Robotic Bees

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Package or Nuc?

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great book for kids

A teacher friend of mine just told me last night that the 3rd grade (fond du lac) is reading through a MYSTERY book - "The Mystery of the Disappearing Honeybees, by Bo Grayson".  (this is the first book i've NOT found to be available on amazon).  Sounds like it's pretty accurate - and it's asking the same questions and pointing in the same directions as WE ARE....

Have you REGISTERED?

Have you registered?  or have you UPDATED your data yet?  it's important to keep the data FRESH in these things : DRIFTWATCH

Also - REMINDER - register with FDL FSA for HIVE LOSS.  As i understand it - though this is 2014's "form"...the program is continuing. take a look at the form...and get yourself down to the FDL FSA office - you may be eligible for some HELP ($) RESTOCKING (packages) in 2016.  you have to be enrolled in the program the PRIOR YEAR to qualify.  If you apply this year - you'll be eligible to claim losses in 2016.   FSA FDL BEE PROGRAM

Looking back: 2014 - Looking forward: 2015

Looking back: 2014....I had 6 hives "on the deck" all summer long.  Only two HUGE / MASSIVE / UNBELIEVABLE producers.  The other four just PUTTZED ALONG all summer (how do you spell PUTTZED ?)  I chalked it up to WHO KNOWS what goes on in bee brains.  After harvest, the largest hive dwindled to NOTHING - lost the queen - and remaining population was combined with other hives...WHO KNOWS?!?!  The other producer went WAY DOWN in population and strength...but held on.  Lost one more hive last fall - it was having a hard time - apparently struggling to requeen. OVERALL: 4 hives are in overwintering status.

Looking forward: 2015....I'm planning a genetic change...  I'm not entirely happy with package choices.  I'm GOING RUSSIAN.  I have four Russian Queens ordered from COY.  Due for arrival end of May.  Plan A: if I have any surviving hives....I'm planning on using them / splitting them to "serve" my russian queens.  Plan B: if I don't have sufficient population to split, I'm planning a split/population infusion from another beekeeper (Miksa).  I have FOUR NUC boxes ready for this purpose. My thinking: starting these queens in 5 frames requires less equipment, workforce...and they're easier to keep an eye on.  I've gotten one word of caution from another Russian keeper...."they'll fill your nuc box PRONTO - keep an eye out."

Of course - it's beekeeping...and a lot of FINGER CROSSING and experimentation.