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Apiary
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== Size == [[File:Apiary in Bashkortostan, Russia.jpg|thumb|Apiary in Bashkortostan, Russia]] Apiary size refers not only to the spatial size of the apiary, but also to the number of bee families and bees by weight.<ref name=":04">Popescu A. 2013, Research Concerning Apiary Size, Honey Yield and Beekeeppers' Income in Teleorman County. Scientific Papers. Series "Management, Economic Engineering in Agriculture and rural development", Vol. 13 Issue 1, {{ISSN|2284-7995}}, 293β300.</ref> With ample space there is no limit to the number of hives or bee families which can be housed in an apiary. The larger the number of hives held in an apiary the higher the yield of honey relative to resources, often resulting in apiaries growing with time and experience.<ref name=":04" /> Additionally a higher number of hives within an apiary can increase the quality of the honey produced.<ref name=":04" /> Depending on the [[Northern Nectar Sources for Honeybees|nectar]] and [[pollen source]]s in a given area, the maximum number of hives that can be placed in one apiary can vary. If too many hives are placed into an apiary, the hives compete with each other for scarce resources. This can lead to lower [[honey]], [[Pollen|flower pollen]] and [[Bee pollen|bee bread]] yields, as well as higher transmission of [[Diseases of the honey bee|disease]] and [[robbing]].<ref>{{Cite journal|date=2014-03-22|title=Massachusetts Beekeepers Association Best Management Practices|url=https://www.massbee.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/bee-bmps.pdf|journal=Massachusetts Beekeepers Association Best Management Practices|volume=1|pages=1β6|access-date=2017-10-30|archive-date=2017-11-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107004055/https://www.massbee.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/bee-bmps.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> The size of an apiary is determined by not only the resources available but also by the variety of honey being cultivated, with more complex types generally cultivated in smaller productions. For more specific details on varieties see the [[Honey#Classification|classification]] portion of the [[honey]] article. The purpose of the apiary also affects size: apiaries are kept by commercial and local honey producers, as well as by universities, research facilities, and local organizations. Many such organizations provide community programming and educational opportunities. This results in varying sizes of apiaries depending on usage characteristics.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/agr/farm-products/apiary/|title=Apiary Program (honey bees)|last=AGR|date=2016-04-27|website=Energy and Environmental Affairs|language=en|access-date=2017-10-29}}</ref> The maximum size of a permanent apiary or bee yard may depend on the type of bee as well. Some [[Western honey bee|honey bee species]] fly farther than others. A circle around an apiary with a three-mile (5 km) foraging radius covers 28 square miles (73 km<sup>2</sup>). A good rule of thumb is to have no more than 25β35 hives in a permanent apiary, although migrating beekeepers may temporarily place one hundred hives into a location with a good nectar flow.
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