In a message dated 2/8/99 9:45:24 AM Eastern Standard Time, [log in to unmask] (Ted
Fischer) writes:
 
> Christopher Slade wrote:
>
>  "I generally aim for about 3 hives to an apiary, perhaps with a few
> additional
>  nucs, particularly when queen rearing. "
>
>  With such a number, one would have to have 33 sites for a relatively small
>  operation of 100 hives!  Now, does anyone really think this is realistic?
>
 
    Commercial beekeeping would not be possible with yards this size. It is
too hard to find good sites (that you can drive to after three inches of rain,
that are sufficiently isolated to not bother people, yet not be bothered by
bears, and have good forage).
 
    We run 20-50 hives per yard, depending on the forage, and whether it is a
honey production or breeding yard.  There are some good locations where 100
hives is not too many during the spring flow, but you can't keep that many at
other times of the year.
 
[log in to unmask]     Dave Green  Hemingway, SC  USA
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