>
> >If this area has so little forage why would anyone want to migrate bees
> there?
>

Here in the States, forage in most areas is very seasonal.  Beekeepers will
move tens of thousands of hives to an area for only a few weeks if it can
save them from feeding their bees (usu. cheaper to move than to feed).

So an area that may be unable to support a large population over the course
of an entire year, may indeed be of benefit to a large amount of colonies
for a few weeks or months.

Take the almond orchards for instance.   At 2 colonies/acre, a square mile
is stocked with 1280 hives for about 3-4 weeks each spring.  If the weather
is good, those colonies will thrive and gain substantial weight.  But for
the other 11 months of the year, colonies will typically starve if left
there.
-- 
Randy Oliver
Grass Valley, CA
www.ScientificBeekeeping.com

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