Dave Green asked "How is the winter loss situation throughout the
northland?"

I am afraid the horror stories you have heard have been right.  Very, very
well known and competent beekeepers have had terrible losses.  On the other
hand, others (including myself) have had normal experience.

While there is some dispute about this, I think the common thread among
those with bad losses may be relatively late treatment, so that hives are
unable to go into the winter with bees raised after Varroa has been
controlled and strips have been removed from the hives.


Lloyd
Lloyd Spear, Owner, Ross Rounds, Inc.  The finest in comb honey production.
www.rossrounds.com