Professional Documents
Culture Documents
March/April 1994
Eric C. Mussen, Extension Apiculturist, UC Davis
The number of US beekeepers has declined steadily since World War II, partly because land
development has eliminated many flowering plants from which bees collect nectar to make
honey. However, nearly 100,000 people in the US still keep bees for fun or profit.
Beekeepers enjoy being their own bosses--deciding what to do and when to do it, being
responsible for their own successes or failures. Beekeepers are adept at, and spend a
significant amount of time in, assembling and repairing hives, frames, and other equipment.
They enjoy the natural world and appreciate the contribution their bees make in increasing
plants and benefiting the animals that use the plants for food and shelter.
foam has floated to the top, the honey is poured into jars. Labels are placed on jars just before
the honey is sold.
"Nuc" (nucleus) refers to a queen, bees, brood, and food covering two to five frames, or to a
specially designed small hive box holding a three- to five-frame nuc.
Bee brush is a long-bristled, soft brush to sweep bees from combs.
Escape board is a divider placed between hive boxes containing gate-like devices that allow
bees to pass only unidirectionally from one box to another.
Veil and hat prevent stings to the face if the smoke fails to calm the bees while a hive tool is
being used to break apart the propolis bonds between the components in the hive.
Smoker and hive tool are essentials that are used daily.
White coveralls protect clothing and prevent stings.
Elbow-length gloves keep bees away from hands and out of sleeves.
Sources of Bees
Purchase a "package" of bulk bees containing a queen to install in an empty hive.
Purchase functioning colonies, hives and all, from another beekeeper.
Purchase a nuc--a queen, some workers, brood, and food can be purchased on three to five
frames for installation in an empty hive.
Catch a swarm. Police and fire departments and animal control agencies will appreciate you,
but swarms come with problems: 1) they may swarm again, 2) they may carry diseases or
parasites, and 3) they may not be as gentle as breeder stocks. Stocks can be changed by
replacing the old queen with a new one.
Income
Costs to start a beekeeping business are not high. There are quite a few ways to make money
from bees. Most beekeepers rely on honey and beeswax production and commercial crop
pollination.
Honey production depends on the availability of nectar producing plants. Production is lowest
in areas that receive little rain. The color and flavor of honeys vary with the origin of the
nectar. Lighter colored, milder flavored "table" honeys sell for a few
Vehicles
Flat bed trucks (each) 16-1800
Bee booms (each) (mounted) 2,500
Forklifts (each) new: 16-18,000; used: 8-10,000
Pickups 14,000
Warehouse 6,000
Labor
Self 30,000
Help, full time, each 20,000
Help, part time, each 1,630
Overhead
Utilities (year) 2,400
Insurance varies
Workman's compensation, health insurance 13,000