Spring Planning Time

It's that time of year - get those supplies purchased and order your bees!  Already we have ordered some honey making supplies.  We're hoping this is the year we will be bringing in the honey!

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Our current bee plan:  In addition to acquiring a couple of nucs normal bee vendor, we decided to see what we thought of the Saskatraz bees.  OK - think of that word.  Where in the world would they be coming from...?

Did you say Saskatchewan, Canada?  Then you would be right.  There's a honey bee project ongoing there to focus on "honey production, wintering ability and resistance to mites and brood diseases."

So it is like buying an AKC bee.  They come with papers.  Depending on which lineage they come from, they have a varying defense to varroa mite and increased honey production.  Plus, "all families have good to excellent wintering ability in Saskatchewan, intermediate to excellent hygienic behavior and acceptable temperament."

Let me put a pause on the acceptable temperament.  Yes, Chris will be getting stung.  HA.  They are slightly more aggressive than Italian bees.

So let's hope for great season and hope that the hives left keep going until Spring weather breaks.

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Info credit: The Saskatraz Hybrid Project
Photo credit: Mann Lake