bees

Not good, lost around 40 hives in Feb. Pollen in the hive was tested and it shows residue from BT corn. Bees collect the pollen in the fall, when the queen starts laying in Feb they start to use this poisen pollen. As a result the whole hive dies. Thanks Monsanto. Am not going to have any corn close this year so maybe we can get hive numbers built back up. Have picked up 2 swarms this spring, that is about 1/5th the number we usually pickup

Too much rain here. Washing the nectar and pollen out. Not making as much  honey as they should. Tracy

haven't been a beekeeper yet, but I do try and keep an eye out for honey bee's. not seeing many honey bee's around again this year.....but fortunately there is a lot of wasp/hornets around

I lost my two hives over this past winter to Varroa mites even though i treated with the quick strips.  I was only treating in the fall.  I split a few of my dads hives this spring and it looks like they are doing okay but i need to get back in them and check to make sure they are queen right and have brood.

I will be treating for mites now both spring and fall.  My uncle lost about 300 hives over the winter.  He would go to a site and either they would all be dead or all be alive.  I think he was having nosema issues. 

State universitys can do it for you.  Don't know the cost.  Been cleaning out everything with pollen in it and setting it aside to burn it.  Gonna put some honey supers on tonight,  hope I find some good news. 

Edited by HD6GTOM - 14 Jun 2017 at 12:22pm

We went 7 of 9 for hives making it through this past winter and are currently at 15 hives in SW Michigan. We just extracted 30 gallons of honey and have a good amount still on the hives. Things have been dry here the last several weeks and have slowed the nectar flow. Thanks.

Bryan

mark,have you researched the sweet corn problem in your area?i planted 4 rows of sweet corn and about 1/2 acre of sun flowers for my bees.they have not really visited either one of the plants.the bees are working like crazy,coming to the hives with large amounts of pollen.i gues they found something they like better.them little hummers are no dummies.how are your bees doing this year?the wet weather down here has been a real deterant this year.....

sugarmaker,haven't been many swarms here in east texas this year,the 3 I caught are doing really well.many of the keepers around here have not had many swarm calls.dont know what it is.....

J.W.,
 I get greedy and only leave one super on after our fall goldenrod crop is removed.
That's pretty typical in our area. Two of the three hives still had honey left and they died.
Regards,
Chris

Isn't hard to figure out why there is a lack of swarms when bee populations are in such deep kaka. I figure if I get a call for a swarm these days there is a lax bee keeper near by.

72 frames ready to spin out the honey in our extractor.

That is a hugh extractor Al.
I got a call for bees in a limb that broke off a large maple. The tree was blocking a secondary road. I put some equipment in the truck and drove 10 min to the bees.
It was a mess. I tried to remove some comb. All I got was comb that had honey in it. I never got deep enough in the tree to get any brood. So i doubt if the bees will move into the box I left there with some of there honey inside.
Will check on them tomorrow. A big loader came in and pushed the tree off the roadway. I got stung through the suit about 20 times. They were not happy! Part of the game of bees!
Regards,
 Chris




Edited by Sugarmaker - 28 Jun 2017 at 9:02pm