Friday 29 January 2010

CATCH THE BUZZ - SEEDS SHORT, ORDER EARLY

CATCH THE BUZZ

Will there be a shortage of vegetable seeds for gardeners in 2010?

Source: freep.com


Protein feeding pays off with better bee health, better survival, better production, and better wintering.  Learn More.

 Find out What’s New At Mann Lake right Here


It is possible, says Barbara Melera, owner of the oldest seed house in the country, D. Landreth Seeds of New Freedom, Pa.

"In 2009, we had the worst growing season in 50 years," she said. Rain and disease destroyed crops and with them, the seeds for next year's garden.

"Onion sets. And a cucumber seed shortage," she predicted. "We are being told that the cucumber harvest was catastrophic, attacked late in the season by woolly mildew. There was fruit, but no viable seeds inside.

"We are being told that many, many varieties simply won't be available."

Likewise, Europe had a terrible harvest this year, and Europeans purchased much of their produce from the United States, taking with it, the seeds.

And, as further proof that we are in a global marketplace, Europeans and Australians have taken a fancy to eating sprouts.

"When you grow vegetables just to get the sprouts, nothing gets to fruit. And they are consuming gigantic quantities of seeds just for the purpose of sprouts," Melera said.

Word of possible shortages must be leaking out, Melera said, because retailers are telling her they had their best December in years.

It is certainly true that vegetable gardeners are ordering seeds earlier and earlier, but Melera said she thinks it is more likely that gardeners are acting out of fear of shortages.

This message brought to you by Bee Culture, The Magazine Of American Beekeeping, published by the A.I. Root Company.

Subscribe to Malcolm Sanford’s Apis Newsletter right here For a comprehensive listing of beekeeping events around the country and around the globe, check out Bee Culture’s Global Beekeeping Calendar

 




Thursday 28 January 2010

CATCH THE BUZZ - African Bees Not An Economic Threat

CATCH THE BUZZ

Killer Bees Aren’t So Bad After All…

by Alan Harman

 

Protein feeding pays off with better bee health, better survival, better production, and better wintering.  Learn More.

 Find out What’s New At Mann Lake right Here

   The researchers at the university’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences say while the bees ruined domestic hives and damaged profits in South and Central American when they arrived in 1956, the analysis shows little or no impact on North American honey production.

   Charles Moss, one of the analysts behind the report and a professor in the department of food and resource economics, says a more pressing economic concern for beekeepers is colony collapse disorder.

   Moss says the analysis, published online by the journal of Ecological Economics, seems to indicate virtually no hive loss to the bees and any economic loss was likely due to the cost of preventive measures taken by hive keepers to keep the Africanized bees away.

   “This helps to show that the primary concerns with Africanized honey bees are liability and safety, which are everyone’s concern and aren’t strictly attached to beekeepers,” he says. “Beekeepers already have a much more pressing economic concern from CCD.”

   Moss says the analysis indicates beekeepers have been taking the optimal actions to reduce the effects of Africanized bees – actions such as those widely promoted by state agencies.

   Jamie Ellis of the university’s Honey Bee Research and Extension Laboratory says beekeepers usually change their management styles when Africanized bees are in the area. These steps can reliably keep Africanized bees from overtaking domestic hives.

   “I am not surprised about the lack of effect of Africanized bees on honey production,” he says.

   Ellis, who did not participate in the economic analysis, says certain factors, such as the need to replace queen bees more often, may drive costs up. And some beekeepers may lose money if they choose to leave lucrative bee-removal businesses due to worries about Africanized bee encounters.

   Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services head of apiary inspection Jerry Hayes says he’s worried that a more severe economic impact on beekeepers may come from overzealous zoning of domestic beekeepers due to misguided worries that having domestic bees may attract the Africanized bees.

   “Honey is a byproduct of pollination, which is the most important aspect of managed honey bees,” he says. “If beekeepers are zoned, ordinanced and restricted out of areas because of fear – then it is people putting the strain on the keepers and their ability to produce, not the Africanized bees.”

 

This message brought to you by Bee Culture, The Magazine Of American Beekeeping.

Subscribe to Malcolm Sanford’s Apis Newsletter right here For a comprehensive listing of beekeeping events around the country and around the globe, check out Bee Culture’s Global Beekeeping Calendar

 

 


A University of Florida economic analysis finds Africanized honey bees are not adversely affecting the North American honey industry even after spreading throughout 10 states.

Monday 25 January 2010

CATCH THE BUZZ- Disaster Program Signup Deadline

CATCH THE BUZZ

Disaster Program Sign-Ups Due January 30


 

Protein feeding pays off with better bee health, better survival, better production, and better wintering.  Learn More.

 Find out What’s New At Mann Lake right Here


Eligible livestock producers have until January 30 to submit applications for eligible livestock grazing losses that occurred due to drought or fire on or after January 1, 2008, and before October 1, 2011, according to the Livestock Forage Disaster Program. Wisconsin Farm Service Agency Director Brad Pfaff says all crops intended for grazing need to have crop insurance coverage or Noninsured Assistance Program coverage for the crop year that the benefits are requested.

"Producers considered limited resource, socially disadvantage or beginning farmers are exempt from the insurance requirement," Pfaff said.
 
The monthly payment rate will be an amount equal to 60 percent of the lesser of the monthly feed cost for all covered livestock, using a feed grain equivalent. The FSA also notes that losses due to drought must occur during the normal grazing period for the specific type of grazing land.

Meanwhile, eligible producers with livestock, forage, honey bees, or farm-raised fish losses due to disease, adverse weather, or other conditions between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2009, will also have until January 30 to submit an application for payment for 2009 losses for the Farm-Raised Fish Program and the Livestock Indemnity Program. Adequate documentation must prove the loss occurred as a direct result of an eligible adverse weather event in the calendar year for which benefits are being requested.

Producers should contact their local FSA county offices with any questions about any of the programs.


This message brought to you by Bee Culture, The Magazine Of American Beekeeping.   

Subscribe to Malcolm Sanford’s Apis Newsletter right here For a comprehensive listing of beekeeping events around the country and around the globe, check out Bee Culture’s Global Beekeeping Calendar

 

Thursday 21 January 2010

Central Beekeepers Alliance : New Honey Bee Documentaries

Central Beekeepers Alliance : New Honey Bee Documentaries


New Honey Bee Documentaries

Posted: 20 Jan 2010 09:44 AM PST

A program by David Suzuki recently aired on CBC January 7th entitled To Bee or Not to Bee. The documentary explores various possibilities for the declining honeybee population in several countries such as industrial beekeeping, poor nutrition from monoculuture pollinations, and diseases. The topics are similar to another documentary The Vanishing of the Bees. It was released in the UK in October 2009 and is scheduled for US and international theatrical release in March, April and May. At this point the film is being screened at smaller venues in the states and the next showing is in New York in February.  The trailer for the film is available on youtube and you can sign up for mailing list updates on their website and follow release dates near you.bees-vanishing-md

New Honey Bee Documentaries comes from the Central Beekeepers Alliance of New Brunswick, Canada. For more information on Honey Bees and Beekeeping, please: * Visit http://cba.stonehavenlife.com * Subscribe to our RSS feed * Get free updates by e-mail

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Wednesday 20 January 2010

CATCH THE BUZZ - Food is back to basics

CATCH THE BUZZ

Honey Fits Right In With Food Channel's Predictions

From Meister Publishing


Protein feeding pays off with better bee health, better survival, better production, and better wintering.  Learn More.

 

Find out What’s New At Mann Lake right Here

 According to the Food Channel’s top 10 list of food trends for 2010, “back to basics” is in, meaning a focus on home-cooked meals made from basic, healthy ingredients.

The Food Channel’s foodies say it “isn’t about retro, or comfort food, or even cost -- it’s about determining the essentials and stocking your pantry accordingly.” They also anticipate consumers will shop more frequently in order to purchase the freshest ingredients while minimizing waste.

Food vetting is another emerging trend, the Food Channel says, including issues like Fair Trade and organics. Sustainability will remain front and center, too, with consumers adopting sustainable practices such as eating locally sourced and seasonal foods, as well as purchasing products in sustainable packaging.

Another trend will be “food with benefits,” meaning functional foods high in nutrients, which ties into another anticipated trend: bartering for consumables. Farmers markets and CSAs will continue to grow in popularity, and the Food Channel analysts even predict food swaps -- eg a box of tomatoes in exchange for babysitting.


 

This message brought to you by Bee Culture, The Magazine Of American Beekeeping. Watch this space, our web page, Brushy Mountain Bee Farm, and thedailygreen.com for registration information on our upcoming webinar on Urban Beekeeping.

  Subscribe to Malcolm Sanford’s Apis Newsletter right here For a comprehensive listing of beekeeping events around the country and around the globe, check out Bee Culture’s Global Beekeeping Calendar

 

 

Tuesday 19 January 2010

CATCH THE BUZZ - GM Alfalfa On Trial

CATCH THE BUZZ

Monsanto case against alfalfa ban reaches the Supreme Court

By Guy Montague-Jones, Food Production Daily.com
Protein feeding pays off with better bee health, better survival, better production, and better wintering.  Learn More.
Find out What’s New At Mann Lake right Here

The Supreme Court has agreed to review a court order that halted the planting of genetically modified alfalfa made by Monsanto.

Back in 2007, a federal district court order overturned approval from the Department of Agriculture and halted the planting of Roundup Ready alfalfa pending an environmental impact statement (EIS) from the USDA.

USDA report

Monsanto has fought this decision repeatedly in the courts and is now taking the case to the Supreme Court even thought the final EIS report is due for publication next month.

Garrett Kasper, a spokesperson for Monsanto, said the company is continuing the legal battle in order to fight for grower rights and set a legal precedent.

The Center for Food Safety disagrees with this assessment. Andrew Kimbrell, the executive director of the organic lobby group, said Monsanto is pushing the case all the way to the Supreme Court even though the USDA analysis is now complete and the US government has actively opposed further litigation.

This, Kimbrell said: “Underscores the great lengths that Monsanto will go to further its mission of patent control of our food system and selling more pesticides.”

Farmer freedom

Monsanto claims the court case is not about patent control but rather the freedom of growers to choose their products.

Kasper said the court injunction failed to establish that the product posed a “threat of irreparable damage,” which he said was necessary to justify a temporary ban.

Citing a case against US Navy about alleged damage to marine life from sonar, the company spokesperson said the Supreme Court has overruled court similar injunctions in the past.

But the Center for Food Safety is confident that the Supreme Court will uphold earlier opinions. “Although we believe a further hearing is unnecessary, we are confident we will again prevail, as the lower courts have already three times determined.”

Irrespective of the outcome, whether planting Roundup Ready alfalfa will eventually be permitted depends most crucially on the conclusions reached in the EIS. Kasper said Monsanto is encouraged by the draft report, which he described as being “pretty favourable.”

The final report is due for publication in February before a court decides on whether the ban on biotech alfalfa should be maintained.

Alfalfa is the fourth most commonly grown crop in the US, and according to Monsanto, 1 percent is currently Roundup Ready alfalfa. Under the 2007 court injunction farmers already using the GM crop were permitted to continue but any further planting was halted.

This message brought to you by Bee Culture, The Magazine Of American Beekeeping. .

 Subscribe to Malcolm Sanford’s Apis Newsletter right here For a comprehensive listing of beekeeping events around the country and around the globe, check out Bee Culture’s Global Beekeeping Calendar

 

 

 

Monday 18 January 2010

CATCH THE BUZZ - URBAN BEEKEEPING WEBINAR

CATCH THE BUZZ

Free Webinar On Urban Beekeeping


Protein feeding pays off with better bee health, better survival, better production, and better wintering.  Learn More.

 Find out What’s New At Mann Lake right Here


We will hear from 3 experienced Urban Beekeepers. Learn from these people and issues they confront and mistakes they have make.

Toni Burnham has been an urban beekeeper for 5 years, starting with 2 still-thriving hives on her Capitol Hill rooftop. She now manages 10 hives in the city and the suburbs, mentors about a dozen other urban beekeepers, participates in teaching at several local short courses, and is Vice President of the Maryland State Beekeepers Association. One of her great privileges in 2009 was an invitation to inspect the beehive managed by Charlie Brandts at the White House. She has blogged her beekeeping experiences at http://citybees.blogspot.com

Cameo Wood currently owns a beekeeping supply & honey shop in the Mission district of San Francisco, California called Her Majesty's Secret Beekeeper. I enjoy this a great deal, as I'm helping to create food, pollinate flowers and fruit trees in my city, and I am contributing to making the world a little better. She keeps a few hives in the Mission and Castro districts of San Francisco, and is working on putting up new hives all the time! She has only been working with bees for the last year, but this has been her life and full time job since she started building her store in October of 2008.

Cindy Bee (yes, it’s really her last name) is a beekeeper near Atlanta, Georgia. She is a past President and currently on the Board of Directors for the Metro Atlanta Beekeepers’ Association. They meet in the heart of downtown Atlanta where there are a good number of beekeepers who have their hives in small backyards there. As a club, they’ve had beehives at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens, Zoo Atlanta, and other inner city locations. Cindy has a fulltime business removing bees from within structures for the past 14 years, and most of her removals are in the Atlanta area neighborhoods.

Register Online: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/153470658

This message brought to you by Bee Culture, The Magazine Of American Beekeeping. Watch this space, our web page, Brushy Mountain Bee Farm, and thedailygreen.com for registration information on our upcoming webinar on Urban Beekeeping.

  Subscribe to Malcolm Sanford’s Apis Newsletter right here For a comprehensive listing of beekeeping events around the country and around the globe, check out Bee Culture’s Global Beekeeping Calendar

 

 


CATCH THE BUZZ - Langstroth Planning Party Planned

CATCH THE BUZZ

National Honeybee Bicentennial Kicks Off Jan. 21

 

Celebrates Philly-born “Father of American Beekeeping” 


Protein feeding pays off with better bee health, better survival, better production, and better wintering.  Learn More.

 Find out What’s New At Mann Lake right Here

 

 

Philadelphia, PA - Science Friday Initiative’s Carl Flatow comes to town Thursday, Jan. 21, to kick off national celebrations of the Father of American Beekeeping, Philadelphia’s own Lorenzo Langstroth.  

The occasion is the 200th anniversary of Langstroth’s birth. Raised on

Front Street, educated at Yale, Langstroth invented the movable-frame beehive in Philadelphia. It allows for the study of bee science and the extraction of honey from a hive, without damaging the colony and relies on a unique insect instinct called “bee space.”

“Without Langstroth's invention of the movable-frame hive...the honey bee would not have become the best studied insect on the planet. “ Thomas D. Seeley, PhD., Professor of Biology, Cornell University Dept. of Neurobiology and Behavior

 

Given the critical role honey bees play in pollinating a full one-third of our diet and the current worldwide “colony collapse” crisis, Langstroth’s importance looms especially large today. The Langstroth Bicentennial events will finally bring recognition to a true, unsung American Hero, and to Philadelphia’s distinction as the birthplace of the most important events in beekeeping history.

 

The gathering in Mt. Airy will be the first of many events throughout the United States.  Locally, the inaugural event at the Unitarian Society of Germantown, in Mt. Airy, will feature presentations by Carl Flatow, Barbara Ceiga, and Marc Hoffman.

 

The evening’s hosts, the Philadelphia Beekeepers’ Guild, Montgomery County Beekeepers’ Association and the Chester County Beekeepers’ Association will use this opportunity to further plans for the 1st annual Langstroth / Philly Honey Fest, September 2010, and other Langstroth-centered events at regional institutions.

 

Carl Flatow, Director of the Science Friday Initiative’s Down to Earth program will talk about the scope of the national Langstroth bicentennial project, centered around bee science and the Rev. Langstroth as the quintessential “citizen scientist.”

 

Marc Hoffman is a Langstroth historian, Bee Culture contributor and performer of a one-man show as the “Bee Man” --the Rev. Lorenzo Lorraine Langstroth, that will be performed, locally, later this year. He will talk about the man and his accomplishments.

 

Barbara Ceiga, vice president at the Academy of Natural Sciences, will put it all in context, describing Philadelphia’s central role in American science in Langstroth’s day.

 

Joel Eckel of the Philadelphia Beekeepers’ Guild will introduce the program for the evening.  

 

The evening will also include a raffle of a Brushy Mountain Hive Kit and several subscriptions to Bee Culture magazine.  Haagen-Dazs is providing ice cream for dessert.  

 

This event is free. 

The public is invited to this evening of celebration, entertainment, enlightenment (and planning), Thursday, Jan. 21, 7 PM, at the Unitarian Society of Germantown,


This message brought to you by Bee Culture, The Magazine Of American Beekeeping. Watch this space, our web page, Brushy Mountain Bee Farm, and thedailygreen.com for registration information on our upcoming webinar on Urban Beekeeping.

  Subscribe to Malcolm Sanford’s Apis Newsletter right here For a comprehensive listing of beekeeping events around the country and around the globe, check out Bee Culture’s Global Beekeeping Calendar

 

 

6511 Lincoln DrivePhiladelphia
. see: http://www.usguu.org/pages/Directions  for directions, public transportation and (free) parking info.

Saturday 16 January 2010

ABF Convention; Urban Beekeeping Webinar





Dear Subscribers,

The mega beekeeping meeting in Orlando is drawing to a close.  The range of information presented was astounding and the American Beekeeping Federation  can be proud of producing a quality convention.  No doubt we will see publication of much of the information presented in the general session and the American Bee Research Conference  at other venues and in industry publications, but attendees will be able to say they heard it first in Orlando.

The next convention is scheduled to be held in Galveston, Texas January 4-8, 2011 and will be held in conjunction with the American Honey Producers Assocation

Urban Beekeeping Webinar:  As published in the January 2010 issue of Bee Culture, Brushy Mountain Bee Farm will sponsor a urban beekeeping webinar On January 24 at 4:00 p.m.  This will feature three beekeepers experienced in the challenges of urban beekeeping.

Here's the rundown on the program:

    
Urban Beekeeping: Ins and Outs - Dos and Don'ts
Sunday, January 24, 2010 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM EST
    Webinar Registration        


We will hear from 3 experienced Urban Beekeepers. Learn from these people and issues they confront and mistakes they have made.

Toni Burnham has been an urban beekeeper for 5 years, starting with 2 still-thriving hives on her Capitol Hill rooftop. She now manages 10 hives in the city and the suburbs, mentors about a dozen other urban beekeepers, participates in teaching at several local short courses, and is Vice President of the Maryland State Beekeepers Association. One of her great privileges in 2009 was an invitation to inspect the beehive managed by Charlie Brandts at the White House. She has blogged her beekeeping experiences at http://citybees.blogspot.com

Cameo Wood currently owns a beekeeping supply & honey shop in the Mission district of San Francisco, California called Her Majesty's Secret Beekeeper.    She keeps a few hives in the Mission and Castro districts of San Francisco, and is working on putting up new hives all the time! She has only been working with bees for the last year, but this has been her life and full time job since she started building her store in October of 2008.  She concludes: "I enjoy this a great deal, as I'm helping to create food, pollinate flowers and fruit trees in my city, and I am contributing to making the world a little better."

Cindy Bee (yes, it’s really her last name) is a beekeeper near Atlanta, Georgia.  She is a past President and currently on the Board of Directors for the Metro Atlanta Beekeepers’ Association.  They meet in the heart of downtown Atlanta where there are a good number of beekeepers who have their hives in small backyards there. As a club, they’ve had beehives at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens, Zoo Atlanta, and other inner city locations. Cindy has a fulltime business removing bees from within structures for the past 14 years, and most of her removals are in the Atlanta area neighborhoods.

Perhaps we will also hear from the folks in New York City concerning their bid to make beekeeping a legal activity again.

To register access: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/153470658.  A list of previous webinars is also available.

Sincerely,


Malcolm T. Sanford
beeactor@apisenterprises.com
http://apis.shorturl.com

Bee sure to subscribe to Catch the Buzz, Bee Culture's latest releases of importance to beekeepers.  Also access the Apis Information Resource Center , which contains archived articles, listing of  posts on blogs, web sites, and links to related materials.  .

Thursday 14 January 2010

Central Beekeepers Alliance : Central Beekeepers Meet 9 February 2010

Central Beekeepers Alliance : Central Beekeepers Meet 9 February 2010


Central Beekeepers Meet 9 February 2010

Posted: 13 Jan 2010 07:52 AM PST

Central Beekeepers will hold our regular monthly meeting on 9 February 2010 at the Agricultural Research Centre (see map).

Tuesday, 9 February 2010
Central Beekeepers Alliance Meeting
Agricultural Research Centre, Fredericton, NB
7:30 p.m.

Visitors and new beekeepers are welcome.

Central Beekeepers Meet 9 February 2010 comes from the Central Beekeepers Alliance of New Brunswick, Canada. For more information on Honey Bees and Beekeeping, please: * Visit http://cba.stonehavenlife.com * Subscribe to our RSS feed * Get free updates by e-mail

Monday 11 January 2010

Central Beekeepers Alliance : Irish Honey Lore for St. Patrick’s Day

Central Beekeepers Alliance : Irish Honey Lore for St. Patrick’s Day


Irish Honey Lore for St. Patrick’s Day

Posted: 12 Mar 2009 04:31 PM PDT

Just in time for St. Patrick’s Day, Irish Culture and Customs remind us that honey holds an important place in the history and traditions of the Emerald Isle:

Ireland has been described by many poets and story-tellers as the land of milk and honey, and there is little doubt that there was milk and honey in abundance in earliest times…

Honey was so important in early Ireland that a whole section of the Brehon Laws was devoted to bees and beekeeping. Tributes were paid in honey and no banquet table was complete without honey and mead, the legendary drink made from it. Honey was used not just for cooking, but also for basting, and as a condiment in which to dip meat, fowl and fish at the table.

The Sacred Bee in Ancient Times and FolkloreThe Sacred Bee in Ancient Times and Folklore by Hilda M. Ransome (first published in 1937) explains that there’s a whole section about honey in the Brehon Laws, which date back to somewhere around 600 AD and probably much earlier — the “Bee-judgments” as the laws about beekeeping were called.

For example, under those old laws, anyone who kept bees was obligated by law to share the honey harvest with land-owners of the four adjacent farms, as that’s where the bees gathered nectar.

And if a man found a swarm in the faithche (the green surrounding and belonging to a house), three-quarters of that colony’s honey harvest at the end of the year was owed to the owner of the house. It certainly speaks to the value placed on honey!

We can guage what abundance of honey there was by the size of the vessels in which it was measured. The Brehon Laws mention four sized of vessels used when measuring honey in large quantities. A milch-cow measure was one which, when full, an ordinary person could lift as far as his knee; a heifer, one he could life to his waist; a small heifer to his shoulder; and a dairt or still smaller heifer vessel which he could raise over his head. It was a quaint way of measuring!

You can read more about the Brehon Laws on a fascinating website called Library Ireland, dedicated to sharing Irish culture and folklore.

For those who’d like to enjoy their honey in Irish culture with a bit of a “kick” to it, David Lee of the Federation of Irish Beekeepers’ Associations explains how to make your own mead.

The potent honey-based beverage might go nicely with this gourmet menu from the Institute of Northern Ireland Beekeepers, drawn from the old legends of County Tipperary:

Appetiser:
Wild Irish Rabbit Terrine, accompanied with hedgegrown brambles, Mead Chutney, garnished with Armagh Apple Crisps, accompanied with Guinness wheaten bread.

Main Course:
Crystallized pan fried Wolf fish, served with Colcannon potatoes served with a white butter sauce, infused with Field Nettle emulsion, garnished with Irish streaky bacon and deep fried leeks.

Dessert:
White Chocolate Beehive, filled with a Hazelnut & Irish Mist parfait, served with a rich raspberry & thyme compote, and a splash of fresh cream, garnished with Ling honey comb.

If that’s a bit much, just take a page from A Smaller Social History of Ancient Ireland, by PW Joyce (first published in 1906), which says:

A mixture of milk and honey was sometimes drunk; a mixture of lard and honey was usual as a condiment. Honey was sometimes brought to table pure, and sometimes in the comb. Often at meals each person had placed before him on the table a little dish, sometimes of silver, filled with honey; and each morsel whether of meat, fish, or bread was dipped into it before being conveyed to the mouth.

Or what about a broiled salmon steak, basted with honey, like the meal that was served by Ailill and Maive, king and queen of Connaught, to the young chief, Fraech, according to the old Irish tales. That sounds like a St. Patrick’s Day meal that would go down just fine here in New Brunswick!

Irish Honey Lore for St. Patrick’s Day comes from the Central Beekeepers Alliance of New Brunswick, Canada. For more information on Honey Bees and Beekeeping, please: * Visit http://cba.stonehavenlife.com * Subscribe to our RSS feed * Get free updates by e-mail

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Sunday 10 January 2010

Central Beekeepers Alliance : Thank You to Local Businesses

Central Beekeepers Alliance : Thank You to Local Businesses


Thank You to Local Businesses

Posted: 09 Jan 2010 07:36 PM PST

The Executive and members of the Central Beekeepers Alliance wish to extend our sincere thanks to all the local businesses in the greater Fredericton area who generously donated door prizes for our Christmas party:

Sobeys (Oromocto)
Atlantic Superstore (Oromocto)
Home Depot (Fredericton)
Giant Tiger (Smythe Street, Fredericton)
Burger King (Smythe Street, Fredericton)
Greco Pizza (Dundonald Street, Fredericton)
Hilltop Grill & Beverage (Prospect Street, Fredericton)
Shur-gain Feeds n Needs (Exhibition Grounds, Smythe Street, Fredericton)
A & W (Prospect Street, Fredericton)
Roblynn Home Hardware (Oromocto)
Jungle Jim’s (Smythe Street, Fredericton)
Subway (Oromocto)

Your support of Central New Brunswick beekeepers in the holiday season is greatly appreciated!

Christine Dembenski
Vice-President
Central Beekeepers Alliance

Thank You to Local Businesses comes from the Central Beekeepers Alliance of New Brunswick, Canada. For more information on Honey Bees and Beekeeping, please: * Visit http://cba.stonehavenlife.com * Subscribe to our RSS feed * Get free updates by e-mail

Saturday 9 January 2010

Apis Newsletter January 9, 2010




Dear Subscribers,

It has been chilly here in Gainesville, Florida.  So much so that there was actually ice on a local retention pond and the hooded mergansers that were there were forced  to find open water elsewhere.  I am writing this just before the opening of the big megameeting in Orlano, consisting of a number of organizations from both the USA and Canada (Canadian Honey Council and CAPA). The American Bee Research Conference is also going to be on tap http://abfnet.org.   This is a must meeting for beekeepers who want to remain fully informed about beekeeping issues in 2010.

Florida's beekeeping history is rich in many ways.  Few probably know that Roger Morse spent time in the Sunshine state.  We are reminded by Peter Borst <peterloringborst@GMAIL.COM>, who wrote the following on the Bee-L discussion list:

This May 12 will mark ten years since the passing of Roger A, Morse, "a Cornell University entomology professor who brought the science of apiculture to the practice of beekeeping." I thought it fitting to present some of his early prescient writings. I hope he will be remembered by all who gather this January in Orlando.

THE SCOPE OF THE BEEKEEPING INDUSTRY IN FLORIDA
ROGER A. MORSE State Plant Board of Florida, Gainesville

According to J. J. Wilder (1928) one of the first apiaries of any size in Florida was established in 1872 where the city of Daytona now stands. A company from New York City settled in the Daytona area and attracted considerable attention by coming to Florida in the fall and returning to New York in the spring with a cargo of oranges and honey. 

HONEY PRODUCTION IN FLORIDA

Florida beekeepers produced their first million pounds of honey in the late 1920's, and during the 1930's consistently produced over a million pounds each year. Honey production in Florida has gradually increased and in 1954 Florida ranked third among the states. In 1955 Florida dropped to fifth place. While honey production has increased appreciably, the number of colonies of honey bees in Florida has only a little more than doubled during the past twenty years. The increased honey production can be traced in part to the increased citrus plantings. At the same time a part of this gain is proof of the value of improved methods and equipment used in the industry today. A few decades ago many colonies were kept in skeps, hollow logs and boxes without movable combs. Today only a few hundred colonies are maintained under such conditions.    Modern beekeepers are moving their colonies in and around the State, taking ad- vantages of several honeyflows. An exam ple of this mass movement of colonies is found in the over twenty thousand colonies which are moveds to Florida each year, largely from other southern states, mostly for the orange honeyflow. 

APIARY INSPECTION IN FLORIDA 

The State Plant Board of Florida began American foulbrood inspection in 1920. Until the fiscal year of 1954 the State Plant Board checked, on an average, about fifty per cent of the colonies in the State. By concentrating their efforts in the heavy honey-producing areas, State Plant Board inspectors were able to keep the incidence of the disease below levels of one per cent. As migratory operations have increased, disease control has become more difficult, and during the past few years the incidence of American foulbrood has increased. Approximately 57 per cent of the colonies in Florida were inspected during the fiscal year of 1954, while in 1955 approximately 66 per cent were inspected. The incidence of disease dropped from 1.597 per cent in 1954 to 0.903 per cent in 1955.  Migratory operations will continue to increase, especially as more citrus trees come into bearing and more colonies are attracted into the State each year. Increased inspection will be necess ary to keep the disease level below one per cent.    

Florida still has an extremely strong inspection service and active beekeeping extension program, mostly due to an influential state association http://floridabeekeepers.org

Florida is also home to several other meetings besides this year's convention in Orlando.  Check out the second S.E. organic beekeeping convention in Palm Beach in early February, with the provocative theme, "riding the wave of change." http://seobc.beekeeperspbc.com/

Bee Health: The January Newsletter for the eXtension.org Bee Health Community of Practice is now available online at

Included in this issue:

    * New Feature: Managed Pollinator CAP Updates
    * Social Media Strategy Developed
    * YouTube Channel Launched
    * New Feature: University of Florida Bee Disease Videos
    * FAQ's Organized by Category
    * Google Analytics: Bee Health Homepage in Top 10 at eXtension.org
    * On the Calender


Survey of Beekeepers:  A team of students from Bradley University (Peoria, IL, USA), is conducting research about beekeepers and their characteristics. The results of this research will be used to identify  characteristics of those who choose to become beekeepers, to compare various subgroups of beekeepers with each other, and to compare other groups with beekeepers.

If you are 18 years or older and keep bees you are invited to be a part of this research by completing short anonymous survey about beekeepers. We are interested in new beekeeper as well as those who are experienced. Hobbyist, sideliners and commercial beekeepers are all invited to participate. The survey can be found at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/9NSWHZ5.  The survey will be available online until February 14, 2010.

If you have any questions about this research please feel free to contact me, Dr. Wendy Schweigert at:  wendy@bumail.bradley.edu

Plans for L.L. Langstroth Bicentennial and Stamp:

 Fri, 25 Dec 2009 14:02:23 -0600
From:    MRH <wildwoodflower@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Today begins the Langstroth Bicentennial

Merry Christmas!  Today, Dec. 25 2009,  is the 199th birthday of
Lorenzo Langstroth (1810-1895), inventor of the modern beehive.  This
begins the beginning of his Bicentennial Celebration.  Many of us are
planning events during the next year to commemorate his life and work.
Please join in by organizing celebrations in your area.  Your local
beekeeping, gardening, farming, scientific, academic, and
environmental communities all have a reason to celebrate.

Marc Hoffman
___________________________

Send your ideas and plans to lorenzolangstroth@gmail.com. For more information and inspiration here are a few sites to visit:

Announcement of organizing meeting on January 21 in Philadelphia.
http://www.sciencefriday.com/blog/index.php?/archives/467-Welcome-to-the-200th-Year-Lets-Talk-Science!.html

Google Group devoted to the Bicentennial Celebration
http://groups.google.com/group/lll200?hl=en

“Bee Man,” a one-man play about LLL’s life and works.
http://www.LorenzoLangstroth.com

Kim Flottum’s Catch the Buzz about the Langstroth stamp initiative.
http://home.ezezine.com/1636/1636-2009.12.22.09.43.archive.html

Hive and the Honeybee Collection, Mann Library, Cornell University.
Online version of Langstroth on the Hive and the Honeybee, 1853
edition.  19th century journal articles, searchable, by and about LLL.

Patent 9300 available from the US Patent and Trademark Office, also on
Google Patents.  The movable frame beehive.

Call to action by Carl Flatow:
http://lll200.googlegroups.com/web/Open-letter.pdf?hl=en&gda=3Q5skkIAAACbRhgp4_wF3RG6gtDbeZpHT0NL_O1dc5H2kWQe3ZREkig9aiIH6PvGS1GZcIk7KNJV4u3aa4iAIyYQIqbG9naPgh6o8ccLBvP6Chud5KMzIQ

Short Biography of Langstroth by Ophia Smith in the Ohio Historical
Society Journal:
http://search.ohiohistory.org/texis/search/context.html?query=pg&pr=public&prox=page&rorder=500&rprox=500&rdfreq=500&rwfreq=500&rlead=500&sufs=0&order=r&cq=&cmd=context&id=4aaab1a417

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Gleanings from the January 2010 edition of Bee Culture

Matt Haas, Hiddeford, ME describes every beekeeper's nightmare, when hungry bees find unprotected honey.  Dick Largen, Bethalto, IL is ready to try a top bar hive.  Colin Taylor, Bury, Manchester, UK describes another winter storage technique.  Michael Salnicky, Cresco, PA suggests a way to repopulate the landscape with feral swarms, increasing genetic diversity.  Racheal  Kinkennon, Edwards, MO asks a lot of questions about the potential effects imidacloprid and derivatives in her neighborhood.

Editor Flottum spent Thanksgiving talking about new ways to care for aging pets (dogs).  Read how this has parallels to beekeeping.  Bee Culture also embarks on a year-long series celebrating the life and work of L.L. Langstroth.

Of the many things new for 2010, check out the 53-minute DVD entitled Nicotine Bees, developed by EAS Chairman Jim Bobb and the double jar invention just right for checking mites using the powdered sugar method.

The demographics of beekeepers and reporters for Bee Culture are inexorably shifting to a more urban focus.  Read how this is described by the  regional honey price report.

Beeyard stories in only six words continues.  Read creative entries like "Knocked over hive, had on sandals."

Clarence Collison takes a closer look at both the old and new nosema. Read about the difference in virulence and why they are both considered bad news for bees and beekeepers.

Steve Sheppard reviews a recent study of genetic diversity in both southeastern and western bee populations. Read about the differences, and how a new influx of genes from Africanized bees as well as Australian and Russian stock is providing some needed genetic variation.

Marc Hoffman starts off his series on Appreciating Lorenzo Langstroth.  Read about his family history and influences.  See some current photos of places where he and his family lived.

Larry Connor says we should reexamen the beekeeper-provided nest within the context of new populations of honey bees found in the U.S. Have beekeepers been forcing bees into improper nests over the years?  What has been the impact of Varroa on nest size?  He urges beekeepers to start tinkering in the woodshop again and researchers to get on with this  kind of study.

Melanie Kirby is doing just that with top bar hives vs. Langstroths or a combination of both.  Read her musings. She recommends a still-classic publication by Curtis Gentry, The Small Scale Beekeeping Manual

Editor Flottum visits north Georgia producer/packer Blue Ridge Honey.  Read about this big outfit and why it's usually better to do something small well than the reverse.

Erik Osterlund reports on the northeast treatment-free conference held last August in Massachusetts. Read about cell size and use of top bar hives.  In the same vein visit the Southeastern organic conference in Palm Beach in February
.
Jim Tew also discusses hive design.  Read how even after a century and a half L.L.'s hive "continues to be genius."

Ross Conrad provides the skinny on high fructose Corn syrup (HFCS) and hydroxymethlyfurfural (HMF). Read how both human and bee health are affected by these substances. See my analysis written five years ago June and July 2003.

Jennifer Berry went to the National Honey Show at St. George's College in Weybridge, near London.  Read about her experiences and what it takes to both show and judge at this event.

Ann Harman provides warning signals about drops in membership of the East Cupcake Beekeepers Association.  She provides tips on staying relevant and why state associations are important to even the smallest beekeeper.  Finally, check out the  games she suggests that are both educational and fun.

Connie Krochmal looks at some perennials for the bee garden.  Read about Bergenia, candytuft, lambs-ears, phlox and pinks among others.

In all the news that fits read about Brushy Mountain being named North Carolina's Small Business of the Year, the retirement of John Gruszka (Saskatchewan's  Provincial Apiarist) and the changing of the guard at the International Bee Research Association .

Finally Mac Overmyer in the bottom board urges everyone to stop knocking the government.  He gives a sensible  answer to the question often raised, "Name one government program that works."  There are so many of value that Mr. Overmyer's rant goes on for ten more  paragraphs. This adds fuel to the Bill Moyers Journal I saw tonight, where the discussion was focused on the fact that many in this country think big government is the problem.  It's  really big business buying off the government that is most troubling and problematic.
   
Sincerely,


Malcolm T. Sanford
beeactor@apisenterprises.com
http://apis.shorturl.com

Bee sure to subscribe to Catch the Buzz, Bee Culture's latest releases of importance to beekeepers.  Also access the Apis Information Resource Center , which contains archived articles, listing of  posts on blogs, web sites, and links to related materials.  Finally, don't forget to access the Global Beekeeping Calendar for events  of interest.

Wednesday 6 January 2010

CATCH THE BUZZ - National Honey Board News

CATCH THE BUZZ

HONEY BOARD NEWS



National Honey Board Shifts Marketing Focus

Firestone, Colo. – A recent research study has sparked the National Honey Board to refocus its marketing efforts for 2010, adding new programs and reformatting existing ones.

According to the 2009 Honey Attitude and Usage Study, current users of honey below the age of 45 have dropped significantly since 2006. This 27 percent decrease poses an opportunity for the National Honey Board to delve into other marketing avenues, like social media, to reach new and younger audiences.

In reaching a younger demographic, the National Honey Board hopes to expand the awareness and use of honey into other markets, such as snacks and natural home and health remedies. The 2009 study has found younger users of honey more likely to use the product in these fields.

“Younger users of honey seem to be a little more creative in how they use it,” said Bruce Wolk, Director of Marketing for the National Honey Board. “Because of that, we need to communicate with them through new channels, like social networking, to continue positive trends in honey purchases and usage.”

But it’s not just reaching a younger demographic that the National Honey Board has in mind – the organization is directly targeting current users of honey as well, regardless of age. Further research has shown that 60 percent of respondents report purchasing honey within the last year, a drop of 18 percent from 2006. This could mean a decline in not only purchases, but also in honey consumption and demand altogether.

The National Honey Board conducts research, advertising and promotion programs to help maintain and expand domestic and foreign markets for honey and honey products. These programs are funded by an assessment of one cent per pound on domestic and imported honey. The National Honey Board is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

National Honey Board Makes Education a Primary Goal

 

Firestone, Colo. – Research studies have shown that many people don’t know exactly what ingredients are in a bottle of honey, and the National Honey Board is making honey knowledge a key priority in 2010.

According to the 2009 Honey Attitude and Usage Study, 1 in 10 respondents thinks honey has added ingredients, such as corn syrup, sugar and preservatives. In addition, 1 in 7 respondents thinks that the color of the honey reflects its purity.

With its updated messaging strategy, the National Honey Board hopes that by informing consumers, food processors, chefs and the foodservice community that honey is pure and contains only one ingredient – honey – that there will be more consumption of and demand for this natural sweetener.

“There are so many misconceptions about honey,” said Bruce Wolk, Director of Marketing for the National Honey Board. “The 2010 focus on education gives us an opportunity to reach out to the consumers and the foodservice industry about the basics of honey and why it is such a versatile product.”

Honey blends, a combination of honey and artificial ingredients, are becoming commonplace in discount grocery stores and usually contain only a small percentage of honey. The 2009 research study shows that many consumers are aware of these honey blends, have previously purchased a honey blend and have demonstrated positive intent to purchase a honey blend in the future. This trend, if not further explored, may affect the future of honey.

In its educational component of the 2010 campaign, the National Honey Board will focus on basic honey messaging, educating consumers on pure honey, where it comes from and the natural process of how it is made.

The National Honey Board conducts research, advertising and promotion programs to help maintain and expand domestic and foreign markets for honey and honey products. These programs are funded by an assessment of one cent per pound on domestic and imported honey. The National Honey Board is an equal opportunity provider and employer. In it’s educational component of the 2010 campaign, the National Honey Board will focus on basic honey messaging, educating consumers on pure honey, where it comes from and the natural process of how it is made.

The National Honey Board conducts research, advertising and promotion programs to help maintain and expand domestic and foreign markets for honey and honey products. These programs are funded by an assessment of one cent per pound on domestic and imported honey. The National Honey Board is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

This message brought to you by Bee Culture, The Magazine Of American Beekeeping. Watch this space, our web page, Brushy Mountain Bee Farm, and thedailygreen.com for registration information on our upcoming webinar on Urban Beekeeping.

  Subscribe to Malcolm Sanford’s Apis Newsletter right here For a comprehensive listing of beekeeping events around the country and around the globe, check out Bee Culture’s Global Beekeeping Calendar

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