EU s Apiculture Programme in Finland 1 September August Background

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1 EU s Apiculture Programme in Finland 1 September August 2016

2 2 Contents 1. Background Number of hives in production 4 2. Aim 4 3. Methods 4 A) Technical assistance 4 Electronic communication and study environment 4 D) Determining the physical and chemical characteristics of honey 5 F) Collaboration and applied research 5 4. Practical measures and costs 6 5. Aid applications 6 6. Timetable 6 7. Budget 6 8. Monitoring 6 9. Authors of the apiculture programme Structure of the apiculture sector in Finland at start of programming period 7

3 3 EU s Apiculture Programme in Finland 1 September August Background In Finland, apiculture is carried out under extreme conditions. Because of Finland s long, cold winters, investment in the structure and thermal insulation of production facilities and hives is much higher than the EU average. Climate also explains why winter feed consumption is high, at around 25 kg per hive. For these reasons, honey production costs are high in Finland. However, low hive density, long days, good humidity conditions, abundant nectar yield from flowers and the high level of professionalism of beekeepers means that Finland has quite a high long-term average honey yield at around 39 kg per hive. Apiculture is concentrated in southern Finland; in Uusimaa, Southwestern Finland, Häme and Pirkanmaa. This region accounts for some 70% of honey production. Central Finland is a fairly new area for apiculture, but even here it is profitable, particularly as a secondary and ancillary industry. The volume of honey production in central Finland varies more than in southern Finland, making production more of a risk. Apiculture can take place virtually anywhere in Finland, the northernmost hives being some 250 km north of the Arctic Circle near Inarijärvi. In the last five years, the winter losses of beehives have increased from ten per cent to an average of 18 per cent. The most significant reasons for these losses are thought to be the varroa mite and viral diseases. With the aid of the beekeepers observation network, a study began in Finland in spring 2012 to monitor the effectiveness of varroa control using a two-stage control procedure based on organic acids. The procedure was developed as part of the EU s apiculture programme between 1998 and There has also been a year-on-year increase in the number of incidents involving bears and the need for protection against such incidents. This is because the number of bears causing incidents is greater than before, and incidents have also begun to occur in densely cultivated areas in central Finland, Pirkanmaa and south Savo. Over the past ten years, the average annual production of honey in Finland has been 1.8 million kg. Over the same period, consumption has varied from 475 g to 590 g per person per year. Self-sufficiency has averaged 62%. At its highest, consumption totalled 3.1 million kg in the crop periods. In the past few years, the number of beekeepers has increased by a couple of hundred. There are currently approximately beekeepers in Finland, of which were members of the Finnish Beekeepers Association [Suomen Mehiläishoitajain Liitto] at the end of The main reason for this increase is the active recruitment of new beekeepers and the publicity given to the apiculture sector in recent years. There has been much talk in the media of the significance of pollination by bees, the disappearance of bees, the effects of control substances on pollinating insects and urban beekeeping. The publicity received by the sector has increased the interest in beekeeping. Beekeepers are optimistic about the future of the sector. This is mainly because of the increased price of and demand for honey. Because of the fluctuation in the number of natural pollinators, demand for pollination services has also increased, particularly among fruit and berry farmers in south and central Finland Number of hives in production Hive numbers have varied according to honey reserves and honey profitability. One of the targets for the programming period was to find new ways of marketing honey so that the number of hives could

4 4 increase to over productive hives. In autumn 2012, approximately beehives were left to overwinter. The number of hives is predicted to increase to over productive hives during the coming three-year period. 2. Target To improve the conditions for the production and marketing of honey products in Finland. 3. Methods A) Technical assistance The aim of technical assistance is to enhance the production of honey products and product marketing conditions by improving production techniques and product quality. An apiculture advisor will thus be hired to oversee implementation of the programme. The key tasks for the programming period are regional training and general seminars for beekeepers. This includes training for trainers, thematic training in different parts of the country, seminars on production methods, a development seminar for the bee sector, provision of training and study materials and staff training for each period. Training for trainers is used to maintain the local trainer network. The network includes 25 active trainers from different parts of Finland whose task is to provide regional basic training and guide beginner beekeepers in their own local area. To improve beekeepers professional skills, there are seminars focusing on topical issues in the field in question. Seminar training will be organised regionally in such a way as to ensure that all beekeepers are able to participate. The beekeeping sector development seminar goes through and plans the priorities for the areas of activity for the operational period, targets and measures to achieve the targets. Workers involved in the project will receive training in various subjects, including communications and profitability. The main project topics will be used to draw up teaching material for trainers and lecture notes and guides for participants. Details of the programme s contents, results, guidelines and training are provided in the Mehiläinenlehti newsletter on the website mehilaishoitajat.fi, and via mail shots and press releases. Local associations also advertise their training programmes via local channels and, if necessary, provide onfarm guidance. Beekeepers who are not members of the Finnish Beekeepers Association are also informed about training. During the programme period, we will also participate in key international conferences (the EurBee Conferences in 2014 and 2016, the Apimondia Congress in 2015). During the programming period, an apiculture advisor will also take part in the Nordic and Baltic countries cooperation conference. In addition, Finland participates in the Nordic and Baltic countries cooperation projects and the COLOSS network, and is developing bee refinement inspections in cooperation with Germany. International cooperation is also an integral part of the training of employees and key elected officials, and of the exchange programme for experts. Cooperation means that the most recent information concerning apiculture can be swiftly and efficiently passed on for beekeepers to use. Electronic communication and study environment During the programming period an electronic communication and study environment will be created. All key study material previously produced will be stored in the communication and study environment. Furthermore, training videos will be produced for the most important beekeeping operations. In particular, the communication and study environment will identify issues relating to the brand image of

5 5 honey and communicating this image, developing beekeeping techniques, the profitability of honey production, preventing varroa mites and monitoring scale hives. The main factors influencing the profitability of apiculture are labour input, yield capacity, the selling price of honey and investment in production. Beekeepers belonging to the observation network are invited to an annual training meeting at which focuses particularly on the profitability of production, preventing varroa, and monitoring scale hives. D) Determining the physical and chemical characteristics of honey The object of determining the physical and chemical characteristics of honey is to improve monitoring and, with the help of the feedback thus obtained, improve the intrinsic and extrinsic quality of honey. Intrinsic quality means quality within the meaning of the Honey Directive (2001/110/EC), and extrinsic quality means organoleptic quality. Monitoring quality indirectly improves the quality of production too, primarily processing, liquefaction and storage methods. Honey quality is determined on the basis of approximately 140 samples. The samples are used to determine the main features that characterise the quality of honey, such as moisture, HMF content, invertase ( diastase in the Honey Directive 2001/110/EC), electrical conductivity and organoleptic evaluation. Pollen is determined on the basis of 100 samples. In addition to the above, checks are also carried out, where necessary, on the quality of liquid honey and the lack of residue in the products. On the basis of the feedback, beekeepers are advised to pay attention to critical points in their production processes that influence product quality. F) Collaboration and applied research The objective of collaborative work is to concentrate scarce resources for rapid deployment on certain types of research and development work whenever the need arises. A specially hired research and testing coordinator implements the programme. The development of beekeeping techniques is essential if efficiency and profitability are to be improved. Suggestions for improving the productivity of the apiculture sector are sought from various quarters, including the beekeepers observation network. During the programming period, the network will help report on the effectiveness and ergonomics of beekeeping activities, and the profitability of apiculture. The commencement and end of the harvesting period, along with the intensity of yield accumulation, are monitored by means of scale hives located in various parts of the country. Changes in the weight of scale hives are posted directly on the internet, allowing beekeepers to monitor honey yield accumulation and plan their management measures. Scale hive data also provide a basis for scientific investigations of the nectar yield of melliferous plants. As far as possible, more scales will be acquired during the programme. The varroa mite prevention procedure is tested in cooperation with the beekeepers observation network. The task of beekeepers in the observation network is to monitor the effectiveness of varroa control using a safe, easy-to-use procedure. If necessary, the effect of new procedures will be tested before they are used. Other applied research and testing activities will be carried out and reports produced with different research bodies concerning pollination, the effects, properties and composition of honey, the assessment of queen bees and honey marketing opportunities. Furthermore, international research is closely monitored and reported on through the Mehiläinen lehti and electronic communications.

6 6 4. Practical measures and costs Period I Period II Period III A ) Technical assistance Technical implementation and on-farm guidance, project workers Regional training and general seminars for beekeepers Information campaigns for beekeepers International cooperation and conferences Electronic communication and study environment Technical assistance grand total D ) Physical-chemical characteristics of honey Honey analyses, sample collection, analyses and reporting Physical and chemical characteristics of honey grand total F) Collaboration and applied research Coordination and information concerning research, project worker Costs of applied research Applied research grand total Measures, grand total Aid applications In Finland, aid for beekeeping is regulated by the Act on the organisation of the agricultural products market (999/2012). Section 27 of the Act sets out provisions on eligibility for beekeeping aid, and Section 29 sets out provisions concerning applications for beekeeping aid. In Finland, applications for beekeeping aid are sent to the Agency for Rural Affairs. 6. Timetable Programme measures will be implemented in the period 1 September August Budget Income Period I Period II Period III 1. EU funding National funding

7 Expenditure A) Technical assistance D) Physical-chemical characteristics of honey F) Collaboration and applied research Expenditure total Income/expenditure difference Monitoring Monitoring plan required under Article 4 of Commission Regulation (EC) No 917/2004 on detailed rules to implement Council Regulation (EC) No 797/2004 on actions in the field of beekeeping: The on-the-spot checks to be carried out under Article 4 of Commission Regulation (EC) No 917/2004 are the responsibility of the audit unit of the Finnish Agency for Rural Affairs. Monitoring targets the organisation or organisations implementing the programme in Finland. On-the-spot checks will be made at least once during the three-year programming period. The on-the-spot checks provided for under Article 4 of the Regulation are designed to verify compliance with the terms on which aid is granted under apiculture programmes. Checks are carried out on the breakdown of actions, the correct use of payments and the implementation of programmes, and the beneficiary s internal procedures are checked to ensure they allow programme objectives to be attained. Under Article 5(2) of Commission Regulation (EC) No 917/2004, particular attention is paid to ensuring that the same measure is not the subject of payments under another aid scheme. Administrative checks are made of all payment applications and aid applications. Payments are made on the basis of a cost statement. Checks are also carried out to ensure that operational expenditure relates to the programme to be implemented. 9. Authors of the apiculture programme The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has drawn up Finland s apiculture programme in cooperation with the Agency for Rural Affairs and the Finnish Beekeepers Association. 10. Structure of the apiculture sector in Finland at start of programming period Hives and beekeepers Professional beekeepers hives (2012) Beehives, total (autumn 2012) Professional beekeepers (over 150 hives, 8-year average) 37 Beekeepers, total (2012) Marketing structures Production (10-year average): 100% / tonnes Direct sales to consumers ( yield survey)32% / 580 tonnes Direct sales to retailers ( yield survey) 34% / 610 tonnes Sales to packagers ( yield survey) 34% / 610 tonnes Sales to industry ( yield survey) 0%

8 Import (2012 Customs data) tonnes Export (2012 Customs data) 7 tonnes Under the rules of the internal market, not all import and export consignments must be entered in product statistics, so Customs statistics are indicative only Producer prices (excl. VAT) Bulk honey price ( yield survey) Retail price (yield survey 2012) Direct sales price (2012 yield survey) Production costs (2012 excl. VAT) Production of honey Fixed costs Variable costs Total EUR/kg 7.29 EUR/kg 8.01 EUR/kg 1.89 EUR/kg 5.07 EUR/kg 6.96 EUR/kg Honey packaging Fixed costs Variable costs Total Total production costs 0.09 EUR/kg 1.20 EUR/kg 1.29 EUR/kg 8.26 EUR/kg Breakdown of expenditure (2012 excl. VAT) Varroa control costs (monitoring and control work 0.5 hours/hive) + control substance thymol, EUR 3.30/hive, formic acid EUR 2.50/hive (average: EUR 2.90/hive) + oxalic acid EUR 0.35/hive) EUR 8.74/hive Winter feeding costs (28 x EUR 1.17/litre) EUR 28.99/hive Packaging (jars and packaging crates) 0.49 EUR/kg Transhumance (small-scale in Finland) Honey quality (not applicable in Finland)