Each commodity is essential for life as a honeybee. But, if you had to choose which one to have closer to your hives, which would it be? Bear in mind, that surface water can be a tough commodity to find most summers around here. This is a fairly windy part of our state, so long flights would be taxing on a bee.
I have a choice for an apiary site to place the hives near a pond that generally seems to store water all summer long or closerer the nearby foraging fields. The pond is at least a half mile plus to the edge of a CRP field that blooms clover and other floral options like crazy each year. The bees could probably obtain water from dew in the early mornings, but that can also be tough to find some times in this locale during dry spells.
Either location has its pluses - good road access, resaonable distance away from nearby homes, windbreaks, etc. I'm leaning toward near the floral source for more efficient, as in shorter nectar flights.
With both commodities being important, which is more essential for nearby access to the colonies?
I have a choice for an apiary site to place the hives near a pond that generally seems to store water all summer long or closerer the nearby foraging fields. The pond is at least a half mile plus to the edge of a CRP field that blooms clover and other floral options like crazy each year. The bees could probably obtain water from dew in the early mornings, but that can also be tough to find some times in this locale during dry spells.
Either location has its pluses - good road access, resaonable distance away from nearby homes, windbreaks, etc. I'm leaning toward near the floral source for more efficient, as in shorter nectar flights.
With both commodities being important, which is more essential for nearby access to the colonies?