There are huge areas of monocrops which, while they may provide a huge honey potential for three weeks of the season, are utterly useless for most of the rest of the year. Bees will forage on any available plants, if appropriate, not just flowers. I find urban bees are often better off than migrated bees on average (for health and survival), than migrated bees where the honey is removed at each crop site.
These bee base figures are, I feel, either often out of date or inaccurate. Informing new and other beeks that there may be a problem is one thing; actually putting a precise figure on it is rather less useful. Autumn feeding with sugar syrup has likely not been included in any crop availability, yet may represent the difference between winter survival or loss?
These bee base figures are, I feel, either often out of date or inaccurate. Informing new and other beeks that there may be a problem is one thing; actually putting a precise figure on it is rather less useful. Autumn feeding with sugar syrup has likely not been included in any crop availability, yet may represent the difference between winter survival or loss?