The 2026 honey season may be one of the most difficult for Ukrainian beekeeping in recent years. The results of wintering have not yet been finalized, but it is already clear that losses among apiaries, especially those that wintered outdoors, will exceed the indicators of previous years, agronews.ua reports.

The main reasons for such losses remain the weakening of bee colonies and a high level of aphid infestation. However, this year two more significant factors have been added - a lack of feed and difficult access for bees to them due to prolonged drought and low humidity combined with cold temperatures.

The results of wintering vary significantly depending on the region and the preparation of apiaries. Some farms have recorded significant losses, while apiaries that have carefully prepared for winter demonstrate relatively stable indicators. Drought and frost weakened bee colonies, which affected the spring honey harvest. The summer honey harvest was also lower than average, causing a shortage of the product and an increase in its prices. A similar situation was observed in European countries.

“The low harvest negatively affected the financial capabilities of beekeepers - many saved on treatment against the varroa mite. This increased the effect of high aphid infestation caused by weather conditions on the strength of bee colonies,” explains Yaroslav Bilyk, executive director of Pasika 21.

Warm winters in previous years reduced the discipline of preparing for wintering, and the weak honey harvest forced some beekeepers to remove more honey from their hives than was advisable. As a result, some colonies exhausted their food supplies by early February. The frosts that destroyed the flowers deprived the bees of a balanced diet: the lack of nectar can be compensated for by feeding, while the lack of pollen — the main source of protein and trace elements — is much more difficult.

Despite the increase in honey prices, the costs of bee packages, colonies, inventory and materials have increased at the same time. Therefore, although beekeepers traditionally seek to expand production during periods of high prices, the current season is accompanied by increased risks. The results of the 2026 season will largely depend on weather conditions and market conditions, leaving the prospects for beekeeping in Ukraine uncertain.