Salina beekeepers sell local silflower honey, share knowledge with community
Local Salina beekeeping business AJ Honey Farms, run by husband and wife Allen and Judy Stovall, have built a business that not only offers locally-produced raw silflower (silphium) honey but also one that is helping others learn about bees and beekeeping. Their story is featured in a Salina Journal article, along with their collaboration with The Land Institute and silphium / silflower.
The Stovalls help the local community by working with The Land Institute. AJ Honey Farms currently has about 30 hives out at the Land Institute that will feed on acres of a perennial flower called silflower.
“That’s like a sunflower that grows about six feet tall and the bees just go crazy on it,” Allen Stovall said.
This year, AJ Honey Farms will take 10 hives that are near the silflowers and then look at another 10 hives that don’t have access to the silflowers and see how much each of them produce honey. The information about the production will be given to the Land Institute to use for research.
“It could be a good factor for beekeepers and farmers alike because it’s really is a diverse plant,” Allen said. “It’s very healthy for cattle to eat and very healthy for the environment and pollinators.”
AJ Farms honey is available for sale at Prairieland Market, Bravo Sliders, and Pettle’s Flowers.