Mike Palmer talk at the National honey show.

[itma]

If anything, isn't it the beeks with just a few hives who will benefit most from having a nuc or two in reserve over winter?
I mean, someone with over a hundred hives won't even notice a few hives not surviving a winter, but a few hives not surviving for a small holding would be a major blow.

In the US (and it might seem the UK) commercial beekeepers seem quite content to buy-in packages of bees to make up for their winter losses. It must make economic sense to them.

This approach, or so I understand, is what Mike Palmer was preaching against.

 

[wessexmario]

even from a commercial point of view I'm with Mike on this, self-sustainable apiaries has to be better in terms of both economics and bio-security.

 

[Teemore]

Thanks. I have a long way to go then because I only have two colonies at present . I guess the sensible thing to do for hobbyists unable to have their own breeding plan is buy local queens from someone who does.

Groups of beekeepers acting together have access to a much greater number of colonies to select breeding material from and to support queen raising colonies. Groups also mean that the burden of the queen rearing can be apportioned a wee bit.

 

[user 6228]

Thanks. I have a long way to go then because I only have two colonies at present . I guess the sensible thing to do for hobbyists unable to have their own breeding plan is buy local queens from someone who does.

Dont understand the issue

It appears to be very easy for us to treble or quadruple our colony count each year given the space and the kit.

if anything its trying to keep the numbers of surviving colonies down not up.

 

[Ely]

Dont understand the issue

It appears to be very easy for us to treble or quadruple our colony count each year given the space and the kit.

if anything its trying to keep the numbers of surviving colonies down not up.

Can't afford the equipment at the present time.

 

[madasafish]

Dont understand the issue

It appears to be very easy for us to treble or quadruple our colony count each year given the space and the kit.

if anything its trying to keep the numbers of surviving colonies down not up.

2012 was incredibly difficult year for queen rearing as was 2013 . Local summer weather was atrocious...

 

[Jimmy]

Dont understand the issue

It appears to be very easy for us to treble or quadruple our colony count each year given the space and the kit.

if anything its trying to keep the numbers of surviving colonies down not up.

Increasing from colonies that swarm at the drop of a hat may not be the most sustainable option.

 

[itma]

Increasing from colonies that swarm at the drop of a hat may not be the most sustainable option.

But that wasn't what was being suggested …
Derek holds that colonies build up faster in well-insulated hives, and can therefore be split (or need splitting) sooner.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

the difference being, if you keep on splitting those colonies are not going to be as productive. in a commercial outfit the idea is to replace queens with mated ones to try and avoid excessive swarming/splitting

 

[Swarm]

the difference being, if you keep on splitting those colonies are not going to be as productive. in a commercial outfit the idea is to replace queens with mated ones to try and avoid excessive swarming/splitting

 

[user 6228]

But that wasn't what was being suggested …
Derek holds that colonies build up faster in well-insulated hives, and can therefore be split (or need splitting) sooner.

In our expereince (statisically insignificant) Swarming doesnt appear to occur much earlier... but casting is almost a certainty. and the casts are viable colonies.

 

[dpearce4]

What are the dates and locations of your lectures next year Mike?