When I started beekeeping, we would regularly see 6 or 8 supers per hive
from bees on OSR - but not now.  What has changed?

Good question Peter.  I wonder if it boils down to varietal differences. 
Rapeseed was tough to work with; (extremely quick to granulate (became 
like rock), strong favoured with the aroma of cabbage and the bees were 
crabby as hell when working it, BUT IT PRODUCED.  Didn't seem to matter 
if it was Argentine or Polish variety.  As I mentioned we see many 
varieties of Canola and the bees won't work some of them.  We've had 
hives nearly starving on a field in full bloom with good moisture. Moved 
the bees, to a different location and they exploded.  Unfortunately it 
would take a lot of work for us to really determine which are which.  
Fortunately most of our yards usually have access to several fields.

Dave Tharle
T'N'T Apiaries
Ardmore, AB

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