How do I check the health of an apiary’s hives before buying the business?

A visit shows only a moment, so aim for several yards at different times if the seller allows it. Look at brood pattern, stores, queen presence and the general temper of the colonies, and ask which hives the seller expects to lose. Count on the seller choosing the easy yards first, so ask to open hives you pick at random. Dress the part and move slowly, since the way colonies respond to handling also tells you about their temperament and the care they have had.

Next, read the records. Ask for the history of each yard: losses over the seasons, treatments used, queen replacement, splits and any disease found. Gaps in the records are information. Ask whether an inspector has visited and whether any report exists.

Then connect health to the books. Colony numbers are the stock of this business, much as inventory is for a shop, so ask how the count was made and who verified it. Compare honey and pollination income with the number of strong hives. A big count of weak hives is a problem, not an asset. Bring in a bee specialist before you make an offer, and ask your lawyer to tie any hive count to the purchase agreement. Ask also about the equipment holding the bees, such as boxes, frames and wax, because worn or diseased gear can carry problems into your first season.

Key takeaways

• Choose which hives to open yourself, and visit more than one yard.
• Ask for written histories of losses, treatments and disease.
• Treat the stated colony count as stock that must be verified.