hope I'm not biting off more than I can chew

BjornBee · October 30, 2008, 09:50:36 PM

Am I reading this right? I thought the farmer was "local" in Michigan. He wanted them to stay put. And the idea of having strong hives for pollination for apples, is questionable, if your doing walk away splits in April in time for having the numbers built up pre fruit bloom.

Buying queens as compared to walk away splits in trying to have anything decent from a pollination unit would be advised. You may have several weeks for splits before the blooms start opening. But to be the beekeeper betting on booming hives based on walk away splits in early spring, and then counting on this to make a decent honey crop from, could be hinderd by poor mating, lack of drones and other lagging problems, cutting into any profit to be had.

And certainly doing walk away splits to make up for winter loss in yet another negative on a beekeeper who is getting paid solely on the basis of honey production. Walk away splits in early spring don't normally build fast enough for a honey crop worth the effort, or equating into the true "cost" this beekeeper is paying out in terms of time and labor.

Brian D. Bray · October 30, 2008, 09:55:05 PM

Quote from: BjornBee on October 30, 2008, 09:50:36 PM
Am I reading this right? I thought the farmer was "local" in Michigan. He wanted them to stay put. And the idea of having strong hives for pollination for apples, is questionable, if your doing walk away splits in April in time for having the numbers built up pre fruit bloom.

Buying queens as compared to walk away splits in trying to have anything decent from a pollination unit would be advised. You may have several weeks for splits before the blooms start opening. But to be the beekeeper betting on booming hives based on walk away splits in early spring, and then counting on this to make a decent honey crop from, could be hinderd by poor mating, lack of drones and other lagging problems, cutting into any profit to be had.

And certainly doing walk away splits to make up for winter loss in yet another negative on a beekeeper who is getting paid solely on the basis of honey production. Walk away splits in early spring don't normally build fast enough for a honey crop worth the effort, or equating into the true "cost" this beekeeper is paying out in terms of time and labor.

Never having been a commercial, or even sideline, beekeeper I appreciate the viewpoint.

BjornBee · October 30, 2008, 10:00:53 PM

Lets not use the "C" word. :-D

This is an excellent discussion. Many points of view and comments for someone to think about.

rast · October 30, 2008, 10:05:59 PM

I got it backwards as far as summer location. Sorry

rdy-b · October 30, 2008, 10:24:45 PM

Quote from: danno on October 30, 2008, 09:13:02 AM
Let me try to clarify this alittle better. This farmer is a business man the runs a fruit packer company. He owns 1000s of acres of fruit and a factory to package it. The bee's are his for his own pollination only. The former bee keeper is a freind of mine and is migratory. He would take his 400 hives along with the fruit packers 200 hives to Florida every winter. Last winter the fruit packer told him he didn't want his bee's going out of state any more so my freind is going to concentrate on building his own operation up to 600. The fruit packer has never taken any part of the harvest. I have always been very ambitious and readily except challenges.

what was the farmers reason for not wanting the hives to winter in florida- will your friend Help you run the honey for a cut -(hope he is not mad at the farmer)-that much honey needs a COMPLETE HONEY HOUSE-what was your friends yeild when he ran the bees -and whats his advice to you-RDY-B

pdmattox · October 30, 2008, 10:59:12 PM

Well I can't believe I'm about to say this but here it goes... I agree with Bjorn on these points. :-D I started may of '06 with 21 hives and got to over 200 just this year. Never had bees before but got lucky and found a Mr. Mike Thomas :) (www.thomashoney.com) in Lake City,Fl who has kept bees commercially for 40+ years to take me under his wing and show me both sides of the bee business. Getting these hives in the shape they need to be is not something you just decide to do and it happens. Personally I think he should reconsider going to Florida, It would make it a lot easier to get the numbers up. In fact I got some extra yards In Florida if you want to come down yourself Danno, I will show you around and help you get your foot in the door. Good luck and follow your heart but keep your head on, no one needs to work for free.

rdy-b · October 30, 2008, 11:06:26 PM

Life is short somethings you gota do for the GLORY-if it dosent work out just give them back :lol: RDY-B

BjornBee · October 30, 2008, 11:22:03 PM

pdmattox,
That other Mike Thomas is a copy cat, and wannabee! There is only one original Mike Thomas - beekeeper. It says on his website "established in 1968". Ha! I was established in 1964, four years earlier. And as proof, that is exactly what's on my birth certificate! :-D

danno · October 31, 2008, 09:23:53 AM

As for queens these are all wootens and the owner is responseable for the cost of replacements. The former keeper charged the owner 35.00 per split. That covered the queens and alittle for extra labor. The area that the bees are in has alot more that just apples. We are tucked between 2 major river systems both with very large flood plans. I have some of my bee's in a location adjacent to one of the river bottoms and I'm not sure what ther finding down there but thats where they head when they finish with my apples. The orchards are not contiguos with many farms tucked between. After the bloom they dont have to go far to find the next crop. Because the bees belong to the farmer I see this as a plus. He doesn't want to kill them. I could see that happening in a pollination contracted operation.

Keith13 · October 31, 2008, 12:09:16 PM

So Danno what do you think?
To me it seems like the forums would have scared the bejesus out of you on this one :-D

But, at least most every thing has been thought of and discussed.
No matter what you do good luck with it

Keith

EasternShore · October 31, 2008, 05:57:11 PM

Danno,

I have helped my mentor this year with his 60 hives, to say the least, I am exhausted after only 60 hives. This is inspection, honey harvest and little to no medication. Hope you don't have a full time job, cause 200 hives will keep you REAL busy come harvest time. Even feeding is a major task with 60.

Best of luck, I would however do it myself..cause I love bee's. If you feel the way I do..then take a deep breath...write it all out and get ready for a wild ride.

Mark