Beekeeping in the Valencian Community faces a difficult 2026

Beekeeping in the Valencian Community faces a difficult 2026. The farmers' union LA UNIÓ warns that drought combined with heavy predation by the bee-eater bird will reduce honey production by over 40%. Many apiaries also suffer increasing bee mortality and rising costs, threatening hive productivity. The drought limits flowering, while the bee-eater pressure affects certain apiary locations. Additional expenses for feeding, management, transport, and swarm replacement further strain beekeepers, risking many operations' survival.