Hobby operator & finding honey yards

[specialkayme]

I see the average honey yields people post (anywhere from 60 lbs per hive to 160 lbs per hive). I'm no where near that. Partially due to my management, but partially due to what the bees are able to forage on. We have one main flow (tulip poplar) and I can get a decent yield out of that, but then it's low flow for the rest of the season. I know other things are blooming, just not enough to get a flow from them.

I know honey yield is is entirely dependent on location. I also know that unless the beekeeper is moving into orchards for pollination contracts that also yield honey (oranges, for example), you are dependent on what is within a two mile flight radius from you. Reading what people say, you are more likely to get a good honey yield from locations that are in an urban or suburban setting, and not necessarily in a rural setting.

So, how do you find those good honey locations? How do you find the spots that have a decent flow (or trickle) all season? Google Maps? Instinct? Or is it just a "hit or miss" kinda thing? Or am I looking for the white whale?

[indypartridge]

I see the average honey yields people post (anywhere from 60 lbs per hive to 160 lbs per hive).

While I don't doubt that some folks get 160lbs per hive, and I know beekeepers who seem to have found some "sweet spots" for honey production, if you looking for averages, check out the NASS statistics. For North Carolina the average for 2009 & 2010 is around 45 lbs.
http://www.nass.usda.gov/Publications/Todays_Reports/reports/hony0211.pdf

[specialkayme]

That's my point though. How do you find those "sweet spots"?

[asprince]

Backyard hives in the city do tend to have high yields due to the high concentration of blooming trees, shrubs and flowers that are watered regularly. I have found that a commercial tree farm that grows ornamental trees and shrubs to be a good place to park my hives when I am not pollinating squash (June and July). He grows many varieties of trees and shrubs that are constantly blooming all spring. In addition he plants clover in the rows. If you can move them easily, look around for a farmer growing cotton or soybeans.


Good Luck,

Steve   

[FRAMEshift]

Most of our hives are in urbanized areas and they do well.  One is next to a florist warehouse with cut flowers being brought through in large numbers every day.  That hive has done VERY well.   :-D

[AliciaH]

That's my point though. How do you find those "sweet spots"?

Driving around...lots of driving around.  Take different ways home, take the long route to grandma's, etc.  And better yet, have someone else drive so you can do the "finding" instead of looking at the road.

[specialkayme]

Yeah, but what are you looking for when you are driving around?

Most replies seem to indicate that the high honey yields are not done near open and operating farms. They are done from hives that can forage on a little bit of everything, scattered over a 2 mile radius. When I drive down a country road I can notice the corn field, or the strawberry field, but I can't notice the ornamental plants in every neighbor's front yard for the surrounding four miles.

[Kaisa]

Hello,

I don't know anything about this but according to American Honey Plants, citing Haber, the best areas in the Piedmont plateau are along streams with honey plants to look for being persimmon, sourwood, black gum, goldenrod, aster, willow, cow-peas, sumac, blackberry, maple and fruit trees. As far as farms go probably dairy farms would be the best as they might be growing forage crops of interest.  Unfortunately hay is now often cut before it flowers. Also in American Honey Plants Pellett mentions that to get a good crop in North Carolina it's important to do stimulative spring feeding to get your hives up and running for the early honey flows.

Best of luck
Kaisa

[Joe D]

In the rural areas, look for fields but see what they spray with.  In swamps and down streams there are usually lots of things for bees.  I have several acres of crimson clover, bees get pollen, less than 1/2 mile in front of yard is a nice stream, to the east there is a creek swamp.  I have a neighbor that in the fall has about 40 acres of golden rod, and this time of year there is privy hedge every where.  Good luck finding you ideal place.

Joe