As one of Australia’s foremost bee experts, Lindsay gets a lot of questions, which he’s more than happy to share his knowledge on. Here are some of the most common ones.
Q:
How is the honey industry coping since the Australian bushfires earlier in the year?
Lindsay:
The industry is a strong one, resilient and mutable. Beekeepers are looking to rebuild and reconfigure their future plans. Some will turn to more pollination and some will turn to honey flows further away. The rain so far in 2020 is a real blessing.
Q:
How do ants get in a tightly sealed jar of honey (and then can’t get out)?
Lindsay:
Ants must love honey as much as you and I do! It’s amazing how they force their way into a jar of honey. The best solution is to store your honey away from ants, preferably at room temperature. You can create a moat by outing water in a container and putting the honey jar in the water… How much do you love your honey.
Q:
What are the biggest challenges in the Australian apiary industry at the moment?
Lindsay:
With COVID-19, moving between states to our various beehive sites has been a challenge as I’m sure it is for many other beekeepers. The bushfires are obviously another huge issue that will present an ongoing trial, as is the threat of imported, low-quality or even diluted honey. The almond industry is going from strength to strength in Australia, meaning keeping up with the demand for pollination is an exciting if difficult challenge.
Q:
How often do you have honey and how do you like it?
Lindsay:
I have honey every day. I like it on my cereal, in my coffee and on toast – I don’t get sick of it!