Ted, Lloyd & all I enjoyed reading both of your last posts, I think it is worth noting. Some keepers get on here and spread mis information, not knowing that it is merly speculation. One comes to mind, the drought , my bees that I take on from N.D. this year made 145 pounds. A friend of mine that I unloaded for, from S.D earlier this week (three loads) made 105 pounds and look good with bee population when I set them on the ground here in Calif. One person is quoting another, saying up to 100 thousand hives short in the up coming almond pollination due to the drought, this same person last year was qouting 200 dollars for pollination by Jan.The funny thing here is, that his name was never mentioned before on BEE-L, because those beekeepers did not know who he was or exsised .It's merely posting a bunch of yic-yak (rumors) and trying to sound intelligent. I DON'T know how much of an impact the drought will have on the up coming almond pollination, the funny thing is, neither does anyone else at this time. Lloyd, I did not know that there was only a few of us that posted on BEE-L that ran over a thousand hives. On one of my last post (10-10-6) my last line reads, I'm only a part timer. P.S. @ 1500 hives Keith Jarrett Calif -- Visit www.honeybeeworld.com/bee-l for rules, FAQ and other info ---