John F Dean

A friend of mine got a job at a bicycle factory. He's the spokesperson.

This might be what you are after ... if I can get it to attach....

Ok, I can't get it to attach.

So, go to the United Nations site at www.fao.org

Then use the sites search engine for monk pipe.

I just reread the instruction manual. Lots of caution regarding low water,  low oil, and low air.  Nothing regarding restrictions on the discharge end of things. If I can't get a clear answer, out of an abundance of caution, I will probably make a manifold that I can hook several hoses to.

I am not planning on taking any action until spring.

My thinking is that splitting the hive will reduce the probability of swarming.

Yes, my assumption was that buying a queen was the best bet. I wanted to see what the other options might be.

Hi Mike,

I think you may be ignoring the fun factor. But to stay practical,  if I reduce a 2 inch hose down to  a garden hose on a gas operated pump, am I correct in assuming I will need some kind of pressure release valve in place to protect the pump?

I have raised bees on and off for decades. In the past, I have purchased bees .... except for the occasional piece of dumb luck where the swarm adopted an empty hive.  I am wondering how to ID the issue before the swarm..... and how to make the transfer.

Excuse me. I just re- read my first post. That should have read, "I encountered a Copperhead this year."

I just dug up pictures from the Illinois DNR.  It appears I encountered a Cottonmouth yesterday in my barn.  It is kind of a tricky identification. There appear to be many possible variations in the coloring.  But the Cottonmouth is the only one that comes close.  This is interesting because I am a little north of it's normal range.  Then, with the warming and excessive rains, it is certainly not impossible. Heck, I have spotted a couple of Armadillos in recent years.

I was browsing through this thread and recalled a conversation I had with an attorney.  Of course, as this thread has proven, there are many potential approaches to obtaining an answer.  His approach, regarding farm land, was to determine what the payments would be. If the potential income did not cover the payments, dont buy it.

I agree with the above posts hugels or raised beds.  As I write this, why not experiment with both?  I suspect, given the description of your land, that raised beds might give you faster results if time is an issue.