.From 1941-1950 average honey yield was 39 lbs/hive, compared to our recent average of around 62 lbs.  This surprised me.



.The above figures, coupled with the frequently-heard reports that there is less bee forage these days, strongly suggest that bees were under strong competition for .resources back in the 1940s.  


One factor that always seems elusive   Weather......  Eastern IA numbers this year were in the 200lb per hive range   WAY above normal,  while north central Wisc saw a wet season and numbers in the 40's


Ron in Oh is always punching 150 in the nose,  when his neighbors brag on 60's    I daresay  there is a lot more to this than just forage,    But it is 1000% true  that local clover/alfalfa picture has changed  a LOT since 1940.  That has to be a big factor in the picture

Charles

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