From: "deelusbybeekeeper" <deelusbybeekeeper@excelonline.com>
Date: Mon, 9 Apr 2001 20:26:41 -0700
To: <BiologicalBeekeeping@yahoogroups.com>
Subject: Re: Size of honey and drone combs

Hi to all on Biological Beekeeping

Micky, This is real interesting to read about pollen production in your
area. Recently during the monthly chat day I had a wonderful experience
talking with you and about beekeeping. If I remember right you are in a high
farming area with various crops planted. How would you relate the farm crops
to pollen collected by the bees, in your scenario above.

I would assume (being careful here hopefully) that the pollen coming in in
January is pollen not from crops. When does the first pollen from
agricultural crops start? Do you know hat type it is? and how does it
fluxuate and change throughout the year with your bees foraging? Do any of
the crops produce honey also? Just curious, as all we have access to with
our bees is native flora out in the hills that changes with season.

How does one manage bees with access to both native flora and agricultural
crops? Does it create any problems other than the one mentioned, of having
to cull excess pollen comb to give room for the queen to lay? Could pollen
traps be used in your area to trap pollen before going into the hive to cut
back on culling combs and pehaps give another product to sell, namely pollen
for consumption?

It's nice to see how other areas of the country correspond so we all can
learn and understand what the other is doing.

Regards

Dee