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An apiary (also known in the US as a bee yard) is a place where beehives of honeybees are kept. Traditionally beekeepers paid land rent in honey for the use of small parcels. Some farmers will provide free apiary sites, because they need pollination, and farmers who need many hives often pay for them to be moved to the crops when they bloom.
Size
For pollination, apiaries are rarely set up; the bees are only present during the bloom period of the crop. But in a few cases, such as for organic farms, long term apiaries are established, with the rule of thumb is one hive per acre of the crop that needs pollination. Depending on the nectar and pollen sources in a given area there is a maximum number of hives that can be placed in one apiary. If too many hives are placed into an apiary the hives compete with each other for scarce resources. This can lead to lower honey and pollen yields, higher transmission of disease and robbing.
Location
East and South locations with full morning sun are preferred.
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