Honeybee colony characteristics and profitability of
pollination management systems
Author(s)
Cynthia D. Scott and Mark L. Winston
Abstract
Colony characteristics and profitability were examined
for 3 systems of honeybee management in the North Okanagan Valley, British
Columbia, Canada: (1) moving bees for pollination (current system), (2) honey production
without pollination, and (3) package and nucleus production with and without
pollination. A total of 60 colonies were used, divided equally into 6
management systems. Gross profit/colony was highest ($109 or $104)* for
colonies used for pollination and from which a nucleus or package was removed.
The lowest profit ($14.36) was for colonies managed solely for honey
production. Measurements of colony weight, sealed worker brood area and surplus
honey production indicated that management systems which involve the most
intensive colony management for pollination, honey production and bee
production do not detract from overall colony vigour and yield
Keywords
Colony characteristic, honeybee movement, commercial pollination, honey production, bee production
