>  I am curious  about where the best area in
>the US might be for beekeeping; mainly where is the most prolonged nectar
>flow allowing for the greatest honey production.
>Ken Parker
  I  keep bees on the Canadian border area of Vermont and New York. After
the spring blooming of trees with its rush of pollen, the colonies have an
explosive build-up, that parallels the same explosive build-up of the
area's flora. Our flow often starts with Black Locust in early June, and
continues throughout the summer, ending with Goldenrod and Aster. Averages
of 100 pounds or more are common. As there are several distinct
flows...Clovers...Basswood...Sweet Clover...ets...if one or more fail to
yield, it seems at least one will yield a crop. In those years, an average
crop of 60 to 100 pounds can be harvested. In good years, when each flow in
turn yields, truly massive crops  can be realized. 2002 was one of those
years. Even nucs made a good crop, with many producing 150 lbs. Every area
has its bad years, but I must say, that doesn't happen very often here. Our
last true crop failure was in 1986. That year I produced only 2.5 ton from
about 900 colonies, and I had to take a winter job to pay the bills.
Conversely, in the last four years the bees have produced 168 tons total
from the same number of colonies in the same yards.

         I love keeping bees in the north, where bees and beekeepers all
get a winter rest from production...they sleep...I ski. What a life!

Mike

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