Central Oregon Beekeeping Association

Reply to: Early Honey Harvest?

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<blockquote>Dennis Gallagher wrote:

Ron, Sounds like you have happy bees!&nbsp; I started counting mites every four to six weeks last summer, and treating the ones that needed it, and not treating the ones that did not (MAQS).&nbsp; I have introduced some purchased queens last year and this that are supposed to be mite resistant either by VSH or maybe some other means.&nbsp; I also have tried to requeen those hives that have consistently high mite counts with the new queens.&nbsp; I did have some problems (myself and others who went in with me to purchase the queens)with those same queens failing-hives going queenless, perhaps they were not well mated- not enough sperm.&nbsp; So far they, and their daughters this year, have done a fairly good job of controlling mites in their colonies. I think harvesting at this time is fine if you have surplus. I have a few hives in the Willamette valley that I will bring back in a few weeks and they have some blackberry honey on them that I intend to harvest then.&nbsp; I wish I had a spot in central Oregon that produced a surplus in the spring, the best I can seem to do most of the time is build up hives (and swarms) to full strength just in time for a nectar dearth in mid to late June. Here's to a great mid to late summer nectar flow!

Dennis 
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