Queen rearing with NO flow

[BeeTexas]

I have recently read a few post where people are raising queens. There is no measurable nectar flow right now in our area. I spoke with one commercial beek, he stated that he will wait until spring to raise quality queens, then I saw a post where a bee club was grafting-and stated as long as there are drones they don't have any problems. I was initiated into bee keeping by an OOoold beek, he always re-inforced not to against the natural cycles of the bees in your area. We will make a few during the fall flow, then take a break until early spring.

[bud1]

the commercial bee keeper is not playing with a hobby; his lively hood depends on his knowledge and has probably forgotten more bee lore than several bee clubs will gain in a lifetime.  thanks to a texas commercial for a pile of information he freely gave me

[BeeTexas]

Bud, I think you hit the nail on the head with that one. The club is playing, and the Commercial is about his livelyhood.

[Packrat3wires]

I agree.   I will always take the advice of someone who is putting food on the table with their knowledge as opposed to someone who is a hobbyist!

[don2]

Make as many as you can as early as you can. If you get more than you need at the time make some nucs, bank a few, replace a weak Queen, etc. d2

[capt44]

I go with the knowledge of the commercial bee keeper.
I have as high as a 95% success rate in the early part of the year but after July the success rate drops tremendously.

[Eric Bosworth]

Where I live there is usually a strong golden rod flow from mid August through September. Wouldn't that be a good time to raise queens? I haven't done any queen rearing yet but I would think that would be a very good time to do it. But I do have to say that queen rearing with no flow is likely to get dud queens.