the goal is pretty simple, the healthiest possible bees going into almonds  and fastest rebound.   Where the differences lie is in prior bee health from different regions in the fall.Many of our hives that winter well (90% success most years) grade poorly when they hit the ground in almonds.   real winter survivibility, coupled with transportable hives, and readiness for almonds are not the same thing.   Trying to learn the best formula for our regions is not an "all you have to do" scene.  Seasonal variations are also huge.  such as this fall in which November was extremely warm,  with lots of foraging weather,  but absolutely nothing to eat.This season due to that warm spell  we tried dry pollen sub,  which the bees collected in earnest. short term was more brood,  but as the research would indicate the bees were short lived,  and the dwindle after freeze has been severe.  In fact many hives look like pesticide kills due to the large number of dead in front of the hive.This is in stark contrast to some who are feeding wet subs in the hive,  and seem to have continually booming hives with little to no apparent dwindle.  obviously to a commercial beek this scenario poses risk  as continual boom means severe risk for starvation and  queen burnout.
So the goal is to find that best balance,  this year the stored beebread from Goldenrod and asters  was consumed early,  creating a shortage way to soon.  Feeding wet sub, if the cited research is to be believed, would be of no help what so ever,  but yet I can cite 3 beeks who do exactly that with great success on very large scales.  For example Keith Jarrett starts wet feed almost ad libium  in Nov.  certainly under slightly different weather conditions, but to great success.  another cohort in MI tried this system this year in MI,  and as of now is very pleased with the results,  and the hives are still in MI.I know with 100% certainty that Midwest overwinter hives and CA almond hives are not the same.  The key for me/us is what is the right recipe for our area and goals.  Each season has taught us things and we are striving to correct those issues. Last year we sent many hives that were great IL hives to almonds in NOV,  many of them were to small to defend and got robbed out in holding yards. Larger hives this year,  still experienced a Dec dwindle we would like to avoid in the future.   We have a group of research that shows,  as above fall feeding is a waste as long as bee bread is present.  other research that shows Dry pollen may be worse than nothing,  and several beeks who swear dry pollen and wet subs are absolutely the right answers.
As you know,  beekeeping is local, as I know as beekeepers we are horrible at AG development. We are as a group the only AG group I am aware of who's yields are dropping,  and success has not improved dramatically over the last decades.   There are some of us attempting to change that and completely understand  what we are doing and the end effects as applied to our actual plan. There are dozens of little things we are screwing with in the mix.  from Fall feeds,  to water in the hives,  to how many hive bodies and hive size for honey,  as applied to our local.

Charles




   

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