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Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology

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From:
Peter L Borst <[log in to unmask]>
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Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Wed, 13 Feb 2013 07:56:46 -0500
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Christina writes
> The "elephant in the room" threading through many of these comments seems to me, as the advertising gurus say, to be "Location, location, location"! 

Of course, this has been known for centuries. The Egyptians reportedly moved bees up and down the Nile on barges; bees were moved to summer pasture in the Alps -- sometimes on beekeeper's backs. Many beekeepers have five to ten times as many locations as they have bees, either moving to them seasonally or using different ones different years, depending on floral conditions, fuel costs, pollination contracts, etc.

On the other hand, many of us keep bees where we live and have no interest in taking them on the road. These two styles of beekeeping, while related, have some entirely different dynamics at work. Stationary beekeepers are at the mercy of whatever pathogens or pesticides are in the vicinity. Some have wonderfully isolated situations, whereas others are surrounded by agriculture and migratory beekeepers. 

Beekeepers that routinely take to the road have the option of going right into the thick of it (almond pollination) or moving to isolated mountain locations which often yield staggering quantities of honey if they get the right combination of rain and sunshine. 

Finding and keeping good locations has always been a challenge for beekeepers; always will be. Many of the best locations are obtained when bees change hands. I know of quite a few in my area that have been used for over 100 years. Many of these were probably in pastures at one times, now they are hidden deep in the woods which grew up around them over the years.

PLB
Upstate NY, USA

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