> HFCS can be made by enzyme or acid. Acid produced HFCS is deadly for
> bees and was the original production method. The enzyme produced HFCS
> is fine and it is now the usual method of production. Both are called
> HFCS which is where the problem is.

That is the take-home message.  If beekeepers buy from bee supply houses,
they don't have to worry, all that is taken care of, and the supply houses
are big enough customers that the plants care about them and work with them
to establish benchmarks.  In fact, these agents can sell as cheap as if you
were to buy from the plant itself, since they make their money on the
volume.  The problem with buying a load here and load there is that the
person you buy from at the plant that day may not understand or care about
your unique needs.  I, personally demand a written and signed certificate of
quality with every load, and I read it.  If I can't get one, I don't buy.
Period.

> Most feed are a matter of degree in how good they are. Except in the
> lab, most of us would not notice much difference since there are so
> many variables in the winter that a 5-15% difference from winter feed
> in colony strength in the spring would not be noticed. The queen,
> weather and mites will have more impact.

This is the problem with most observations in beekeeping.  If you get a 100
pound crop, you never know what one or many little thing(s) you may have
done that kept you from getting 250 pounds -- or 50 pounds.

Generally, the survivors in the business take a conservative stance and will
not touch inferior or uncertified supplies with a ten-foot pole.  It is not
that such inputs might not work, but that the risk is not worth the small
savings to be gained by cuttting corners.

allen
http://www.honeybeeworld.com

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