Argentine Beekeepers' Magazine

(Espacio Apícola, April 18th, 2025) Marked by significant climatic phenomena, Argentina is closing a beekeeping season aligned with the forecast published on September 25th, based on the one provided by Mario Navarro from his meteorological center in Salsipuedes, Córdoba. He predicted a hot end of December and January with rain starting in the second half of January and extreme events, such as floods, at the end of summer and into autumn.

Among several extreme weather events were high temperatures recorded in successive heat waves, with many consecutive days of temperatures around and above 40ºC and nighttime temperatures that did not drop below 27ºC in much of the north-central part of the country. As far as sudden weather changes and storms are concerned, the storm that struck southwestern Buenos Aires province, particularly affecting the city of Bahía Blanca, was the most intense, resulting in 16 fatalities, immense material losses, and that horrifying feeling of dispossession and uncertainty.

The photo sequence illustrating this article shows the effect in the countryside by runoff. Mr. Angel González from "17 de Agosto" town sent us the photo of Mr. José Berot, showing a gully more than 3 meters high in the property of Mr. Javier Rosas, on the 5th meridian, which marks the territorial boundary between the provinces of Buenos Aires to the east and La Pampa to the west. The soil, which already has very little structure, absorbed whatever moisture it could, as seen in the moisture mark at the top of the soil profile, until it collapsed and this ravine opened up to evacuate to lower areas. More than 300 mm of rain fell in the region on March 7, 2025, and Mr. Eduardo Fernández from Villa Iris town told us that several roads had been blocked and a significant number of beehives lost. National Route 35, a strategic trunk road linking Bahía Blanca with Santa Rosa (La Pampa province) and Córdoba (1000 km far from Bahía to the North), was blocked at several points. As of today, it remains blocked for 65 km from Bahía Blanca, according to the National Roads Department website.

Mr. Fernando Walker sent us the next two photos from near Villa Iris thirty days later and close to the aforementioned field, showing an exuberant bloom of "Flor Amarilla" (Yellow flower) identified and described by Ofelia Naab PhD and BA Angélica Tamame at Espacio Apícola magazine No. 72 as Diplotaxis tenuifolia, a Brassicaceae (a relative of mustard, rapeseed, etc.). This autumnal contribution is abundant in nectar, enough to support the hives and slightly improve the profits, and excellent pollen to help the bees winter well and have a reserve of protein for spring. A rebirth of hope after so much pain and loss caused by the extraordinary meteorological phenomenon.

Other regions of the country surpassed 60kg (132 pounds) honey harvest. This was the case for the second consecutive year in the transverse strip of Buenos Aires province crossing the towns of Chivilcoy and 9 de Julio, as reported by local beekeepers who visited the Chivilcoy Api Expo last Saturday. On that occasion, we also spoke with beekeepers who move beehives to the islands of the Paraná River Delta for the Caá-tai (Polygonum spp.) flowering, where this year the arrival of its nectar was delayed, although the flowering was adjusted towards the end of the season, resulting in satisfactory yields.

Other beekeepers who recently closed the season are in the east of Entre Ríos province. The Chilca (Baccharis spp.) in the region reportedly failed, while native forests, soybean crops, and other crops yielded good results in the first part of the season. Already in the final stage, those who early entered the eucalyptus plantation with strong beehives were able to get good honey —Mr. Enrique Klauser tells us—. Then, the rains halted the eucalyptus nectar flow but also encouraged the growth of creeping weeds, which significantly improved the colonies and allowed for a rare end-of-season beehive division in an area where eucalyptus tends to excessively wear down the beehives. With this, we are already entering what will be barely three months of winter recess, since by the end of July and August, many are already migrating to the north of the country searching avocados, blueberries, and citrus fruits, others to the Chaco forest in Santiago del Estero and Córdoba, looking for the flowering of algarrobos (Prosopis spp.), mistoles (Sarcomphalus mistol, former Zizyphus mistol), piquillín, or atamisqui, others together with rapeseed crops (Brassica napus), Vicia villosa in what is promoted today as a services or cover crop, or settling in the Río Negro Valley for the pollination of plums, pears, and apples, or in Mendoza and San Juan provinces for the pollination of aples, almond trees and then onions, carrots, and other seeds for horticulture. Nature does not stop, and neither does the beekeeper.

Fernando Esteban