Argentine Beekeepers' Magazine

(Espacio Apícola, Córdoba, Argentina, October 10th. 2020)) Contracts already exceed US $ 3,000 per honey ton, and operations are being carried out at US $ 3,100 for conventional honey, below 50 mm Pfund.
United States demand is strong.
After having detected glyphosate in manuka honeys imported from New Zealand, Japan honey market faces serious difficulties. Based on this, a tolerance threshold would have been set below 10 ppb (mg/Tn), which would virtually leave Argentine honeys out of that market. Japan's honey packers are negotiating a higher threshold with their government.
The price of honey paid to producers in Argentina is betwen $ 190 to $ 200 per kilogram for honeys below 50mm Pfund, (two hundred Argentine pesos/kg) plus VAT.
Despite the prevailing difficulties to move within the country, due to the restrictions imposed by the national government because COVID-19, pollination services in northern Argentina could be fulfilled. Although the citrus honey harvest has been good in Tucumán province, but producers in the region are concerned about the drought.
The production of algarrobo (similar mesquite) honey is good in the South West of Santiago del Estero province, while in the rest of the province the blossom is very uneven. The mistol tree has already started to bloom and, strangely, the atamisqui is also blooming early.
The Northwest of Córdoba province is already populated by transhumant beekeepers awaiting a blossom that is delayed in Cruz del Eje area and to the west. The threat of fires in this region is high and beekeepers are on the alert to move their beehives if necessary. This is not the case of many informal producers who have not even been able to reach their apiaries because they do not have the corresponding authorizations.
The north of Santa Fe province started very well and early. The drought is not a problem for the native forest areas there at this time. With some rainfalls over melilotus and sunflower they will get a good harvest that has already started with a supper of algarrobo honey. The south center of Santa Fe province, where there are more prairies, more dependendant of spring rains, they have some problems.
In Entre Ríos province, beekeepers who moved to the Paranacito coast (photo) are very hopeful, making nucleus and waiting to get a honey supper before their next move.