MARCH 1st APIARY REPORT

March has arrived and the days are lengthening rapidly.  We currently are getting about 11 hours of daylight and this will grow past 12 hours by month end.  However, the weather forecast shows another bout of brutal below zero nights in the coming week, but nothing like the -30F nights of a few weeks ago.  We have already had 13 below zero nights this winter not counting those yet to occur.   The good news is that meteorological spring is only 20 days away!


I went out on Thursday (February 27^th) to check on hive survival.  Since my end of January count, I have lost 2 hives.  This puts me at 91.4% survival with another month of winter yet to go.  However, one hive is sounding weaker and may not survive next week’s string of cold nights.  Surprisingly, 100% of the winter nucs are still buzzing.  


In March, maple pollen will make its appearance.  Weather permitting the bees will be high up in the maples gathering the pollen to raise the new brood.  Although pollen will be available there will be no nectar.  The bees will continue to be dependent on stored honey for nutrition and heat generation.  The need to feed and warm the brood will increase the amount of food they consume to about 12 pounds per month.


If the bees deplete the honey in close vicinity to the brood nest they may starve if cold temperatures are keeping them in a tight cluster.  Now is when emergency sugar, immediately above the cluster, can save your hive.   Hopefully you have paid heed to our suggestions to add emergency sugar. 


At this point you probably have a handle on your probable survival rate.  Its time to think about ordering packages.  See if you can combine your order with other club members.  There is usually a price break when 10 or more packages are ordered.  Also consider when you want to receive your packages.  Early packages have additional time to build their populations prior to the honey flow.  The downside of early packages is that you may be installing them during inclement weather.  Conversely, late packages will arrive when the weather is generally warmer, but there will be less time for the population to build and will probably produce less surplus honey.  The choice is yours.