>but it does appear that the bees are modulating their brood rearing based on what the ‘expected’ field conditions are going to be about one to two brood cycles in advance.

My observations as well Kevin and for many years. On both ends of the season in cold weather climes. My bees typically begin resumption of brood rearing broadly in early Feb.  and even Jan. in a small patch. This is entirely on stored pollen from the previous season. That early in the spring there is only brief cleansing flights mid-day and not yet any natural pollen. The first natural pollen is the alders and birches in early March. About the second week of Feb. I'll put out sub feeders that the girls will go after aggressively. Along with sawdust and coffee grounds from the compost. My mutts, carny and WSU based, will mostly shut down in early to mid Sept. with still a month of available pollen that they continue to haul in and store until the end of Oct. By then they can easily have 3 or 4 frames surrounding the nest of mostly stored pollen.

All  beekeeping is local.

Paul Hosticka
Dayton WA

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