In a message dated 12/12/03 11:03:39 AM, [log in to unmask] writes:

<<

These guys are serious players, with a big budget and big

responsibilities. They are not going to waste their hard won cash on the

products of a lesser breeder. In some cases they have experience over

many years of just who provides good reliable queens, and who does not.


I am interested in this as it is just about the best reference you can

get when seeking a breeder to supply you.


As for the 35,000? Just a number that was quoted to me, and I was keen

to find out just where such numbers could be obtained. No-one with that

kind of demand a >>

Murray,
35,000 is a very large number of queens; but I don't believe it is the
largest.
Richard Adee is the largest commercial beekeeper in the U. S., and he has
60,000 colonies that he requeens every year.   The bees travel over many
western and midwestern states in migratory beekeeping, but he requeens them
in the fall at his winter yards in Mississippi, I have been told.

His queen costs, and his sugar cost for sugar feeding, must be like our
national debt.

Yes, Robin (if you are following), essentially ALL of the U.S. commercial
honey
producers feed sugar to winter their colonies because the monetary value of
honey
is 3-4 times the cost of sugar.

Have a fine Holiday, Murray.

George Imirie, retired scientist
Certified Master Beekeeper

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