>I spent some time speaking about making nucs with some Saskatchewan >commercial beekeepers--I suggested that some of them go into nuc production >full time, and forego honey production, in order to produce nucs for sale >to Alberta, similar to how some of us do that at lower latitudes. Well, that is what I decided to do a while back and I was getting about a triple each year until last winter. (I have been recommending this approach to a friend who is just south of Mike and I am thinking he should be able to get 10 for 1 or at least 5 for 1 if he quits trying to make honey). This year, after queen problems, I figure I won't make that (2.5 to 1). Some in Alberta are able to make nucs for sale, but often as not, they are advertised in fall for early May, but actually become available for delivery too late for most buyers. Even BC, the place where Alberta beekeepers go to get early build-up was a month late this year. I contracted for hives that I should have gotten a month earlier and should have been splittable on delivery, but were still not up to strength when I got them a month late. That is the problem: unpredicability. I explain and illustrate all this in detail in my diary, so won't repeat myself here. (BTW, my oxalic vapour experiment is in its 49th day and the results are not what most would expect). Allen Dick, RR#1 Swalwell, Alberta, Canada T0M 1Y0 51 33'39.64"N 113 18'52.45"W http://www.honeybeeworld.com/diary/ *********************************************** The BEE-L mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html Guidelines for posting to BEE-L can be found at: http://honeybeeworld.com/bee-l/guidelines.htm