A load of aprox 2000 3# packages from OHbees got hung up in South Dakota with a mechanical 
problem as an unusual late winter weather system passed through. Somehow the driver continued to 
Mn before discovering the whole load was dead.

Spring is finally coming to the Northland this week after a rough 2 weeks of April which finds us 
today with every lake in our state frozen over from IA to Canada, a possible record this late.  

Stationary colonies which survived winter have only had 2-3 days of pollen foraging so far and 
colonies have little brood for this time of the year.  Reports vary greatly across the region with the 
big losses 50-80% appearing to be in SE Mn and Wisconsin. 

The high losses appear to be in an area that had record snowfall over winter close to 100 inches.  
Here in the NW 2/3's of Mn we had minimal to average snow and a dry cold winter.  I wonder if the 
wet conditions east of here contributed to Nosema (A. or C.) outbreaks?

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