Have heard the figure that it's supposed to cost $400 a year to run a hive. I think that might be from the good old days when honey was gold and expenses were not something anyone worried about. People were also prepared to spend quite a bit of money just to get a few extra kg's.
Now though, a lot of people and certainly me, are cutting expenses to the bone. I'm wondering what people think the real cost of producing a kg of honey is.
Without giving all my information away, I can run through some rough figures, as expenses apply to me. Years ago I spent the extra money and bought all ETan boxes, and put high quality exterior grade house paint on them. That, plus plastic frames and durable bottom boards mean I have not had to spend anything much on equipment for several years, just some replacement queen excluders. I've also been trying to reduce hive numbers as I'm supposedly retired, and am down to about 330.
Site rental I give them some honey, last year I spent just under $1,000 on sugar, and used around $6,000 on mite treatments. AFB levy also. Other than that it's my time, and my vehicle. A beekeeper employing staff would have to pay wages, but that's not me. All up I'm sure my expenses are way under $400 a hive. Honey crop was down, I could have got more if I wanted to spend more, but as sales of honey were uncertain I sacrificed some production to keep costs down, I got a tad over 30 KG's a hive, as I left a lot on instead of buying sugar.
So all up I think it can be done for a lot under $400 a hive, if some productivity is sacrificed. Be interested to hear some rough figures from others.
Not a competition who is the cheapest though, high expenses are viable, if you are spending a dollar to make a dollar.
Now though, a lot of people and certainly me, are cutting expenses to the bone. I'm wondering what people think the real cost of producing a kg of honey is.
Without giving all my information away, I can run through some rough figures, as expenses apply to me. Years ago I spent the extra money and bought all ETan boxes, and put high quality exterior grade house paint on them. That, plus plastic frames and durable bottom boards mean I have not had to spend anything much on equipment for several years, just some replacement queen excluders. I've also been trying to reduce hive numbers as I'm supposedly retired, and am down to about 330.
Site rental I give them some honey, last year I spent just under $1,000 on sugar, and used around $6,000 on mite treatments. AFB levy also. Other than that it's my time, and my vehicle. A beekeeper employing staff would have to pay wages, but that's not me. All up I'm sure my expenses are way under $400 a hive. Honey crop was down, I could have got more if I wanted to spend more, but as sales of honey were uncertain I sacrificed some production to keep costs down, I got a tad over 30 KG's a hive, as I left a lot on instead of buying sugar.
So all up I think it can be done for a lot under $400 a hive, if some productivity is sacrificed. Be interested to hear some rough figures from others.
Not a competition who is the cheapest though, high expenses are viable, if you are spending a dollar to make a dollar.
