Agricultural Hall

    

2024 BEES!

Bees sold by Agricultural Hall are supplied by local dealers who drive south every spring, pick up packages and nucs from bee-breeder farms (most of which are in Georgia), and hurry back within 24 hours, usually with about 400 - 800 packages in tow!  I bring them to Ag Hall within a few hours of their arrival in New England.

Here's this year's list as of 1/22/24:

Package / Nucs	Variety	Marked Queen	Arrival Date (est.)	Price
Package	VSH              SOLD OUT	Yes	Monday, March 25	$180
Package	VSH              SOLD OUT	No	Monday, March 25	$175
Package	Buckfast      SOLD OUT	Yes	Monday, March 25	$180
Package	Buckfast      SOLD OUT	No	Monday, March 25	$175
Package	Buckfast	Yes	Monday, April 15	$180
Package	Buckfast	No	Monday, April 15	$175
Package	VSH	Yes	Monday, April 15	$160
Package	VSH	No	Monday, April 15	$155
No nucs or Carniolans this year.  Leaving town for six weeks before their delivery dates. If you'd like Carniolans, contact B-Line Apiaries.  For nucs, call me.

To order bees:

Follow this link here or send an email to 2024Bees(at)AgHall.com, and please tell me:

1)  How many packages you'd like; and
2)  Whether you want a marked or unmarked queen.
3)  Please also include a phone number where I can reach you in a pinch.  (Sometimes things move quickly when the bees come to town.)

I will respond with a confirmation email, along with payment instructions.



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Some characteristics of VSH & Buckfast stocks:

VSH:  Selective breeding of Varroa Sensitive Hygienic bees by the USDA (Pol-line) and independent breeders encourage hygienic/anti-mite behavior; the workers are more likely to remove varroa-infested pupae from capped brood cells before the mite reproductive cycle is complete.  They are not guaranteed to survive varroa infestations and, in fact (like all Apis mellifera varieties) they will very likely succumb to mites and/or the many diseases they vector if not managed properly, but VSH bees are generally better at suppressing varroa population growth.

Buckfast:  Originally bred 105 years ago by Brother Adam at Buckfast Abbey in Britain, Buckfasts proved resistant to tracheal mites, then ravaging Britain's honeybee populations.  Buckfast are desirable on almost all fronts; brood and honey production are high, swarming drive is low, and continuing breeding programs have also produced Varroa mite-resistant progeny.  Little wonder it is sometimes called the "Beekeeper's Bee."

Again, there are always variations from colony to colony, even within varieties.

For more details, see;
                   https://www.beesource.com/resources/usda/the-different-types-of-honey-bees/ 
...or do a Web search.  There's a lot of info out there!!

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Ordering notes & tips:

> Aim for early bees.  It's not unusual to hive packages with snow still on the ground.  And if you successfully hive a package by early April, you could be taking honey in June.  Later packages seem to merely survive, but not always thrive, ...until year two.

> Dates are estimates.  We can hope and cross our fingers, but they'll come when they come.  Most arrive on time, or even a day early.  Weather is the biggest determinant.   

> In general, I will replace dead queens as long as you report them to me within four days of their arrival at Ag Hall.  I will try to always offer replacement queens for virgin and poorly mated queens, but they must be reported to me within 10 days.

> I can not replace packages -- there is no instance where a supplier will replace a package.  The 10-14 days after hiving a package are critical, and it is important that you monitor your queen's behavior thoroughly and keep them well fed.  Please feel free to call with any questions -- I can usually help you through any rough patches.