The creation of an industrial apiary is considered a profitable activity. This term refers to a beekeeping farm with 500 or more colonies. Industrial farming is aimed at obtaining maximum profits from the sale of honey and other bee products. At the same time, great importance is given to automating processes and minimizing human participation. Thanks to this, one worker is able to service more than 1000 hives.
Differences between industrial beekeeping and amateur beekeeping
For professional bee breeding to be successful, it is important to comply with a number of conditions. At the same time, an industrial apiary is characterized by the following differences from an amateur one:
- Approach to organizing the economy. In a home apiary with up to 10 hives, special attention is paid to each bee colony and all hives. For beekeepers, the process itself is more important. In an industrial apiary, special attention is paid to increasing profitability without losing the quality of honey. Therefore, the main task of production is to increase volume.
- Number of hives. An amateur apiary includes up to 10 bee families. At industrial enterprises their number reaches 500.
- Automation and use of human labor. The main difference is process automation. Industrial apiaries transfer maximum processes to technical equipment. This helps increase production volumes and save human resources. At the same time, human manual labor is mainly used in home apiaries. Beekeepers use small honey extractors and get a minimum of honey.
- Optimization of work processes. Amateur apiaries are usually maintained by a family of 1-2 people. Industrial farms provide care for 1,000 bee colonies. Moreover, this requires one qualified employee.
- Common standards. Industrial apiaries produce honey and other types of beekeeping products according to fixed state or international standards. This helps to obtain a safer product.
Goals and objectives
Each production has its own goals and objectives. Professional beekeeping is no exception. The main task of each beekeeper is to obtain and subsequently sell honey and related products.
To conduct full-fledged activities, it is worth equipping the apiary according to all the rules and buying bees. This will make it possible to produce a lot of products and sell them.
The main tasks in this case include the following:
- technical equipment of the apiary;
- choice of insect breed;
- providing suitable conditions for bee colonies;
- search for channels for selling finished products.
Advantages and disadvantages
The advantages of an industrial apiary include the following:
- Opportunity to save money. Much less money is spent on equipment that is required for the normal functioning of one bee colony.
- Increased income. Due to scale, it is possible to increase profitability.
- Good payback. The industrial apiary is considered one of the most profitable types of farming. The payback period for an apiary for 500 families takes 2 years.
Creating an industrial apiary also has a number of disadvantages:
- The need for the ability to work correctly with bees. Insect bites are very painful and dangerous.
- Need for organizational skills.
- The need for proper care of bees.
- High competition. To make an apiary profitable, you need to take into account many nuances.
Is it profitable to keep bees?
Many novice beekeepers are interested in whether beekeeping is profitable. Practice shows that this business is considered profitable. However, this requires a minimum of 100 families and compliance with technology.
The profitability of the business depends directly on the beekeeper. It is recommended to find distribution channels and supply high quality products. Otherwise, honey will not be in demand. In such a situation, the farm will not bring profit.
Potential Risks
When conducting any type of activity, there are many threats that are beyond the control of beekeepers. The main risks include the following:
- natural disasters;
- theft;
- fires;
- bees leaving the hives.
Terms of organization
To open an industrial apiary, it is important to take into account many nuances. This business is considered seasonal. The maximum honey flow occurs from April to August.
Many jobs are automated, but it is worth hiring employees for ancillary activities. If the processes in the apiary are mechanical in nature, a minimum of people will be needed to run the farm.
For the normal operation of an industrial apiary, it is important to do the following:
- Install equipment for pumping out honey and processing secondary raw materials - in particular honey.
- Choose a suitable breed of bees. This is required depending on the region.
- Change the queen bee in a timely manner.
- Find reliable suppliers who will provide materials and feed for work.
- Provide quality care for bees.
For a business to be legal, it is required to register as a sole proprietor or limited liability company.
The choice of hives is of great importance when organizing such a farm. Suitable options include:
- multi-body design with nesting frames 435x200 millimeters and extensions;
- single-hull structure with a nesting frame 435x300 millimeters and 2 extensions measuring 435x145 millimeters.
It is important that the design meets the following conditions:
- interchangeability of frames and other elements;
- simplicity, convenience and ease;
- elimination of bee diseases;
- quick preparation for transporting hives.
Business profitability
Experts note that profitability parameters average 20-25%. Equipment costs are usually recouped within a season. Sometimes you can even make a small profit.
Each beekeeper handles the sale of the product independently. Some sell honey to friends, others at fairs. However, the most profitable option involves organizing close cooperation with different honey sellers.
It is important to consider that beekeeping products have a long shelf life. Therefore, there are no losses from non-operational sales.
Features in Russia
In Russia there is a Federal Law on Beekeeping. There are also regional laws that regulate the work of beekeepers and the bee business in different regions of the Russian Federation. The Federal Law regulates the main concepts that are directly related to beekeeping. It defines a number of principles for regulating this type of activity.
The legislation provides the following:
- Every year, when drawing up the budget, funds are allocated for the development and support of beekeeping.
- Requirements for veterinary and sanitary control of farms are becoming more stringent.
- Registration of an apiary is carried out in relation to the zone of its location.
- The condition of the farm is assessed every year. It is important to involve specially trained specialists.
- Bee farms require a sign that includes contact information and a registration number. It is important to label each hive.
Bee products should be tested in accordance with established standards. At the same time, government agencies control the purchase and sale of honey.
An industrial apiary is a profitable line of business that brings good income.To make a business profitable, it is important to follow certain rules and provide suitable conditions for insects.
