Hi Gavin

Agree very much with most of what you say - the wet summers have had a 
devastating effect - but not so sure about oilseed rape.

The situation here is difficult to assess for several reasons:
1 The weather - in recent years many colonies have been weak in early spring 
and mild winters have brought OSR into flower much earlier than in the past
2 Numerous varieties being grown - some of which may not yield very well 
(The Bee Farmers Association are conducting a survey to try to establish 
some facts on this)
3 Seed dressings (neonicotinoids are commonly used) but
4 Some (many?) farmers save their own seed - so no seed dressings.

This year I have had a very good crop from OSR - the first for many years - 
but why?
Was it the fact that colonies were in much better condition this spring due 
to favourable weather last September leading to a flush of young bees for 
the winter?
Or that OSR flowered a bit later due to the colder winter and early spring?
Or was it the variety - non-hybrid - that was grown?
Or the lack of seed dressing?

Many variables - little hard data from across the country.
Best wishes

Peter Edwards
beekeepers at stratford-upon-avon.freeserve.co.uk
www.stratford-upon-avon.freeserve.co.uk/

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