Oh yes indeed. But.......Some of those making the strongest statements that way also buy bees.......from me. All to be kept hush hush apart from to the authorities. Even as I finished at Perth a few months ago, when the vote to ask for an import ban to be explored was passed, at least three of those I KNOW had their hands up to support it spoke to me quietly even before we left the venue, they wanted packages, and several more of them wanted queens. The imported ones of course. Secret layby rendezvous after meeting so no-one sees etc etc...........you would be very surprised...especially at some of the names that buy queens.Originally Posted by mbc
If your living depends on it you cannot take heavy losses.....and they sometimes happen despite the best of care...................followed by tiny crops for a year or two..........which also happens.............unless you have outside support.
But then maybe most do not give a jot about the widespread availability of UK honey, or the fact that even some of the bigger bee farmers have to get tax credits. The local bee is tough, but mostly its a survivor rather than a living earner.
You cannot rely on our weather....hence we are going for a twin track approach, maximise our own breeding effort, but have emergency supplies available to top up with.
I think the black bee movement are too closely following eachother and deciding on that basis that the demand is there, and that is what everyone wants, but as I told people last year, I managed to obtain a supply of very nice A.m.m., because, as is so obvious, everyone wants it. However when there were orders for 1200 Buckfast and carnica, and only 70 A.m.m., and I suffered the embarrassment of having to cancel bees from a great source because not enough people wanted them. I had been assured demand was huge.
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