, then after a month it crystallizes into a fine-grained or coarse-grained mass. It contains a high glucose content - up to 55%. Linden honey is used to treat colds and inflammation of the digestive system.
2. Kipreyny. Ivan-tea honey has a greenish or yellow tint. The product quickly crystallizes, after which it acquires a milky white color and a thick consistency. The taste of honey is very sweet and delicate, has a rich floral aroma. The product contains antioxidant and tannins, a complex of vitamins and bioflavonoids, as well as micro and macro elements. This product is recommended for women who are breastfeeding.

Wintering

Because the region has a harsh and frosty climate with a long winter, wintering of insects is organized in a special winter hut. The main task facing beekeepers is to prevent moisture from entering the hives. If the wintering was long and unfavorable, an extra early overflight in greenhouses is recommended.

Prospects for beekeeping

The harsh climate of the region does not allow the creation of large apiaries, but small beekeeping farms are successfully operating here. Of the problems that local beekeepers face, it is worth noting the undeveloped market for the sale of products and the lack of branded stores with honey and other products.

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