bee prices going crazy

[hvac professor]

I have just begun to check on prices for nucs this spring, but not knowing how my existing bees will overwinter here in upstate NY, plus the fact I am getting prices of 155-175 for a 5 frame nuc, im wondering how much longer this hobby will last.

Is anyone close to my area getting these kind of prices? does anyone know where to buy decent nucs within a couple hundred miles of upstate NY?

Thank you

[rookie2531]

Sellers must love keepers like you. Why not make your own nucs? The bees do it, so its just as easy as pulling frames. But if your too busy, I guess you have to pay  :(

Merry Christmas.  :)

[Kathyp]

yeah and the package prices are nuts too.  I suspect the whole "The bees are dying!" thing has given them licence to charge nutty prices. 

[iddee]

Are you near Brasher Falls? If so, send a PM to sqkcrk. He normally sells a few nucs each spring.

[GSF]

Is those prices normal for up there? I'm wondering if the grant money will drive the prices of bees up.

[BeeMaster2]

Yup, government involvement means higher prices.
Jim

[sterling]

Yup, government involvement means higher prices.
Jim

Govternment is there to help :needhelp: :needhelp:

[sterling]

Nucs deep four frame and five frame $135 to$150.
Packages 3# $90 to $110
Thats the prices I've heard around middle Tn.

[10framer]

sterling, is that much higher than the last couple of years?

[vemergy]

I also noticed prices increasing in central Ohio.
I started with beekeeping in the spring of 2013. Back then I purchased two 3-pound bee packages (comes with mated queen) for around $90 each.
In the harsh winter of 2014 and probably b/c my lack of knowledge and experience, I lost both colonies.
I bought again in Spring of 2014 -- two 4-pound packages for $125 each, this year they are asking $131 for same size package.
(My local bee provider is located at this address http://www.waldobees.com/about.html)

For 4 frame nucs, he is asking $161.

I also got in touch with a local beekeeper who migrates along with his bees to FL during the winter -- he quoted me $135 for a 5 frame med nucs (same price for deep frames as well).  I want to expand my apiary, so I plan on buying 2 nucs from his this season when he returns to OH from FL.

In my less than 2 year beekeeping experience, I have never purchased nucs, so I would like to try that route and see how is that different than buying package bees.

I would like to become self sufficient and self sustained in another year or two so I will not have to buy bees every season but regrettably, I am not there yet.

[sterling]

sterling, is that much higher than the last couple of years?

$15 to $20 from a couple years ago

[10framer]

is backyard beekeeping still on the rise? 

[GSF]

Rob, at our last state meeting I was told (Jim Tew? maybe) that although backyard beekeeping may be on the rise it's the commercial guys that we are losing. That's where the decline in bee population is coming from.

[10framer]

gary, in the 80's there were probably hundreds of beekeepers in alabama with any where from 200 to 2000 colonies.  i knew a lot of them, of those i can only confirm that one is still in business. 
i'm trying to figure out what is driving the demand for bees right now.  i actually suspect that there are more bees in our region now then there were around the year 2000 but that's based off of what i've seen (keep in mind that the world is much more internet driven now than it was then, so i may be completely wrong about that).

[Jim134]

look at Craigslist Bennington Vermont under (honey bees) nucs early sales are $120
also Michael Palmer of French Hill apiaries in St Albans Vermont keeps bees in the North champagne Valley in New York.Betterbee Bee supplies sell packages from Georgia and nucs from Michael Palmer


                  BEE HAPPY Jim 134 :)

[deknow]

What decline in bee population?

Rob, at our last state meeting I was told (Jim Tew? maybe) that although backyard beekeeping may be on the rise it's the commercial guys that we are losing. That's where the decline in bee population is coming from.

[GLOCK]

I am asking 130.00 for a five frame nuc.

[asprince]

5 frame nucs from our club supplier will be $130 this year. He will sell all he can supply.

Steve

[minz]

I was planning on selling a couple of 8 frames of bees (10 frame with a 2 frame feeder) for $90. I guess I had better get out and look around. Thinking I had better see how many live before I start selling them! I did get a bunch of cardboard nucs to see if I could get in on this frenzy before it collapses.  Coastal farm and Garden last year was selling 5F nucs with a VSH Minnesota queen for $175. I just have local open bred, overwintered stock.

[BeeMaster2]

Minz,
If you are selling a whole hive with the bees than you will need to more than double that price.
Jim