Hello All,

All races of bees are similar but different. To get maximum performance you
need to find a way to get the Russians to do what you need done in a
commercial setting.

The first year I simply noted the differences and went along for
the ride. The observations in my first post are the result.
The next year I actually tried to make the Russian/Russian behave like my
Italians. Did not work. It was then I began looking at hybrids (which would
take many posts to cover).

I then decided to concentrate on using management to overcome what I
considered to be the Russian problem areas. Coming out of winter honey bound
and so small a cluster was my biggest concern.
So will cover my  big issue with the Russians as I do spring pollination and
you need early bees for pollination in spring.

 Honey bound was simple to solve but involved labor ( pull combs of honey
for nucs and replace with drawn comb).

 I can choose the new drawn frame location at a glance but the novice needs
to choose wisely if cold nights are happening.

The small cluster solution has been found but may be of use to only
migratory beekeepers or those in an area of intense fall flows. My first
experiment involved moving 54 Russian/Russian hives into the Blackwater
River bottoms onto a 1,000 acres of heartsease in August. Those Russians
looked like Italians for winter! The control group was left in row crop
country and fed . The controls wintered with the small cluster despite me
giving what they needed. Same queens both groups.

I did another experiment using sunflowers and  the Russians did not do as
well. They did store plenty of pollen and built up fast in spring but small
winter clusters.

Above is only one Russian  management issue I have dealt with and  not
wanting to bore the list perhaps specific questions need asked?

Sincerely,
Bob Harrison

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