Jeff Holbrook wrote:
 
> With all of the trouble that beekeepers face getting bees
> through the winter, especially now with both types of mites, why those at
> least in northern climes don't just kill off the bees in the fall after
> harvesting the last honey crop of the year.
 
I agree with this in principal, but us beekeepers in Canada pay a premium for
bees. When you pay 70-100+$ for one nuc/package of bees, you think twice of
trying this practice.  From what I have read, commercial beekeepers used to
practice this, but when the price soare, overwintering was the only solution.
 
Allen Banks