?  Unfortunately, it paints
> commercial beekeepers in a bad light,

I have not saw the movie but what I have heard.

Despite all the hype and the predictions of Rudolf Steiner commercial 
beekeeping is alive and well.

I think the prediction which jolted the industry into action was not the 
prediction of Steiner but the prediction of Bob Harrison that hives would 
enter the U.S. to pollinate almonds *if* U.S. beekeepers did not get their 
act together.

Thanks to Florida beekeepers stepping up and sending thousands (and 
thousands)of hives to almonds, expansion in certain operations I am happy to 
report most almond growers wanting hives received hives. Hives returned from 
almonds in possibly the best shape in years.

Most of the beekeepers have worked their hives which returned from almonds 
to Texas and the trucks are headed north. I leave Wednesday for Texas to get 
bees.

There were some hard luck tails before almonds and some hives which did not 
grade . Still a puzzle as too why different outfits get hit and others do 
not. Hopefully I will get first hand information to share when I return but 
will only be in Texas two days.

The CCD team really has not come up with anything new and if you ask 
commercial beekeepers why their bees seem better this year the answer I get 
is simply trying to be a better beekeeper and some say running less numbers 
( or hiring extra help) has helped.

Regardless the talk of pushing for opening the Mexico border has stopped for 
now.

Winter losses from those I have spoke with (phone)have been much better than 
last year but quite a few weak hives and those not able to feed early lost 
some hives to starvation. One commercial reported only a 5% winter loss!

I have no idea how hobby beekeepers hives wintered but demand for packages 
and nucs from their group has been high the dealers tell me. Package bees in 
my area from California are selling for around $100 for a three pound 
package and $20 & up for queens to hobby beekeepers and I do not know of any 
nucs for sale.

What are others on the list seeing this spring? Did your bees winter good? 
Mine did!

Sincerely,
Bob Harrison
Missouri

             ***********************************************
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