> At the Alberta Beekeepers Association meeting earlier this week, Lyle
> Johnston (AHPA president) indicated that he suspects that there will
> be a loss of about 40% of US hives between now and February.  Bad
> news just keeps coming in.

OK, I forgot.  There is good news... and some more bad...

Good News:  Almond pollination is looking like $75 this year and may
                  hit $100 next....  And... There is an opportunity for
                  those who are in a position to split multiple times and
                  either sell nucs or packages.  With packages at $35, a
                  hive split 8 times during a season would return $245 and
                  still leave a hive on the stand to repeat the next year.

                  This could work for Canadians, too, since we can sell
                  packages south.  I sent several hundred packages to
                  Arizona in October many years back.

                  People not having mite trouble, and in an area where
                  such splitting is feasible, might be smart to forget honey
                  production and just produce bees for pollination, since...

Bad News:    ...honey _may_ be headed back to 60c.  Countervail
                  may be failing.  Apparently Sioux Bee has pulled back
                  from a $135,000 committment

Bad News:    As for packages, there may be a shortage in Canada this
                  coming Spring, since the US can now buy from Aus and
                  NZ -- AFAIK.  If there is a general collapse in the US,
                  there may be competition for any supplies available.

Good News:  If you are an Australian package producer, things look
                  rosy

allen
A Beekeeper's Diary: http://www.honeybeeworld.com/diary/

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