Beekeeping worth $2275M to New Zealand

Press, 20 July 1987, Page 5

Beekeeping worth $2275M to New Zealand

"The value of the beekeeping industry to New Zealand is estimated by the Ministry of Agriculture to be $2275 million,” said Mr David Butcher the Under-Secretary for Agriculture when opening the 1987 annual conference of the national Beekeepers’ Association in Christchurch. “A recent study by the Ministry reports that New Zealand beekeepers produce $2O million of honey and wax each year.” “Bees were also responsible for pollinating more than $509 million of agricultural crops. The real value of bees to new Zealand is in pollinating pasture legumes. Without bees farmers would not obtain free nitrogen in their soils.” "To replace this service from the bees with urea fertiliser would cost us $1746 million a year. “That makes the value of bees, $2255 million frompollination, $2275 million in total. Beekeepers faced a difficult trading environment Mr Butcher said. “Both their European and Japanese markets are being flooded by sub-

sidised American honey and elsewhere New Zealand is competing against honey which has been exluded from the United States. “Surplus crops will have to be disposed on the local market and could depress prices further at the retail level. Although serious for beekeepers this could be a bonus for the famiy buyer.” “It will also give our honey a marketing edge in the groups defined as having potential for increased honey consumption — the over 50 age group; couples without children and the health food market,” he said.