No Bees On Corn?

[paintingpreacher]

Friend called tonight with a question. He has two hives for pollination. Has had these hives for 7-8 years. He says there has not been a single bee on his sweet corn this year. Says in years past they have covered the corn tassels. This year they are working the cucumbers and squash but not the corn. WHY?
I told him maybe they found somthing they like better. But, it does seem strange. He says the variety is the same as last year. Anyone have any ideas? My bees usually work the corn very hard.

[clintonbemrose]

Corn is wind pollenated so the bees only get pollen from the corn because there is a lot of it available.
Clint

[Jim Fischer]

Further, bees only collect pollen from corn if they have nothing better
to collect. Corn pollen is very very low protein stuff, and makes for
malnourished brood.

Some beekeepers will put their bees on corn, but this is not an
optimal choice. When this is done, it may be the only choice they
have at that time and place.

[beegee]

I have an elderly acquaintance who raves about how much better her sweet corn is since I moved my bees within a mile of her house. I just smile and nod...