> About 50% of my colonies aren’t reaching proper strength by natural floral 
> sources.

Bob made some very good comments.  One thing I wonder, though is about 
genetics.  Commercial beekeepers usually try to have consistent genetics in 
each area so that management can be streamlined.  If there are a wide range 
of genetics in a yard, then some hives will be plugged from last fall, and 
others starving.  Some will be swarming and some will be just waking up for 
the year. I've seen it.

Each strain of bees has its strong points in a specific environment or 
application ...and also weak points.  We've been over that quite a bit on 
BEE-L, so I won't repeat.  In short, there are some bees that are very 
productive and some that never make a surplus; some that are disease 
resistant and others that get every disease and then some.  Nonetheless, 
each strain must all be adapted to *some* niche or they would not exist. 
(Frankenstein bees resulting from breeding programmes notwithstanding).

What I am wondering, and you have already considered this I imagine, is that 
I understand that you are working with survivor stock, open-mated, and may 
have quite a mix.  As a result, you might be expected to have bees that have 
a lot of pollen stores and some with none in the spring as well as 
conservative bees mixed with prolific bees.  As a result, what you are 
seeing may be what you should expect to see.

I understand that you may be wishing to compensate for the natural 
tendencies of some components of your stock, but should mention that if your 
primary goal is breeding and selection, that you will skew your genetics 
over time to bees that need feeding by supplying feed annually.  (One-time 
or emergency feeding will not have the same effect, at least to the same 
degree).

That evolution is not necessarily a bad thing if you recognize that fact and 
accept it.  After all, from a commercial perspective, it makes sense to feed 
$10 worth of patties to get $50 more honey.

For those who are working through all the necessary steps to get a hardy, 
self-sufficient, natural, locally adapted bee, the above result might not be 
desirable, but for commercial beekeepers, who buy all or most of their stock 
and are not trying to breed bees, or who accept that their region or methods 
are unsuited to bees that are not fed, there is no such conflict.

If you are in between or undecided, then that is a dilemma. 

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