tractor path and hive setup

[shughes]

I am going to be taking a couple of my hives to a pumpkin patch soon. This may be individual farmer dependent question but will ask anyway. When setting up hives around a crop field, how much room do you try to allow the farmer outside the tractor path that is usually around the perimeter of a field? I am thinking about placing a couple hives on the corner between the tractor path and electric fence. I usually walk 10 feet in front of my hives not even thinking about it but riding a tractor with an engine on may be a different situation.
In my situation the tractor path is about 10 feet wide and then the hives would be set about 10 feet past the edge of the path.

There is another location I could put them but its slightly lower in elevation, it does get more afternoon shade and has the potential to support more hives in that area if I wanted to expand. Its about 300 feet from the field.

[Curtis]

It should not be a problem for the operator of the tractor as he/she is not the moving object...it is the tires. The bees will be confused with the noise and the size of equipment and stay at the hive.
Just my experience.
Curtis

[Ross]

My experience is different. If there is a dearth or other irritant to the bees, the tractor operator can get hammered. Nothing is more frightening than a swarm of bees stinging your head on a moving tractor. It's a recipe for disaster because the first instinct is to abandon the moving tractor. It's a great way to die if you don't keep your wits. Simple answer is to give as much room as possible AND face the hives away from the tractor path. Bees are much less sensitive to comotion behind the hive.

[Dan Williamson]

Ask the farmer where he wants the bees. Explain your concern. Then he can make the choice of whether he wants to take the risk or not.

In those cases, it never hurts to have liability insurance and/or a liablility clause that the farmer signs.

[Hanginin]

If you decide on the lower elevation area, be aware that low lying areas can flood very quickly and with diasterous results. I have made that mistake once.

[beedeetee]

You might get away with the location by the tractor path if you turn the hive entrance away from the path. When I was a kid, we had groups of 20 hives that I had to drive in front of (20-25 feet away).

Mostly I would just get beaned by bees trying to get back to the hive and I drove into their path. Maybe 5-10 each trip on a warm day. Usually one would get caught in my hair, shirt sleeve, shirt collar and panic (both of us). Driving behind the hives was no big deal.

I noticed that when bees did come out to see me, they mostly investigated me and the radiator area of the equipment that I was driving.

[Church]

In row crops where there are workers picking, tractors and other disturbances I found that building a 4 to 6 ft tall barrier about 4 feet around the hives works. I just pound in 4 posts, and staple landscape fabric. On one corner I frame the loose end with a 2x2 and wire it to the end post when closing it.

The bees will have a physcial barrier and usually not be bothered and if anyone decides to snoop and see whats inside the perimeter they are quickly dispatched. It seems to cut down some predators too. Hives stand out a mile away, and if out of sight, you may prevent human predators.

The bees tend to fly up and over the barrier, and out of the path of the human workers. There is a drawback in winter as the hives do not get the radiant sun in the morning and night.......but you can also just put up one side 4 ft from the hive as a visual barrier, it stops a lot of cold wind and diving rain too.

Seems to work in some cases. I agree though, face the hive entrances away from any activities.

[shughes]

i talked with the farmer this morning. we were both in agreement that we would just relocate them a little bit further from that specific area. its actually an area that still gets early sun, has more shade in the afternoon, and more space so it gives me some expansion possibilties for next years swarm. it all works out.