Brian wrote about the importance of fall pollen for wintering bees.

My experience with pure Russian bees has been that good fall pollen results in large winter clusters. I never seem to suffer winter loss here in the North Georgia mountains even though the bees are broodless from early November until February. Good fall pollen yields such as last fall, however, result in large winter clusters. Many are wintering this year on 6-8 frames, checked on a cold day. In a couple of months they will fill all frames with brood and bees. Fall pollen is the key to large winter clusters in pure Russian bees. Maybe pollen paddies should be used in the fall when there is a poor fall pollen yield.  Looks like I will be busy making splits and selling nucs in April.

Carl Webb

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