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Beekeeper
Beekeepers look after beehives and produce honey, wax, pollen and other products for sale to the public. They also provide pollination services to horticultural and seed crop producers. Beekeepers' tasks vary depending on the season.
In spring (breeding season) they:
- check the food supply, health and laying ability of the queen bee
- check beehives to prevent swarming
- breed replacement queen bees
- provide a pollination service by renting hives to orchards and farms
- collect the hives when the flowering period is over.
In summer they:
- visit apiaries (also known as a bee yard) and place boxes on hives to prepare for honey production.
In autumn (harvest time) they:
- shake bees off combs or use a blower and collect the honey
- extract honey from the comb using machinery at the honey house
- send the honey away in drums for further processing into retail packs
- store empty boxes away until the next summer
- may collect other bee products, such as pollen, propolis (an antibiotic gum or resin) and wax
- may collect and package bees for export
- feed hives to ensure that they have sufficient food until spring.
Throughout the year they:
- check hives for diseases such as the varroa mite or American foulbrood (AFB)
- inspect hives using hive tools and a smoker
- build and repair hives, although they mostly do this in winter
- divide colonies for replacement or increases in bee numbers
- run the business and keep records
- repair mechanical equipment
- may be involved in retailing, processing and packing honey.
To become a beekeeper all that is needed is a natural interest in bees and honey production. However, tertiary courses in beekeeping and agricultural sciences will be beneficial.
Useful Information
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Career Snapshot Beekeeper |
In Demand
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Qualification Required |
Work Outdoors |
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Maths Required |
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Science Required |
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This is a general guide - it is important to check admission requirements with the various training institutions first because entry requirements may vary.
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