Sunday, 9 August 2009

CATCH THE BUZZ - NEWEST CCD STUDY RELEASED

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

Back after a short summer break and an entire week at EAS

Sunday, 2 August 2009

Structured Request for Beekeeping Stories

Dear colleague beekeeper:

After receiving some responses to my call for stories about people getting involved in beekeeping in my last Apis newsletter, I see that more structured questions might help others submit their reflections on the beekeeping experience. So I have developed the following questionnaire:

When did you begin beekeeping? What specifically got you interested?

Is there a family history of beekeeping?

What was your first experience manipulating a beehive like? What did it teach you?

What is the size of your operation (number of hives)? Do you plan to expand? Contract in size? What are your major considerations for this?

Do you produce honey for sale or just as a gift? Do you market other bee products?

Do you engage in commercial pollination?

Are you a member of an association? Local? State? Which? Do you attend meetings? Do you have a leadership role?

What short courses have you attended? What memorable instructors have you had. What is the most important thing you learned?

What publications (printed and electronic) do you routinely read?

Where do you live? What is the climate like? Temperate? Subtropical? What is the configuration of a hive in the region (all deeps) (a deep and a shallow)

What are the major plants that bees use in your area? Have you seen any shift in their nectar production?

Where do you get replacement bees (packages? Nucs?) and queens (raise your own; purchase). What kind of bee do you use? (Italian, Carniolan, Buckfast) Do you collect feral (wild) bees and swarms?

What is your biggest beekeeping challenge now?

Has that changed since you began beekeeping?

Other remarks about your experience that would encourage/entertain or educate the beginning beekeeper.

I give my permission to Dr. Malcolm T. Sanford to use the above in Electronic and printed media: Your name here: ________________________

As I stated, I plan to do an electronic summary of the replies I get and will post it so everyone can benefit from the contributions. Again, I will also need your permission to use the material in both printed and electronic material and provided a space above for this.

Thanks for your participation.

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

Here is what Troy Fore published in the Summer edition of The Speedy Bee http://thespeedybee.com that fits the bill in many ways as a potential story. Note it contains information about specific management activities (putting on foundation), specific manipulations (I made nine splits to slow them down a bit), description of a specified location (all beekeeping is local—gallberry bloom in the S.E. United States), and also discusses some history based on his experiences with his father as mentor, including effect of the number of colonies(You can do this with two dozen hives; it is more difficult with 2,000) and even identifying a “hot” colony and how that might have come about:

Troy Fore, Editor of The Speedy Bee, second generation beekeeper in Jesup, GA:

“We have had an interesting spring (2009) in the bees. The windup reminded me of a spring over 40 years ago. I was working with my daddy trying to produce enough honey to make ends meet.

“Conditions looked very promising as we approached our prime season for making cut comb off gallberry. I have a clear vision of going to beeyard after beeyard in a cold, steady rain, putting on supers of fresh foundation. A few weeks later, we went back around removing the supers of foundation; most were empty as when installed. The rain had continued right through the gallberry bloom. The only thing I accomplished was catching a near-death of cold.

“This spring was also full of promise. I had lost just three of my 27 colonies. The remaining built up quickly -- too fast in some ways. I made nine splits to slow them down a bit. Since I had not made any preparations to have queens on hand, I had to leave them to rear their own queens. Five did so; not bad considering we had a late spell of cold, windy weather just then. I have since identified one "hot" colony; you get these occasionally when using non-selective breeding practices!

“I put on a round of deep supers of foundation. I had bought just enough (Daddy, if you are reading this -- we can now buy assembled frames with foundation already installed. It is a bit pricey, but when you consider paying employees and all that goes with that, the pre-assembled foundation is probably no more expensive than what we did in the old days).

“The weather and the bloom were just right. I was beginning to wonder if they would run out of room before the honey flow ran out. I went around, moving a super here and a few frames there to get the empty ones on more populous colonies. I also moved some sheets of brood to build up weak colonies and take the pressure off the strong. (You can do this with two dozen hives; it is more difficult with 2,000).

“The rains started a couple of days later. Over the next 30 days, we must have had measurable rainfall for at least 20. The first two weeks of rain washed out the remaining gallberry bloom. At least I didn't have to buy more foundation. Even so, it was a good spring in the bees here in Southeast Georgia, especially now that I am not trying to raise a family on my beekeeping income.

“Now I need to set up for extracting somewhere. For the past several years I have been mostly leaving the honey for wintering and making extra splits in the spring, but I am reaching my limit with 30 hives in my backyard. Oh, I should have noted at the outset, I am telling you what I did, not what you should do. You have to make your own mistakes. Happy beekeeping!”

Bee sure to Catch The Buzz, Bee Culture's latest releases important to beekeepers at <http://www.beeculture.com/content/catch_buzz.cfm>. Also access the Apis Information Resource Center <http://www.squidoo.com/apis>, which contains Dr. Malcolm T. Sanford's archived Bee Culture articles at <http://www.squidoo.com/bee_culture/> and check out his blog <http://abeekeepersblog.blogspot.com>. Finally, take a look at the Global Bee Breeders Association’s efforts to increase honey bee diversity with minimal risk <http://gbba.vze.com>

Sunday, 26 July 2009

Central Beekeepers Alliance : Central Beekeepers Potluck Corn Boil : August 22, 2009

Central Beekeepers Potluck Corn Boil : August 22, 2009

Posted: 25 Jul 2009 09:21 PM PDT

Central Beekeepers will hold our regular summer potluck supper and corn boil at Dave & Ruth McKinneys’ place. As always, visitors and new beekeepers are welcome. Corn will be provided — but do bring your favourite potluck supper dish and a good appetite!

Time: 6:30 p.m.
Date: Saturday, 22 August 2009
Location: #769 Route 105, Maugerville, New Brunswick
(see map, below)

In CBA business at that meeting, we’ll also be looking for volunteers who will be available to work the beekeepers’ booth at the Fredericton Exhibition coming up in the first week of September.

View Larger Map

Central Beekeepers Potluck Corn Boil : August 22, 2009 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, 25 July 2009

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Friday, 24 July 2009

Successful Homesteading, Issue # 18, Homesteading Shopper has Great New Products, Now 15% Off!

Hello, Friend,

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Cast Iron Cookware

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And Speaking of Cast Iron...

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The Benefits of Cast Iron

Want to know what the big deal is about Cast Iron Cookware? Read all about it here.

Caring For Your Cast Iron Cookware

This cookware is nonstick naturally and can last for generations, but to get the most out of your cookware, Follow these simple steps.

And as always, happy homesteading!

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Central Beekeepers Alliance : Conditions and Instructions for Apivar Use in Bee Hives

Conditions and Instructions for Apivar Use in Bee Hives
Video: Honey Bees Fighting Varroa Mites and Bee Louse
Beekeeping Magazines Go Online

Conditions and Instructions for Apivar Use in Bee Hives

Posted: 23 Jul 2009 12:53 PM PDT

apivar As announced in “PMRA Approves Emergency Use of Apivar in Canada,” the Pest Management Regulatory Agency has granted the emergency registration of Apivar® for the control of the parasitic mite, Varroa destructor, in honey bee hives in Canada.

Apivar® (active ingredient: 3.33% amitraz) is a sustained-release plastic strip designed for use in honey bee hives.

This emergency registration applies in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island for the period beginning July 1, 2009, and ending June 30, 2010 — subject to the following Conditions:

Honey supers must be removed from hives before undergoing treatment wtih amitraz, and cannot be replaced until 14 days after the strips are removed.

Residues of amitraz equivalents in/on honey and honey-derived products must not exceed 0.1 parts per million (ppm) (as per subsection B.15.002(1) of the Food and Drug Regulations.

End-users must be informed that various countries, including the United States, do not have a maximum residue limit (MRL) for amitraz in honey, honeycomb, and beeswax, and that they assume the risk that use of Apivar® may affect export of their product.

Instructions for Apivar Use in Bee Hives

Correctly identify the pest and ensure economic and agronomic thresholds are being met before treatment.

Remove honey supers before application of Apivar®.

Use 2 Apivar® strips per colony.

Separate the double strip and hang each strip between two comb frames inside the brood area or bee cluster, with a minimum distance of 2 frames between strips.

Suspend Apivar® strips in the brood chamber in such a way that the bees can walk on both sides of the strips.

Leave the strips inside the hive for 42 days and then remove.

In case of movement inside the bee hive far from the strips, a repositioning of the strips should be done into the bee cluster, and the strips left in place for 14 more days before removal.

Strips must be removed after a maximum of 56 days.

Do not re-use the strips.

Timing: Hang Apivar® strips in the hives in spring before the first honey flow if varroa mite infestations have reached treatment threshold. Remove honey supers before use of Apivar strips.

DO NOT USE APIVAR STRIPS WHEN HONEY SUPERS ARE PRESENT.

If the varroa mite infestation is severe, treat colonies in the autumn after all surplus honey has been removed from the hive.

Wait 14 days after removing strips before placing honey supers on hive.

Monitor treated pest populations for resistance development.

Follow all instructions on the product label.
New Brunswick beekeepers, please contact the NB Department of Agriculture and Aquaculture (Fredericton — (506) 453-2108) if you require more information.

Conditions and Instructions for Apivar Use in Bee Hives 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

Video: Honey Bees Fighting Varroa Mites and Bee Louse

Posted: 02 Apr 2009 05:20 PM PDT

This video, Bees fighting varroa and braula coeca, was made by Ivan Brndušic, an electronics technician (from a long line of beekeepers on his mother’s side) who lives, works, and watches honey bees in the town of Bor, Serbia. When you see the bees’ attempts to remove the pests, it makes it very clear why hygienic grooming behaviour is a desireable trait for breeding in honey bees!

There’s a great explanation — with annotated photographs — of exactly what we’re seeing in this video as the bees try to fight off both Varroa mites and the very similar-looking but relatively benign-to-bees braula coeca (bee louse) on Brndušic’s website at brnda.com.

Video: Honey Bees Fighting Varroa Mites and Bee Louse 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

Beekeeping Magazines Go Online

Posted: 18 Mar 2009 01:40 PM PDT

The BeeKeepers Quarterly edited by John Phipps, has just announced that it’s taking its show online. The UK beekeeping magazine can now be seen on the Web at www.bkq.org.uk. The March 2009 and May 2009 issues will be “free samples” for beekeepers to try it out, and there will be a small subscription charge for future issues. The print edition will continue for those who prefer to receive the magazine in that format.

This news comes from Kim Flottum, editor of Bee Culture – The Magazine of American Beekeeping, who is a regular contributor to the BeeKeepers Quarterly). Flottum notes that Bee Culture, too, will be releasing a digital edition later this year.

Other digital beekeeping magazines include Bee Craft (UK) and MidWest Beekeeper (US). So far, the American Bee Journal is not available on the Internet, but you can subscribe to the Journal through its website, or view the Table of Contents, Covers, and an index of articles in past issues.

Beekeeping Magazines Go Online 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

Wednesday, 8 July 2009

Central Beekeepers Alliance

Introduction to Sustainable Beekeeping

Posted: 07 Jul 2009 05:47 PM PDT

Here’s an interesting e-book from UK beekeeper Robin Morris, for those beekeepers looking into top bar hives and other approaches to Sustainable Beekeeping.

Post from: Central Beekeepers Alliance

Beekeeping For Beginners

Sunday, 9 August 2009