![]() Beekeepers may need to requeen in a colony if the established queen is old, injured, performing poorly or lost. Many beekeepers replace the queen (a process called requeening) annually and others do it on an as-needed basis. Young queens are productive and keep a colony at its top performance. Source: Information gathered from beekeepers. Range of purchase cost for feedingsystem equipment A variety of hoses and valves are needed to administer syrup from the feed tank to internal feeders in colonies. A feed tank is often a reusable bulk container, such as an IBC tote, capable of holding 275 gallons of syrup (Figure 2). A high-output pump and motor may be mounted and secured to the truck deck with a feed tank (Figure 2). Syrup feeding systemsīeekeepers store and dispense sugar syrup to colonies with feeding systems that require a feed tank, pump and hose system (Table 4). **Based on bulk prices of premade patties. *Prices are for a full tank load (sold by hundredweight) and include a range of syrup types: high fructose corn syrup, sucrose and blends. (Abercrombie, North Dakota), and Mann Lake Ltd. (Hamilton, Illinois), Dakota Gunness, Inc. Sources: Information gathered from PNW beekeepers, Dadant & Sons, Inc. ![]() Average and range of purchase cost for sugar syrup and protein supplement Sources: Information gathered from PNW beekeepers. Quantity of protein supplement feed in Idaho and Oregon during spring and autumn The cost of premade protein supplement patties ranges from $1.09-$1.57 per pound (Table 3, page 3). ![]() PNW commercial beekeepers report feeding up to 6 pounds of protein in the spring and 4–8 pounds in the autumn (Table 2). 31.īeekeepers also place 1-pound premade protein supplement patties inside colonies seasonally (Figure 1). 1 to honey harvest and autumn is defined as honey harvest to Dec. Source: Information gathered from PNW beekeepers Quantity of sugar syrup feed in Idaho and Oregon during spring and autumn Prices fluctuate constantly and in early 2020 ranged between $0.29-$0.38 per pound ($3.30-$4.39 per gallon) (Table 3, page 3). AGM and Cargill manufacture bulk syrup, but a beekeeper must go through a broker to purchase from these manufacturers. Syrup feed is either sucrose, high fructose corn syrup, or a blend of each. PNW commercial beekeepers report feeding colonies between 1.5 to 8 gallons of sugar syrup and 3 to 6.5 gallons of syrup in the autumn (Table 1, page 2).Ī variety of feed products are available on the market. They will also provide resources during inclement weather, late summer, and autumn to prepare colonies for winter. Beekeepers feed syrup and protein in spring to stimulate colony growth. The amount of feed provided to a colony will vary based on stored resources in the colony and environmental conditions. When floral resources are scarce, beekeepers may provide supplemental feed to colonies. Honey bees seek carbohydrate and protein sources by foraging for nectar and pollen during resource abundance. Strong, thriving colonies require many inputs from the beekeeper, including feed (carbohydrates and protein), medications and new queens when necessary. Success in pollination, honey production and other aspects of a beekeeping business depends on honey bee health. Figure 2: A close-up of a feed tank, pump and hose setup on a truck bed.
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