> often see 30% or more winter deaths

Actually, looking through material from the past 150 years, winter loss in the Northeast and Central states often ranged from 25 to 50 or even more. The outfits with the lowest winter losses usually cut back the numbers in fall. One should actually compare summer high to spring low, to understand the seasonal fluctuation. 

In fact, the package bee industry and the migration of beekeepers south in winter, were a result of severe winter losses in the north. Even with indoor wintering facilities losses can be one third or more. With pollination contracts in spring, the incentive is to have very high spring counts. 

Minus that, it's pretty easy to recover from losses up to two thirds by making splits on the spring flow and getting honey from the summer and fall flow. Generally that's what I do. The spring honey is bland and insipid around here, anyway.

PLB

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