South Central Ohio honey averages

[Nett]

Any Buckeyes on here that might can tell me what the averages are for honey producing per year for a healthy hive. I'm just asking for an average. Trying to figure out how long it will take to recover my cost for bees, equipment ect.

[Brian D. Bray]

Any Buckeyes on here that might can tell me what the averages are for honey producing per year for a healthy hive. I'm just asking for an average. Trying to figure out how long it will take to recover my cost for bees, equipment ect.

Average...average...he did say average?  Which average do you want the one for warm summers just the right amount of rain fall and lots of bloom, or the average for the flood in June with the hives 2 feet under water, or the average when it rains and snows all spring and your bees die of starvation, or the average when there's no rain for 3 years the temps are in the 100s and you're feeding syrup all summer,or the average when.....

Tell me which average and I'll give you an answer.  Ma Nature is a hard nut to crack, ask any farmer.

[mlewis48]

 I have to agree with Brian. I,too, live in southern Ohio. Mother Nature has been very good to us this season. We had a good Spring, with no late frosts. So, far Summer has been good as well. Last year was another story.  The drought was very hard on the honey crop. I did not take any off of my hives, had to share the wealth with the weaker hives to assure that they did not starve in the Winter. I have seen hives that have 10 supers on them, this year. I have some with 3 on them.  I have harvested once, so far this year and the numbers were good but yo never know what will be around the corner. As far as breaking even, I don't see that happening for some time. Every dime that I make, I put back in for expansion or upgrade of equipment. What part of Southern Ohio are you located?? We could be neighbors.

[budhanes]

This is only my 3rd year in the Columbus area. (Hives are in Plain City). Seems to be better than last year. Some hives doing better than others. As far as going from red to black on my "investment", I cant foresee that day right now or ever. Theres always things to buy for the bee hobby. Good luck on the harvest though!

[wadehump]

not trying to harvest this year ,caught a swarm last summer and am back into bees after a 35 to 30 year absence. just building numbers , split over wintered hive bought 1 nuc , and did a cut out missed 2 swarms gone when i got there ,so i am up to 4 hives now hive are woking hard and building up in numbers . but based on past expeirince i would guess a strong hive with the spring and summer we have had you should be able to harvest 3 or 4 super if extracting and 2 if doing crush and strain .spring numbers and health factored with the weather is the key to how much you can harvest also we still have the fall aster flow if it produces

[misfyredOhio]

In Ohio. Checked my 2 hives today. The top supers are empty and not even drawn out. Are we in a mid-summer dearth? When can I expect another honey flow? Also it's really hot and dry here. I've got the top cover propped up 2 inches in the back and they are still bearding at night.