A Question (Or Two) for the Beeks

[so lucky]

I am seriously entertaining the idea of getting a couple of hives, after I study up on the subject, but I have a question I can't find an answer to on the net.
The logical place to put hives on my property would be backed up to a field, where the owners plant various crops, soybeans lately--round-up ready soybeans. I'm wondering if it makes sense to try to keep bees in a place that gets chemical drift. I could put up a fence in back of it, a barrier, but I don't know if that would be sufficient. Or even if it is something to worry about. There is a real shortage of bees around my property the last few years. Would I be sending new bees to certain death?

 

[lesa]

Well, So lucky- I wouldn't do it... Even if there wasn't chemical drift, the bees won't be able to resist those soybean flowers. Not something I would want to expose them to. JMHO. The other option would be to give it a try- and see what happens. It is kind of a pricey experiment though. Good luck!

 

[so lucky]

They haven't planted corn in several years, but it would possibly be BT corn when/if they do again. I'm pretty sure that wouldn't be good for the honeybees.

 

[baymule]

What a dilemma. Bees. No bees. GMO, BT, chemicals......death to all. That sucks.

 

[Chickie'sMomaInNH]

you'll need to plant lots of nice smelling flowers to keep those bees attracted to your own yard.

 

[seedcorn]

Bt doesn't affect bees. I'd be more concerned if they spray insecticides on them.

 

[so lucky]

I haven't ever known of them spraying insecticide on the crops; I think I would smell it. But then I didn't know that they sprayed Round-up last year till my garden started dying.

 

[journey11]

Not so much where you'd put them, but their range of forage that would affect them. They can go up to 6 miles in any direction and what they pick up, they'll bring back home, possibly poisoning the brood. Chemicals can gradually build up in your combs too. Most folks will rotate them out about every 3 years to keep the chemical loads lower. I wouldn't want anything blowing over onto the hives either though. You'll pay at least $80 for a nuc, plus what you'll have in the equipment. Like Lesa said, could be a pricey experiment. If you have relatives or friends in your vicinity who have a better location, you may want to consider setting your bees up there.