Humans prefer fake treatments that cause pain, because you "know they're working".
This cold storage is a significant added cost and used only in hot areas . It minimizes varroa since the mites can only breed in hives with brood. It's done in spring when otherwise the bees might swarm. Failing to insulate hives in cold areas will require more feeding to maintain colony size over winter, and that would be financially dumb.
The writer seems like an expert, but makes weird assumptions. Commercial beekeepers are very different (and care much more about costs and output) than hobbyists. Some hobbyists are no doubt incompetent (but caring), and some commercial operations are completely uncaring (but rarely incompetent).
You don't have to feed them pollen if they don't have brood, but they still try to keep themselves above the 50F storage temp so they need honey/syrup. If they were outside pollinating at spring temps (in a warm area), they wouldn't need any feeding at all.
It's a cost add in the warm climes so the only reason I can see to do it is for mite treatment.
This cold storage is a significant added cost and used only in hot areas . It minimizes varroa since the mites can only breed in hives with brood. It's done in spring when otherwise the bees might swarm. Failing to insulate hives in cold areas will require more feeding to maintain colony size over winter, and that would be financially dumb.
https://www.projectapism.org/indoor-storage-of-honey-bees-bl...
The writer seems like an expert, but makes weird assumptions. Commercial beekeepers are very different (and care much more about costs and output) than hobbyists. Some hobbyists are no doubt incompetent (but caring), and some commercial operations are completely uncaring (but rarely incompetent).