This years crop demonstrated this. Hives in sheltered areas have done very well (away from the northerly winds), while those in more exposed areas only put on a box. Overall, it has been a mixed crop production wise. Some hives stored a lot of early bush honey, whiteywood, kamahi and Rewarewa, but most of our crop came in between Christmas and new year when we had four still days from late flowering bush sources.

Instead of filling up the boxes above the brood nest, most hives honeyed themselves down (stacked the honey in and around the brood nest) unless you started pulling up partially capped frames into the boxes above the brood nest. Once this box was full, you had to under-super (put a new super above the brood nest) otherwise the bees just sat there.

Some of the points noted this year.

For best results use escape boards. That is after you have checked the brood chamber for BL. Although this requires two trips to the hives, its easier on you, the bees and your neighbours. Just a little tip, scrape off the burr comb from the frames above and below where you intend to place the escape board. This allows the bees to move easier to the bottom supers.

Of course they won't work well if the queen is in the honey super or if there is any brood in the honey supers. Watch robbing when using boards. If left on for longer than a night and a box has a small hole or crack in it, it will be robbed out in no time. Use tape or foam plastic to seal the supers.

After extracting get them back on again, (after dark in the city). I have also noticed that the bees seem to be building up again so we could get another late flow. Weather reports for March sound good.

A word of warning - leave a least a box of honey for winter feed just in case this doesn't come off.

REQUEEN Now is the best time to requeen all hives. Make nucs or kill the old queen and introduce the new. This isn't the best way as sometime the older bees kill the new queen - best get her laying in a nuc and then swap frames between nuc and hive (with the old queen on). The bees from the nuc protect the new queen.

ENTERTAINMENT Been to see Ulee's Gold at the pictures recently. Its a great little story and portrays beekeeping in a good light - hard work. Beekeepers around the world are all alike - just can't get rid of old gear. Notice that old four frame extractor under the house? A few lines come to mind: "How are the bees" ? - "Well with pesticides, mites, and drought - they're doing just fine".

Well worth seeing.