Virginia annual average was 47.9lbs per hive.
internet say and books that I read. Is the 200-400lbs that some people say
Good question. That is most difficult are in beekeeping. I have not learned. It often makes me surprise.
That is very small yield. Even normal swarm forage that measure in one week if hive is beside canola field.
Reason for small yields:
* too many hives forages same flowers and area
* dry areas
* cultivated fields where is such a crop which give nothing to bees
* too long flying distances.
* if hive is at the distance of 1 mile from canolafield bees miss 50% of they yield for long flying
Basics of bigg yields
* big hives, you must prevent swarming
* foragers and nurse bees are in balance
* take hives to the field which are sure to give nectar
....dandelion 50% sure
.....red clower 20%
Same flower in moist soil gives honey and in dry soil and in hot wetather it gives nothing.
If you put hives in different places you will see how it happens. If you keep them in one place, you will not learn anytking. They are just there.
Last summer (again) I had hives in different places . Difference with best and worst places were 5 fold.
Here I am taking my best hive to better fields. I had collected allready 140 lbs in June. Then on fireweed fields it gathered 240 lbs more.
Secret was that I put only 3 big hives in one very spended place where flying distance was under 1 kilometer.
5 kilometer away from this place hives collected only 60 lbs. More pictures http://bees.freesuperhost.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1121627860