Concerning the large differences in honey crops in this area (I live close
to Aaron and Rick, and we are all not far from Michael Palmer), Aaron said
"With such different results (literally day and night over-wintering, and
apparantly day and night regarding this year's crop) I'd look at
management techniques and not weather."

I don't agree.  This morning I was out inspecting a friends hives as she
reported that her bees were starving!  Hard to believe as, like Aaron, mine
as booming!  I found no disease and, yes, they are starving.

The difference is that as I look around I don't see any knapweed in her area
while my bees are thriving on it!  AKA spotted thistle or Centaurea
Coleitrapa, a noxious week imported from Asia that quickly takes over
abandoned farmland.  The best web picture I could find is at
http://www.co.larimer.co.us/depts/pubwor/weeds/spflower.htm.  Thirty years
ago this was about unknown in upstate NY and just 20 years ago was not
widely seen.  Today the areas that are not infested are few and far between,
but it can't take cultivation or regular mowing so good farming practices
keep it at bay.

This is closely related to Yellow Star Thistle (Centaurea Solstitalis) that
provides much of the crop from Northern California to Idaho.


Lloyd
Lloyd Spear, Owner Ross Rounds, Inc.
Manufacturers of Ross Rounds Comb
Honey Equipment, Sundance Pollen Traps
and Custom Printer of Sundance Labels.

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