Our winter losses have been light, about 6%, here in NE Iowa. Our neighbor 15 miles north has about the same losses with her 200 hive operation. Other beekeepers we've heard from in central and western Iowa are reporting up to 40% losses, mostly due to mites and starvation. chris Chris and Janet Sauer Colesburg Apiaries http://www.greathoney.com (319) 856-2015