We register our beeyards with the NJ Dept of Ag. Farmers are obligated to provide notification when ever spraying is going to take place. We fed the bees heavily going into the winter. Any week hives are shaken out and combined with strong hives. My friend and I have 25 hives and are expanding our hives this spring.

Tracheal mites are not the same as Varroa mites. Saying "They are sometimes referred to as "tracheal bee mites" or "honey bee tracheal mites." is like saying that Basset Hounds are sometimes referred to as Dalmatians.

And you say you have 8 hives?

I went into winter with 7 hives and ended this intense winter with 7. The main thing is making sure that the bees have sufficient stores of food going into the fall and that you have treated for Varroa mites. The Varroa mite problem is an intense one that has had a huge impact on the bee business. There are new pesticides called Nicotinoids that are being used on sweet corn and others that are suspected of having an impact on bees.