Union and Apaex demand 20 euros per hive for bee-eater control.

The Union and the Professional Association of Beekeepers of Extremadura (Apaex) have urged the Junta de Extremadura to provide direct aid of 20 euros per hive and to implement effective control measures for the bee-eater population. They are calling for "urgent measures" to tackle the "critical and uncertain beekeeping campaign" anticipated for 2026, which is affected by severe winter storms, spring droughts, summer fires, high production costs, hive mortality, the bee-eater plague, diesel prices nearing 2 euros per liter, and uncontrolled imports of honey. They stress the need for economic compensation similar to that offered in Andalusia and Catalonia, citing that the bee-eater's impact on hive mortality ranges from 40 to 50 percent, leading to a loss of 120 euros per hive, and highlighting that this is the only livestock disaster without public aid.