Will Rotational Cutting of Clover Increase the Quantity and Quality of Honey in a Specific Habitat?

Project Overview

FNC98-212
Project Type: Farmer/Rancher
Funds awarded in 1998: $3,347.00
Projected End Date: 12/31/1998
Region: North Central
State: Missouri
Project Coordinator:
James Harlow

Annual Reports

Commodities

  • Agronomic: grass (misc. perennial), hay
  • Animals: bees

Practices

  • Animal Production: grazing - rotational, feed/forage
  • Education and Training: demonstration

    Summary:

    Habitat enhancement can have a positive impact on honeybee populations and honey production.

    Objective: To demonstrate that rotational cutting of the habitat will increase honeybee populations, create healthier bees and enhance quantity and quality of honey.

    By rotational cutting, the coordinator hopes to provide a constant source of nectar for the entire season. Due to loss of lease on clover land, he changed plans and subsituted newly seeded alfalfa to conduct the project.

    Results: The rotational cutting was not possible in 1999; therefore, the project was extended one year to gather data.

    Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture or SARE.