At the end of summer and in autumn, beekeepers assess how much food reserves have been accumulated in the hives and whether they will be enough for the winter. After the main honey flow ends and nectar sources in nature decrease, the missing reserves need to be supplemented. Supplemental feeding is one of the important measures to prepare bee colonies for winter.
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“Sufficient food reserves are one of the important conditions for bee colonies to successfully overwinter. Therefore, the beekeeper’s work in autumn also matters for the upcoming season: bees that have overwintered will again visit the blossoms of orchards, berry fields, and meadows. Support helps reduce part of the bee care costs, so we invite keepers to update their data and submit applications without waiting for the last days of September,” says Julija Šataitė, head of the Agricultural Support Department at ŽŪDC.
According to ŽŪDC data, in 2025 support for additional bee feeding is calculated for 5,821 keepers for 165,483 bee colonies. This measure has been used by beekeepers in all counties of the country.
From bee overwintering to future harvest
The importance of bee care also includes food cultivation. By visiting flowers, bees transfer pollen and contribute to plant pollination, fruit, and seed formation. This work is also done by wild bees, bumblebees, and other insects, for whom it is important to preserve the diversity of flowering plants and habitats.
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One example close to Lithuania is buckwheat. Insect pollination of flowers is important for the formation of its grains, and bees are among the main pollinators of buckwheat. According to ŽŪDC data, almost 47 thousand hectares of buckwheat were declared in the country in 2026. Concern for bee colonies today is also important for their contribution to next year’s harvest.
How to submit an application?
Electronic applications are accepted in the ŽŪDC Support for Agricultural Activity Entities Calculation Information System (PŽŪVSAIS).
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An application can be submitted in two ways:
- Independently – by the beekeeper logging into the system through the e-government gateway.
- Through the municipality – by its employee logging into PŽŪVSAIS.
What is important to know?
- Before submitting an application, from September 1, 2026, it is necessary to update data about the kept bee colonies in the Livestock Register Information System.
- Support is granted to eligible keepers who have no more than 150 bee colonies. The applicant must be registered in the Agricultural and Rural Business Register Information System as a farm manager or partner.
- Up to 5.79 Eur can be allocated per bee colony, and up to 11.58 Eur for certified bee colonies in organic farms. A portion of the incurred costs is reimbursed; organic farms need certification and documents confirming the quality of organic sugar.
- Late applications from October 1–14 are accepted only through municipalities if it was not possible to apply on time for an important reason. A request to accept a late application and documents justifying the delay must be submitted together.
