>One presumes that there is no argument with the USDA ARS on the subject of
losses

The same data, even when published in a different venue, will still suffer
from the same errors in collection.

>Good point. I think historically, this refers to colonies that are below
> the strength needed to survive winter.


The question is why they were weak at this point in time, assuming that all
colonies stood the same chance of growing strong over the season.  Being
weak in fall is often a sign of invisible disease.

-- 
Randy Oliver
Grass Valley, CA
www.ScientificBeekeeping.com

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