Wednesday, 25 February 2009

Central Beekeepers Alliance

Posted: 24 Feb 2009 05:13 PM PST

In the aftermath of a major winter storm, such as the blizzard that hit New Brunswick this week, many of our bee hives might end up buried in a snow drift. While a good blanket of snow around a bee hive is good insulation, I have to confess that I get worried when our hives disappear completely underneath the white stuff.

That’s why I got out the snowshoes and shovel today, and went out to take some snow away from the upper entrances.

The hives in this picture are doubles, set up on a stand made from hefty timbers, and this is the first time in 10 years we’ve had so much snow that the upper entrances were completely covered. Only the top of the outer covers, and the rocks we put on top to hold the covers down, were still visible when yesterday’s snowstorm ended.

Fluffy snow has a lot of air trapped in between the flakes, and the relative warmth of the hive body itself tends to create a little air space between the hive and the snowbank — much as you’re likely to see a gap along the edge of a house foundation where the snow has melted away — so I’m not particularly concerned about the bees suffocating. Except when ice forms at the upper entrance.

And ICE is exactly what I found at one of those hives.

Inside the bent-metal wind guard that we always put around the entrance when we wrap the hives for wintering, a chunk of ice had formed that almost sealed up the whole entrance. The open area was less than a quarter-inch square, I’d estimate.

It’s hard to imagine how there could have been much ventilation going on, to prevent moisture build-up inside the hive. And here’s a piece from The Biology and Management of Colonies in Winter (PDF document) written by Adony Melathopoulos, Beaverlodge Research Farm, Alberta — one of the educational freebies on the CAPA website — that made me glad I’d gone out to check the entrances:

It is estimated that bees produce 0.68 kg of water per kg of honey they consume. This water is important to the bees and they use it to dilute honey, feed brood and flush metabolic wastes from their bodies. Nonetheless, some of this water escapes as a vapour, which in itself is important as brood develops best at 40% relative humidity. A problem occurs, however, when outside temperatures drop. Cold air does not hold as much water as warm air, so as warm moist air leaves the cluster, it condenses on the comb. Bees can cope with some moisture outside the cluster, but if the moisture accumulates and begins dripping back on the bees it saps them of heat. This issue is significant when we consider the role of the upper entrance in your colonies.

Since the main role of the upper entrance, in winter, is to vent extra moisture from the hive, I think it just makes sense to keep it clear of snow — especially when there’s a spell of milder wet weather in the forecast, and a risk that the fluffy soft-fallen snow could turn into solid ice.

But that’s just one beekeeper’s opinion, based on what I read and observe.

And there’s a saying that if you ask 10 beekeepers a question, you’ll get 11 different answers — so let’s hear yours, too! Do you try to keep the top entrances of your hives clear of snow in winter?

Post from: Central Beekeepers Alliance

Wanted: 4-Frame Stainless Steel Extractor

Posted: 24 Feb 2009 11:59 AM PST

Sterling Clark (Minto area of NB) asks:

Anyone got a stainless steel 4 frame extractor to sell ( or even better - give)
Does not need a motor, I can rig that up.

Please feel free to drop a note in the comments here, if you don’t know Sterling and have a way to contact him directly but have an extractor to spare.

Post from: Central Beekeepers Alliance

Tuesday, 24 February 2009

CATCH THE BUZZ NewS From The Honey Board

CATCH THE BUZZ

The Latest Newsletter from the New Honey Board

National Honey Board Posts Research Information on Web Site

The National Honey Board (NHB) recently posted on its Web site a summary of ongoing and past NHB-sponsored research projects devoted to maintaining the health of honey bee colonies.

You can find this information by going to www.honey.com, clicking on the Honey Industry tab at the top of the page, and clicking on the Research category.

The Research Summary will be updated anytime a project is completed or initiated. Posting of detailed results may be delayed until publication of those results by the researcher(s).

Find out what’s new at Mann Lake www.mannlakeltd.com/catchthebuzz/index.html

National Honey Board Continues Providing “Freebie” and Other Materials to the Beekeeping Industry

At its first full meeting in November, 2008, the new National Honey Board voted unanimously to continue providing the annual “Freebie” to beekeepers and honey industry members to help them promote honey. This has traditionally been a recipe leaflet/brochure. Other promotional and educational materials are available for a nominal cost. Materials are also available for fairs, special events and to educators. Visit the Honey Industry section of www.honey.com or call the National Honey Board office at 800-553-7162 for more information.

For a comprehensive listing of beekeeping events around the country and around the world see www.my.calendars.net/bee_culture/

New Research Proposals to be Reviewed

Approximately $245,000 is available for NHB funding of new research to find ways to maintain the health of honeybee colonies. The NHB received 25 proposals by the February 15, 2009 deadline. The NHB’s Research Committee, along with a selected panel of industry people, will be reviewing the proposals within the next few weeks to select research projects for funding.

Subscribe to the Apis Newsletter www.apis.shorturl.com

National Honey Board to Continue Core Marketing Programs

The National Honey Board’s 2009 marketing programs will continue the core activities seen in recent years, and expand on some. Core program areas include:

General Consumer Public Relations
Hispanic Public Relations
Foodservice and Chef Education
Applied Science, including public relations and advertising to food processors and bakeries
International Market Development
Minor League Baseball Promotions

The largest activity is public relations, delivering success with food and beauty media outreach. NHB’s public relations agency pitches honey information, honey stories, press releases, and honey images to food and beauty editors across the country to generate publicity in various media without having to pay for expensive advertising.

The single largest promotion in 2008 was with three Minor League Baseball teams, promoting honey as each team’s natural energy booster. For 2009, the NHB will work with five Minor League Baseball teams to promote honey at the ballparks and with related activities. The Minor League Baseball season runs from April through September. Watch for more information on www.honey.com in the near future.

With bulk or ingredient sales accounting for nearly half of all honey sales, the NHB is expanding its efforts to target food processors and bakeries. International marketing activities will focus on the Middle East, the largest market for exported U.S. honey.
Hispanic public relations and foodservice and chef education round out the list of NHB’s continuing core marketing programs.

Austin, Texas, Site of Next Meeting of the National Honey Board

The next meeting of the Board of Directors of the National Honey Board (NHB) will be held in Austin, Texas on April 23-24, 2009 at the Austin Courtyard Downtown Convention Center,

300 East 4th Street, Austin, TX 78701

. NHB meetings are open to the public.

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

www.BeeCulture.com

Monday, 23 February 2009

Central Beekeepers Alliance

Inside an Observation Hive

Posted: 23 Feb 2009 06:10 AM PST

A glass-fronted indoor hive, located at Gilbey’s Gallery in Keswick Ridge, New Brunswick, allows even the most nervous visitor to get up-close-and personal with an active colony of honey bees.

Click on any of the photographs at right to see a larger version. Top to bottom, they show:

The front of the observation hive, doors open;

Busy nurse bees tending the brood; and

The queen bee and workers.

In the top photo, notice the vertical arrangement of frames. This is a working hive, and capped honey is clearly visible in corners of the top frame. The bees have access to the outdoors via a tube through the outside wall of the house, but not to the indoors.

In the second photograph, you can see the white larvae in the uncapped cells as well as the wax-capped brood.

The third photograph shows how the queen’s distinctive long abdomen makes her out from the much-smaller worker bees, her daughters. Yellow pollen fills one cluster of honeycomb cells in this picture, while some other cells are shining with stored nectar.

Cabinet doors are normally kept closed over the glass, to create the comfortable darkness of a normal brood chamber and make the hive look like any other handsome piece of furniture.

Unless a visitor is told the secret, he’d never know that he was sharing a livingroom with tens of thousands of honeybees!

A much smaller observation hive — just two frames, with plexiglas on both sides — makes a wonderful public education tool for giving talks on beekeeping to schools or community groups. Even people who say they “don’t like bugs” seem to be fascinated by the compact community of live bees.

Photographs of Earl Gilbey’s observation hive were taken by DeVerne Jones, Toronto, ON.

Post from: Central Beekeepers Alliance

Wednesday, 18 February 2009

CATCH THE BUZZ Avoiding GM Beet Sugar

bee_culture

Tom Stearns, president of High Mowing Organic Seeds, which has also sponsored the registry, expressed concern that GM sugar beets would cross-pollinate with related crops such as chard and table beets, meaning that the issue could affect other foods and food ingredients.

“Overseas markets have already rejected other GM products, so the economic future of many of our nation’s farmers is being needlessly risked,” he said.

Subscribe to the Apis Newsletter www.apis.shorturl.com
The registry has been signed by 73 grocery chains and food producers so far, documenting a pledge to “seek wherever possible to avoid using GM beet sugar in our products” and urging the sugar beet industry to avoid using GM beets.

A full list of companies that have signed the registry is available here .

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

www.BeeCulture.com

Central Beekeepers Alliance

Nova Scotia Beekeepers’ Association AGM 2009

Posted: 17 Feb 2009 07:35 AM PST

Wondering what to do on these cold winter days? Make plans to attend the 51st Annual General Meeting of the Nova Scotia Beekeepers’ Association!

Dates: Friday, 6 March - Saturday, 7 March 2009
Location: Debert Hospitality Centre, Debert, Nova Scotia
Guest speaker:Dr. Medhat Nasr
Registration: $20.00

Guest speaker:
Dr. Medhat Nasr, Provincial Apiculturist with the province of Alberta, has extensive experience in apiculture both as a researcher and as a provincial apiculturist. Medhat will speak on Hive Health, Varroa Control, Nosema research and will be available to answer questions put forth from the group.

The full Agenda for the NSBA AGM is at the bottom of this page.

Meals and Accomodation:
Rooms are available at the Debert Hospitality Centre with a March special of $60.00 per person/per night HST extra (shared accommodation). The $60.00 charge includes Friday supper, Saturday breakfast and Saturday lunch.

To reserve a room, either:
a) call 902-662-4074
b) email dhc@eastlink.ca
c) visit the Debert Hospitality Centre website at www.debertcentre.ca

The Debert Hospitality Centre brings in their food for the various meals and therefore needs to know how many people will be eating over the March 6-7 weekend. If you are planning to attend the meeting and not stay at the Centre but would like to join the group for dinner on Friday night or have lunch on the Saturday then you will need to call 902-662-4074 to let them know that you plan to eat at the facilities. Cost for meals - Breakfast $ 9.00, Lunch $ 10.00, Supper $ 12.00.

Make sure you call the Hospitality Centre to reserve whatever meals you would like or accommodation you need.

For more information about the Nova Scotia Beekeepers’ Association annual general meeting, please contact:
Joanne Moran jmoran@gov.ns.ca

AGENDA
Nova Scotia Beekeepers' Association 51st Annual Meeting
Debert Hospitality Centre, Debert, NS
6-7 March 2009

Friday March 6th
1:30pm Registration ( $20.00 fee to help offset AGM expenses )
( Children under 12 years of age, no charge )

2:00 Introduction and welcome from NSBA President

2:10 Wildlife damage compensation program George MacIntosh
Transport of bees on highways, regulations Michael Balsum

3:00 Refreshment Break

3:15 Guest speaker, Dr. Medhat Nasr Alberta Provincial Apiculturist

5:00 Meal Break

6:30 Business Meeting
- Approval of agenda Joanne Moran
- Minutes of 2008 AGM Joanne Moran
- Business arising from the minutes Joanne Moran
- Financial report Joanne Moran

7:00 Social - Cash bar

Saturday March 7th
NSBA Business Meeting

8:30 Registration ($20.00 fee to help offset AGM expenses)

9:00 Introduction and welcome from NSBA President
Presidents report Roger Morash
CAPA report Joanne Moran
CHC report Tom Trueman
2008 Nosema research update Geoff Williams/Catherine Little
Research Proposal Lise Charbonneau/Elisabeth Wallace
Russian queen project update Jerry Draheim
Bees and blueberries Joe Slack

10:15 Refreshment Break

10:30 - Presentation of Strategic Plan Gary Morton

11:00 - New business
- Resolutions
- Election of officers
- 2009 Budget Joanne Moran

12:00 Lunch Break (Lunch can be purchased on site or is included in your overnight accommodation fee)

1:00 Guest speaker, Dr. Medhat Nasr Alberta Provincial Apiculturist

2:00 Industry Info Session

- Overwintering nucs - Menno Reimer
- Faye Langille
- Testing equipment for presence of lead - Tony Philips

3:30 Adjourn

Post from: Central Beekeepers Alliance

Tuesday, 17 February 2009

Central Beekeepers Alliance

Map: Forage Plants for Honey Bees

Posted: 17 Feb 2009 04:08 AM PST

HoneyBeeNet is one of the more surprising finds on the NASA website. There you’ll find a Honey Bee Forage Map showing the 14 regions of the Ayers and Harman honey bee forage map, “based on natural patterns of land use and flora.”

Click on the map to see a list of honey bee forage species and their blooming periods for any region within a state.

Although the text says “state” on all pages (e.g. “state of NB” for New Brunswick’s listing), this resource really does give plant information for our provinces — forage plant species and blooming periods.

Honey Bee Forage Species:

New Brunswick
Nova Scotia
Prince Edward Island

The large pink area of the map that covers the northern boreal region of Canada has no species listed at present, but clicking on other areas of the map will take you to a list of honey bee forage plants for that area. The most important nectar sources for honey bees are highlighted. Here in the Maritimes, however, where the bee season is rather short, the earlier blooming species (such as maple, alder, dandelion, and willow) are important as sources of pollen as well as nectar. Pollen sources are needed for brood production to help the bee colonies build back up to strength after wintering over.

[Thanks to Bob Seaman for suggesting this link.]

Post from: Central Beekeepers Alliance

CATCH THE BUZZ Counterfieit Food Increasing

CATCH THE BUZZ

Food counterfeiting, contamination outpace international regulatory systems

Michigan State University analysts find growing threat

CHICAGO — Intentionally contaminated Chinese milk killed several children and sickened 300,000 more, causing concern around an increasingly connected world economy. Demand for inexpensive products virtually guarantees future repeats of food adulteration and counterfeiting from overseas, Michigan State University researchers said, as trade volumes overwhelm regulatory oversight.

Nobody can guarantee safe food, said Ewen Todd, but governments need to improve controls by promoting increased corporate responsibility, identifying vulnerabilities and assessing risks. Todd, a professor of advertising, public relations and retailing, conducted a symposium on the safety of imported food today at the American Association for the Advancement of Science annual meeting held in Chicago.

Increasing risk-based inspections and sampling; improving the detection of food system signals that indicate contamination; improving immediate response to contamination events; and improving risk communication all should be part of a more stringent regimen, Todd said.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration inspects less than 2 percent of the food coming into the country, while 13 percent of America's food is imported, Todd said.

Find out what's new at Mann Lake www.mannlakeltd.com/catchthebuzz/index.html

"It's a worldwide trend. First of all, transportation is easier, trade is easier," he said, while consumers are increasingly well traveled and have higher expectations. "We want stuff in the winter when we can't grow it."

Between the extremes of accidentally contaminated food and terrorism via intentional contamination lies the counterfeiter, seeking not to harm but to hide the act for profit. The melamine incidents are such examples. As an industrial chemical that mimics protein content in tests was added to milk and subsequently created kidney problems for children.

Product counterfeiting is the focus of a presentation by John Spink, an instructor at the National Food Safety and Toxicology Center and director of the Packaging for Food and Product Protection (P-FAPP) initiative, both at MSU. He is developing a criminal justice program focused on food counterfeiting."We take a risk-based approach to analyze where the gaps are and look closer at where there is a higher reward for fraud," he said. "Counterfeiting goes back to Roman times, when French wine had a seal of Roman origin," he said. "Products are moving around the world so fast now that there's more opportunity for fraud. When food was di stributed more regionally, there was less potential for large-scale fraud, or outbreaks of any kind."

For a comprehensive listing of beekeeping event around the world, see www.my.calendars.net/bee_culture/

Recent instances of counterfeiting or contamination include conventionally grown vegetables sold as organic; fish sold as a more premium species; milk and pet food adulterated with melamine; catfish (and honey) containing banned antibiotics; toothpaste contaminated with diethylene glycol (a base chemical in antifreeze); and canned energy drinks of unknown origin labeled with brand names.

Pharmaceutical counterfeiting has attracted most of regulators' attention until recently, he said, but those companies are required to report adverse affects or similar problems, while food companies and other manufacturers are not.

Subscribe to the Apis Newsletter www.apis.shorturl.com

"At MSU, our approach to anti-counterfeiting strategy is extremely interdisciplinary to address the many aspects of the risk," Spink said, including public health communication, supply chain and packaging security. "Overall, we take a holistic, strategic perspective on the human element that led an individual to perceive an opportunity and then act — this perspective is led by criminal justice, social anthropology and basic business economics. Of course other important disciplines are intellectual property rights law, food law, medicine, nursing, public health, international trade, psychology, consumer behavior, retailing, management, economics and business."

MSU's international experience also gives it a valuable perspective by understanding source country economies and cultures, Spink said.

Also participating in the forum were presenters from the FDA and Cargill Inc., representing regulatory and corporate perspectives.

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

www.BeeCulture.com

Beekeeping For Beginners

Wednesday, 25 February 2009

Central Beekeepers Alliance

Central Beekeepers Alliance

Tuesday, 24 February 2009

CATCH THE BUZZ NewS From The Honey Board

Monday, 23 February 2009

Central Beekeepers Alliance

Central Beekeepers Alliance

Wednesday, 18 February 2009

CATCH THE BUZZ Avoiding GM Beet Sugar

Food companies pledge to avoid GM beet sugar

Central Beekeepers Alliance

Central Beekeepers Alliance

Tuesday, 17 February 2009

Central Beekeepers Alliance

Central Beekeepers Alliance

CATCH THE BUZZ Counterfieit Food Increasing

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