Thursday 11 March 2010

CATCH THE BUZZ - Queen and Package weather watch

                                                                               

CATCH THE BUZZ                                                                               

                                                                                USDA

CROP WEATHER REPORT

They don’t talk about bees, but it’s been cool and wet where queens and packages are raised in the southeast. Be careful with real early queens this year.

 


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


An odd weather regime, driven by El Niño and a high-pressure block over

eastern Canada and the northern Atlantic Ocean, persisted through the end of

February. El Niño contributed to an active sub-tropical jet stream, resulting

in generally wet conditions from California into the Southeast. However,

storm systems carried by the jet stream were prevented from quickly exiting

the eastern United States by the high-pressure block, resulting in numerous

slow-moving storms near the Atlantic Seaboard. The block also helped to drive

cold air southward across the Plains, Midwest, and Southeast. Monthly

temperatures generally ranged from 5 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit below normal

from the Plains into the Southeast, while above average values were noted in

the Northwest and from the Great Lakes region into New England.

                                                                               

Historic snowfall totals were noted during February in the Mid-Atlantic

States and neighboring areas, while typically rare Deep South snow was

observed on several occasions. On February 12, snow briefly covered at least

a portion of all 48 contiguous states. In the Southeast, excessive moisture

remained a concern with respect to the soft red winter wheat crop, which in

some cases was already suffering due to late planting and poor establishment.

                                                                               

Farther north, much of the Midwest experienced another cold, snowy month. At

times during February, snow covered the entire Midwest, although coverage was

deepest and most persistent in the western Corn Belt. Upper Midwestern

livestock continued to endure a very difficult winter, which began in earnest

with a pair of December blizzards.

                                                                                

Meanwhile on the Plains, snow helped to insulate much of the hard red winter

wheat crop, which continued to overwinter with no major concerns. On the

southern Plains, February precipitation aided wheat which had been previously

stressed by drier than normal conditions.

                                                                               

Elsewhere, California received another burst of beneficial precipitation

toward month's end, following a brief lull in storminess in early to

mid-February. The Southwest also continued to receive drought-easing rain and

snow. In contrast, unfavorably dry conditions and sub-par snow packs in much

of the Northwest increased the likelihood of drought development and below

average spring and summer runoff.

                                                                               

February Agricultural Summary

                                                                                

Abnormally cool temperatures blanketed much of the Nation during February.

Due to a series of winter storm systems, average temperatures in several

locations from eastern Texas through the Delta and Southeast fell to as many

as 12 degrees below normal. Conversely, the Pacific Northwest, Great Basin,

Great Lakes, and northern Atlantic Coast continued to experience warmer than

normal temperatures throughout the month, with recordings in Maine reaching

as many as 12 degrees above average. While much of the country was unusually

dry during February, portions of the Southwest, Texas, and several Atlantic

Coast States received an abundance of precipitation. Elsewhere, below average

moisture accumulation in areas of the Pacific Northwest and northern Rocky

Mountains pushed the year-to-date deficit to 50 percent or more below normal.

                                                                               

Wet weather and soggy field conditions across much of the South hampered

fieldwork throughout the month, delaying the start of spring planting

activities for some row crop producers. In Texas, corn and sorghum planting

was underway in some regions but had yet to begin in others, leaving overall

progress for both crops behind last year and the 5-year average. In areas of

the Corn Belt, some remaining 2009 corn acreage was harvested as temperatures

warmed slightly from January. Elsewhere in the Corn Belt, producers performed

routine maintenance on farm equipment and finalized their planting intentions

for 2010.

                                                                               

Arizona producers began seeding their small grain crops early in the month.

Steady rainfall in Texas led to improved conditions in the winter wheat crop,

while excessively wet fields in Florida and Georgia caused fertilizer

leaching and slowed emergence and crop growth. By month's end, emergence in

Arizona's barley and Durum wheat crops had reached 75 and 95 percent,

respectively. Winter wheat neared or entered the jointing stage in Georgia

and Texas, while heading was evident in early planted oat, rye, and wheat

fields in California.

                                                                                

Flooding and standing water stemming from rainfall in late January and early

February caused rotting in some potato fields in Florida. As a result,

producers in the Hastings area remained busy replanting their fields

throughout the month. Dry weather mid-month promoted the start of cabbage and

spinach harvest in South Texas. As February ended, early variety almond,

cherry, peach, plum, and prune trees were in full bloom in California.


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

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

                                                                                

 

 

 

Central Beekeepers Alliance : Central Beekeepers Meet 13 April 2010

Central Beekeepers Alliance : Central Beekeepers Meet 13 April 2010


Central Beekeepers Meet 13 April 2010

Posted: 10 Mar 2010 03:10 PM PST

Tuesday, 13 April 2010
Central Beekeepers Alliance Meeting
Agricultural Research Centre, Fredericton, NB
7:30 p.m.

Want to learn more about Beekeeping?

Visitors and new beekeepers are always welcome. Most meetings include an educational session, group discussion, or sometimes a hands-on demonstration for the benefit of beginning beekeepers in central New Brunswick. Oh, and there’s always a coffee break to give a chance to chat with other beekeepers!

Central Beekeepers Meet 13 April 2010 was written and published by the Central Beekeepers Alliance - Honey Bees & Beekeeping in New Brunswick, Canada. For more information, please visit http://cba.stonehavenlife.com.