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Date: | Thu, 29 Jul 2021 13:28:01 -0400 |
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I was just having a thought experiment: Is stored pollen during winter really that important in cold climate beekeeping?
Here we are about a week from our 1st frost and the sources of natural pollen will drop significantly (I've had ~0C 12 times in July but day highs are still in the 20Cs and the blooms are very tolerant here<-5C is the killer). Fireweed is typically the last pollen, very dark and hard to see in the frame cells. It will be another 2-3 months before the bees really set in for winter. My management approach has me starting to put out pollen patties next week regardless if the nectar is still coming in or not.
My thought is stored pollen may just be important for those where the bees will maintain a small winter nest of brood. In locations where the bees do shutdown, a winter bee with good fat reserves (vitellogenin) is critical. These are knowns. I don't think I have ever seen a frame of winter stored pollen since I started beekeeping (North Ontario/Yukon). A lot of beekeeping literature (education) mentions the need for pollen stores going into winter so I was wondering who came up with that statement and if it was ever really supported by science or has it always just been anecdotal.
My management approach also has me adding pollen patties in March to initiate brood rearing 1-2 months before 1st natural pollen (May). Remember folks I have insulated hives that consume less 50lbs during winter (7-8 months). Not recommended for those who don't wrap or rely on candy boards. Early brood rearing under the wrong circumstances will result in starved colonies (energy for brood rearing + extra heating).
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