Pollination with 8 frame mediums?

[SgtMaj]

I know with 10 frame deeps they want 8 frames full of bees, but how about when you're using mediums instead of deeps? I'm still trying to decide what to use and I think I would like to go with 8 frame mediums if for no other reason than that they're lighter, but I want to make sure it's not going to interfere with pollination of things like California's Almond crops.

[Michael Bush]

Eight frame hives are getting popular for pollination as they fit seven across on a truck bed. Two eight frame mediums is exactly equal to one ten frame deep. Three medium frames is exactly equal to two deep frames.

[Angi_H]

I did almonds last year with my 8 frame hives, My Med Hives and my deep hives. I had 7 hives and a friend brought the rest. This year I have 22 hives and they are bursting at the seams. I did not make it in time to be able to split them and I did not have the extra money to buy queens. I was hoping to have 40 for the Farm I am to pollinate next year. He only took 20 hives last year but this year will take 40

Angi

[BEES4U]

but how about when you're using mediums instead of deeps?
You will have to sell the broker and grower on the equipment.
Some contracts state the following:
2 ten frame deeps, 10 frame deep plus a MDS, 2 eight frame deeps and no 8 frames plus a MDS.
Good luck,
Ernie

[loggermike]

I don't know if its this way all over, but the graders up here are counting 2 medium frames of bees as 1 deep frame.

[JBJ]

Originally Posted by loggermike

Good question. Joe Traynor(in his Almond Pollination Handbook) defines a strong hive of bees for almonds as 8 frames of bees.He defines the frame as a deep frame 2/3 to 3/4 covered with bees at 60 degrees.
I use a deep w/medium box on top for almonds.So I figure a heavily covered medium frame as a full frame and for less bees it might be 2 or 3 counts as one. The graders usually grade mine better than I do, so I might be on the conservative side.

Two for one seems like a raw deal to me. I have also seen some county guidelines stating a deep frame counts if it is 2/3 covered both sides. A 6 & 5/8 frame completely covered is 2/3 of a deep. Shouldn't they have parity?

[loggermike]

I agree with you. I really didn't know how the North state graders were counting the medium frames till I asked this year.Seems like what a frame of bees is depends on who you ask
Other factors like air temp and number of bees in the field seems like grading can be kind of dicey at times.