This has been my first Spring/Summer and now Fall beekeeping and I've learned a ton.
My hives have huge mite counts and many of the guys I've talked to say they doubt the bees will survive the Winter, especially without treating them.
I don't want to use chemicals to treat my bees, I talked to a couple guys who don't treat. One said he gets better bees, he makes splits from the hives that do survive. The other guy said it was dollars and cents, he could save the money on treatments, harvest ALL the honey, buy new packages in the Spring and be way further ahead. New package start great with existing comb...bla,bla,bla.
I don't want to use chemicals, but I don't want to just sacrifice my bees either so I've left my hives right around 100lbs. each to try to give them a chance to make it.
If they die off due to mites would the honey in the hive still be usable?
Thanks as always,
scott