While removing honey I noticed most hives have a large amount of brood. Does this indicate another flow, a mild winter/ early spring? I wish I knew.

Unfortunately in some hives, this brood rearing has chewed through the stores which would have normally supported them through to next spring. Those like me, who have taken honey off early may have to feed some (or sugar) back so hives have a full super of honey to winter on.

I am now extracting, and it’s only when you remove the surplus that you find out how hives have done. As predicted, production is very mixed; some apiaries produced well, while other apiaries have only managed a super.

This is the difference between commercial and hobby beekeeping. One or two hives in an area can produced up to 50 kilograms or more each, whereas ten to twenty hives produced substantially less due to competition. Still some years when everything goes well, (ie the wind doesn't blow), these hives will also produce 50 kg or more.

It pays to analyze how this year went. Record how you did and note down how you could improve things for the next El Nino year.

Now is the time to prepare your hives for next season. Get all the work done before the bees close down for the winter. Requeen, replace old or rotten woodware, and work dark, frames with drone comb or broken frames to the outside of the supers, or if full of honey - replace them. While you are looking through the hives, keep a watchful eye out for BL. It pays to inspect all frames at least twice a year, (spring and autumn when removing your crop). Although the incidence is very low in Wellington area, it is still possible for your bees to get this disease.

Close down entrances so mice can't get in and this will also keep wasps and robbing bees out. Clear away scrubs that will block winter sun from the hives. Keep the grass down and make sure the hive footings are sound. One or two of my hives toppled over this year when they became top heavy, mostly due to rotten supports.

Wax moth are prevalent now and can easily get into exposed frames, so keep them covered or place a sheet of newspaper between each when stacking them for storage. Fumigate the supers by placing a little PDB in each to kill any moths. Unfortunately this doesn't kill eggs so you will have to repeat this procedure in a month or so to make sure they are protected.