What is interesting is that the above-mentioned study didn't include wax foundation at all. .
Foundation means wax foundations: "One couple I know started with 25 packages on (wax) foundation, and half of the colonies died in the first week! ".
Plastic foundations are named Black permanent, White permanet, Pierco.
These guys are professionals and they surely know what they do. 80% of canadian beekeepers are professionals.
.
Highlights
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/23-221-x/2011000/part-partie1-eng.htm
Honey
In 2011, Canadian beekeepers produced 78.1 million pounds of honey, a decline of nearly 4.0 million pounds or 4.8%, from 2010.
On average, each colony had a yield of 124 pounds, down from 132 pounds per colony in 2010.
In Alberta, which accounts for over 40% of Canada's honey production, yields fell by 13 pounds per colony to 117 pounds. The decline was the result of several factors, including a long winter and rainy spring and increased splitting of colonies as farmers increased their hives.
The two other Prairie provinces account for an additional 40% of national production. In Manitoba, a hot, dry season provided good conditions for bee activity, resulting in above-average production.
Yields averaged 200 pounds per colony, up from 165 pounds from 2010.
In Saskatchewan, yields and production were lower in 2011 with average yields at 177 pound per colony, down from 214 pounds in 2010.
Canada had 7,671 beekeepers in 2011, 268 more than in 2010. They managed about 627,700 beehives, an increase of 7,400 from 2010.
In 2010, the total value of honey produced amounted to $146 million, up 15.5% from 2009.
