Want Better Hive Survival and Higher Profits? Organic Beekeeping May Be Your Sweetest Option Yet

New research from the U.S. offers valuable insights for Kiwi beekeepers wondering how to boost both hive health and the bottom line, without going fully chemical.

A recent three-year study from Penn State University has revealed that organic-style hive management practices, not chemical-free, can be more profitable and sustainable for backyard and sideline beekeepers than both conventional and treatment-free methods.

Here’s why New Zealand beekeepers should take notice.

What Was Studied?

Researchers compared three hive management systems on 144 colonies over three years:

• Chemical-free (no Varroa treatment at all),

• Conventional (including synthetic miticides), and

• Organic (natural acids/oils like formic, oxalic, and thymol, plus integrated pest management strategies).

Each system had 12 colonies per site, mimicking small-scale beekeeping setups familiar to most New Zealand hobbyists.

Chemical-Free = High Losses

The “treatment-free” approach - popular among natural beekeepers - led to the worst results:

• By Year 3, colonies dwindled to an average of just 2 hives out of 12.

• Profits sank into negative $1,648 per operation.

• Honey harvests were minimal, and colony splits (a potential income stream) were essentially nonexistent.

In short, without any Varroa control, even mite-resistant queens couldn’t save the operation from collapse.

Organic = High Survival and Strong Returns

By contrast, organic beekeeping - treating with approved natural miticides and performing drone brood removal - had:

• Over 90% colony survived after three winters,

• 50% more honey than the conventional system by Year 3, and

• $1,483 net profit per season—the highest of the three systems.

Even better: organic colonies were productive enough to split and sell, creating extra income.

Lessons for NZ Beekeepers

While this study took place in the U.S., the implications for New Zealand are clear:

1. Doing nothing about Varroa is a false economy. Treatment-free might feel natural, but without reliable mite control, you risk high losses and long-term financial pain.

2. Organic strategies strike a balance. By using natural miticides and IPM techniques, organic management can reduce chemical inputs while keeping hives strong and productive.

3. Profitability isn’t just about honey. Strong hives = more splits = more value. Don’t underestimate the income from selling surplus colonies.

   
   

Want to Try Organic? Start Here:

• Monitor mites monthly (alcohol wash or sugar shake).

• Use oxalic acid, formic acid, or thymol when thresholds are exceeded.

• Practice drone brood removal to suppress mite buildup.

• Ensure strong nutrition—especially pre-winter—with the right feeding plan.

• Aim to keep colonies consistently above 8–10 hives for better sustainability.

  
  

Final Word

If you’re a hobby or small-scale beekeeper in Aotearoa looking to lower losses, reduce synthetic inputs, and still earn from your hives, going organic might be the most realistic and rewarding path forward.

As the research shows, sustainable doesn’t have to mean unprofitable—if you do it right.

Based on: Underwood et al. (2025), Journal of Economic Entomology. Read the full study here: https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/toaf133