Greetings All!
     Hope everyone is having a booming summer so far.  Here in eastern
Missouri, things haven't been going well for several local beekeepers.  It
seems like the bees are just bringing in enough nectar to supply their
needs, and not much more.  Hives with a surplus are far and few between.
The only thing we can think of as the culprit this year was the fact that
the area was very dry from last July until late May of this year.  Last
year, we finished the year about 9 inches below normal on rainfall, and we
were 6 inches below normal for 2000 going into May.  From late May on, we
went from 6 inches below to about 10 inches above normal!  Rain just didn't
come when we needed it.  One thing many beekeepers in the are commenting on,
is the amount of comb that the bees are drawing out.  They are really
working hard to make comb, but not putting nectar into it. One fellow
beekeeper said that he has placed 4 supers of foundation on one hive, and
they have drawn out all the foundation, but only filled 1/2 of one box with
any honey.  Anyone else ever witnessed this?  Any thoughts as to why they
are doing it?  Any thoughts would be appreciated, and expressed at our next
local meeting.  Thanks!
Scott
Visit the Jefferson County Beekeepers Association web site at:
http://JeffersonCoBeekeepers.homestead.com/