killing workers?

[TAH]

I have about 11 acres of alfalfa at the site I have my bees at and have been letting it blossom more than I used to to let the bees use it. Now it needs to be mowed and I am wondering if I am going to wipe out a lot of my workers by running them through the haybine. I like to cut at about 13 MPH so they don't have a lot of time to get out of the way.

[Joseph Clemens]

Perhaps you could screen them in the night before you cut and release them after you are finished cutting.

[bassman1977]

We have a couple hundred acres of alfalfa, and it didn't affect the bees when it was cut.  I'm sure some got sliced and diced, but I think when they hear the rumble of machinery coming through, they bug out in time.

[TAH]

Is the field blossomed out when you cut? Normally people around here cut before it even starts blooming. The fields are full of bees now.

[Jerrymac]

Wouldn't there be a certain time of day the bees wouldn't be on it?

[TAH]

Today they were working it all day. I'm sure they leave by the time it is dark but I don't want to cut in the dark. I am going to watch and see if they leave it. When I used to use a haybine I could only cut about 4 MPH so it there was a lot more chance for bugs to get out of the way. Now the dear and rabbits just barely make it.