I have never heard of a beekeeper gassing a hive with cyanide instead of “spending money” overwintering them (as stated in the fastcompany article). There is no cost to overwintering bees. You just wrap the hive in what equates to a blanket during the coldest parts of the year. The bees do a great job of keeping themselves warm.

Plus, why would a beek “gas” the hives when they could simply take the covers off and let the bees freeze to death? I presume cyanide is expensive. That entire argument is counter to itself.

Once again, I am NOT a commercial beek, but that seems unnecessarily complicated.