>
>  "If you think that watermelons etc, that are treated with the nics, are
> causing your losses, forget about the pollination fees and keep your bees
> away".  It appears that Bob H is doing just that and seeing good results.


I don't know whether Bob goes to vine crops himself, but a number of
beekeepers are either staying away or raising prices, including myself.

However, in my case (pumpkins for several years), I am not going back this
year due to poor colony performance afterward.  However, in my case, the
pumpkin field was in an isolated area in the middle of the desert, and
organically farmed.  The only other forage was some alfalfa and
rabbitbrush--also pesticide free.  Vine crops are simply a poor crop
nutritionally for bees.

It is pretty obvious that if you add insecticides, especially one such as
imidicloprid that accumulates in the pollen of that crop, that the
insecticide will exacerbate the nutritional problem.

The above would be an example of rational thinking...

-- 
Randy Oliver
Grass Valley, CA
www.ScientificBeekeeping.com

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