APIS<http://www.ifas.ufl.edu/~mts/apishtm/apis.htm> on the web is truly an amazing chronicle of what has been happening -- and is happening -- in American Beekeeping. I was digging around there tonight, and in the process, I found this piece that seems very relevant to recent discussions: MORE ON FEEDING PROTEIN Dr. Eric Mussen, in the last issue of his newsletter, From the UC Apiaries, University of California, made some remarks on my discussion of the Florida protein feeding study in Bee Science I reported on in the last issue of APIS. According to Dr. Mussen, California experience suggests that stimulating a large flush of brood rearing when pollen is in short supply will take a heavy toll on nurse bees, who must sacrifice their body reserves to rear new bees. He concludes that lack of varied, nutritious pollens in late summer and fall is the largest contributing factor to colony loss prior to spring. Disease, parasites, predators and pesticides simply compound the problem. When the stresses are severe enough, we lose the bees. A new product of Fleischman's Yeast, Inc. called Torutein (R) CP Dried Yeast is being made available, Dr. Mussen says. It appears to be suitable for bee feed, because it is highly processed (appropriate for human food) and relatively inexpensive. He suggests using it for about 25% of a pollen substitute/supplement. The price per pound ranges from $.92 to $1.10 before shipping. For more information, contact Pure Culture Products, 10600 West Higgins Rd., Suite 303, Rosemont, IL 60018, ph 800/443-1067.