At 11:12 AM 7/24/2003 -0400, you wrote:
>Did any other state's beekeepers suffer losses due to drought since 2002
>July, long cold winter and wettness spring?

The drought severe enough here (NW Ohio) to cause any losses that I know
of.  Soybean and corn crops were hurt badly in many areas, but it didn't
seem to hurt the bees.  However, the severe cold with 4-5 weeks below
freezing did cause many losses.  Several beekeepers I know lost around
half.  My colonies were weaker than last spring, but nearly all my hives
made it just fine.  Only a couple late swarms that weren't well prepared
failed (lack of stores or old queen), entirely my fault.  Bee Culture
reported rather high losses all over, many states with 30-50% losses.  I
did notice a high number of queen failures this past spring typically in
otherwise healthy colonies with good brood patterns.  Apparently others in
my area observed the same.  Stress due to the cold winter/wet spring? I
can't say.

-Tim

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