2012 Dieback Already?

[squarepeg]

those are devastating losses mike. my heartfelt sympathy to the owner(s). please update us with any findings as to the cause(s).

[Keth Comollo]

I understand that Paul Cappy, NY Chief Apiculturist, just inspected an operation that lost 2800 of 3800 colonies. any other NY, or Northeast beekeepers seeing losses like this?

That sounds quite serious. Hopefully the cause is preventable!

[sqkcrk]

I understand that Paul Cappy, NY Chief Apiculturist, just inspected an operation that lost 2800 of 3800 colonies. any other NY, or Northeast beekeepers seeing losses like this?

Been talking to Ted?

How could Paul Cappy do that? Governor Cuomo put such a kiabosh on travel that Paul couldn't attend the espa Fall Mtng a month ago. Maybe you aught to check w/ Paul. I'm sure he would be glad to talk to you about it.

If he did, you must be refering to D***'s Honey Farms. Out in the western part of NY where gthe veggies grow.

[wildbranch2007]

two post from bee-l about losses
http://community.lsoft.com/scripts/w...F=&S=&P=218302

http://community.lsoft.com/scripts/w...F=&S=&P=219553

[Ian]

Hearing through the Canadian grape vine there is are Almond brokers short for this years pollination contracts.

What say you ?

[busy bee apiary]

Can't say I've heard of a broker that deals 80,000+ hives.

[jim lyon]

I havent heard any alarm bells going off yet but January is the month when think start to shake out. Stay tuned.

[Ian]

Im hearing of pollination prices of over $200 per hive,
does that sound out of line?

[sqkcrk]

For what and for how many?

I know honey packers who say that their price for white honey is $2.50/lb, but they aren't buying any. Maybe that's the same thing here.

[jim lyon]

Im hearing of pollination prices of over $200 per hive,
does that sound out of line?

Well that is what was reported in the most recent ABJ. No one that I have talked to has any idea where that number came from though. My guess is they bit on a planted story but who knows.......except maybe Keith.

[The Honey Householder]

Is it just me or is there a lot more hives being put up for sale coming out of almonds this year. Maybe I'm miss something here. I just buy bees not bees in equipment. Sorry I haven't been keeping up with this whole tread, but I would say I haven't seen any of these problem in the 30+ years. Ofcourse my producer don't sent his bees to almonds.

[swarm_trapper]

Ron the number of bees for sale after almonds looks normal to me. The amount of beekeepers needing to buy bees before almonds was quite astonishing! I had 300 for sale and long after they were gone i was still getting a call a day for bees no one had any to sell. I know of bees right now being sold for 190 a single before almonds and they i think are sold out last week! My guess is almonds might be on the short side this year.
Nick

[The Honey Householder]

WOW! Nick is that $190 by the load. Better quit shaking them out in the snow then. Had one today with 7 frames of bees, but every little feed left. Just to bad they all didn't look that good. Been to warm this winter. 1 out of 15 isn't worth trying to save. Cost way to much in gas to waste it on just running around to feed a few hives.

[swarm_trapper]

yup a load of 650 or so fob FL

[Almondralf]

It sounds like it will turn out the same as the last few years. By mid Jan. everybody is talking about a shortage of bees for almonds and by the 10th of Feb. there is a surplus and the beekeepers who havent placed their bees yet beg you on their knees to take them for half price!

[Adrian Quiney WI]

Ron, didn't you sell your shook out bees last year? Were there no takers this year?

[The Honey Householder]

Didn't sell this year. Had a long fall flow and worked them for everything. With the price of honey be where it's at, I had to give it a try. Produced an extra 9 ton by doing so. That worked out to a 20 lb avg. extra, which is about double what I would have sold the bees for.

Sometimes it pays to the roll the dice.

[benstung]

I know that my broker only got half the bees they got last year from the same beekeepers. so that must be saying something.
i would like to here more about the prices?????
As of now it looks about the same as last year, around $150

[Keith Jarrett]

.......except maybe Keith.

Ahh, heck yeah Jimmy, skies the limit. lol I got to have a talk with Barry, the Icon popcorn & guy digging his own pit are great .... But we need to add a flock of turkeys as well.

[Ian]

and a smiley face with dollar sign eyes