Beekeepers: Job Description, Education, Skills and Duties, Earnings and Outlook
Submitted by: paula
Job Overview Observations of swarms of bees might have developed beekeeping. Beehives are usually seen in holes of logs or trees. During early days, beekeepers had difficulties inspecting if the bees had disease or of they were queenless. They destroyed or damaged bee colony to extract honey. Some would burn sulphur at the entrance of the hive. Movable-comb hives have been built in 17th and 18th century which enabled the beekeeper to inspect combs without destroying them. Beekeeping had evolved since then. Now, extracting process and bee management is more advanced.
Education, Knowledge and Trainings Required
Recording data and information is included in beekeepers responsibility so they need to take Mathematics and Business classes to prepare them for this. Earth Science, Biology and Natural Science will help applicants understand the environment and bee pollination. An Agriculture class is also helpful to know more about animal and crop production. Some states have apprenticeship programs that will prepare beekeepers for this profession. Requirements for licenses are different in each state.
Skills and Abilities
Beekeepers should be outgoing and would love to work outdoors. They should also love nature. They need to know how to work independently. They need to have endurance and physical strength. They should not be allergic to insects or bee venom to be safe in this profession. Most beekeepers would be handling their own business so they should have a strong knowledge in economics. They should have a good marketing skill and should know how to run the business properly. They also need to have a basic business accounting skill to be able to handle finances effectively.
Duties
Setting up new hives and repairing the old ones are duties of a beekeeper.
They will then purchase bees and will set the hives near a field or an orchard where nectars are accessible for the bees. They will feed and take care of the bees as well. It is part of their responsibility to inspect beehives and make sure they are free from disease acusing conditions and diseases themselves. They make sure that the surroundings are clean and healthy. They work while wearing special equipment which will protect them from the stings of angry bees. They also harvest the honey when it is ready. Beekeepers also record information about food, honey dates and yields.
Earnings and Job Outlook
The income of the beekeepers varies every year. Since prices of honey is going down, it is affecting the production of the product and the income of the beekeepers. Other factors which affect their income are the type of honey produced, weather conditions and the number of hives the beekeeper has.It is estimated that beekeepers can earn around $50 for every colony they have. There had been a decline in the demand for honey which is not making beekeeping business profitable. Imported honey have less or cheaper in price which makes it tough for beekeepers to compete with in the market.
Paula Hiz is a researcher and a human resource specialist who helps newly graduates, job applicants and post graduate professionals be aware of their job opportunities and available trainings for skills and practice upgrading.
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Word Count: 526 Date: Thu, 25 Nov 2010 Time: 7:48 PM
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