I get email from beekeepers this time of year mostly asking what to do with weak hives. For example: I know it’s been a long time since Continue reading →

As the 2018 beekeeping season begins to transition into planning for 2019, I’m excited to be a small part of the successful 2nd year training yard project. Hive count this past spring was at four, two strong, one reasonable and one weak. Not bad considering this was the first overwinter event. Continue reading →

Hello, and thanks for allowing me to speak about my 2018 EAS experience.

As a first time EAS attendee, I wasn’t sure what to expect from 5 days of beekeeping information surrounded by 100s of beekeepers all from different backgrounds.

In a word – Fabulous!

I focused my EAS adventure on mite control, mite disease issues, hive management for minimizing bee losses and queen management.

For example, I was thrilled to stand beside Mike Palmer who demonstrated how to find that impossible to find queen and to then get him a bit off subject on what he thought of the hives’ brood pattern. He felt it had mite issues which were proven with an unplanned, off schedule mite count. This was how it went, excellent information, backed up with scientific data and open to free flowing questions from the groups. Often, after programs finished, small impromptu groups discussed beekeeping.

Many of us are familiar with mite count testing and the various mite treatment options that are available. Seeing research data that confirms some of what I know and/or conflicts with things that I thought I knew is a plus to my beekeeping development.

As an example, some research is suggesting that virus infected queens can transmit the virus to the egg. If that is true, mite control alone will not fully protect the larva from bee viruses.

This slide is from one of my failed hives confirming the importance of knowing mite counts before winter. This hive was treated in 2017 and failed in late February 2018. Looking closely, one can see dead mites on dead bees with a marked dead queen. My mite control plan failed. After EAS I have a better understanding of what I can change to improve my technique.

I’m sure what I learned at EAS in 2018 will help my bees in 2019. Thank you to everyone that made EAS possible.

One thing I’m doing differently this year is to count mites post treatment. I lost more hives last spring than is “normal” for me and I’m  convinced that mite loads Continue reading →

As a part of my training yard effort, I often field questions for the beekeepers that my activity reporting message reaches. Currently, the training yard is preparing to produce a few nucs that with some luck, will overwinter.

The question raised is “How late is too late to re-queen a hive?” Continue reading →

As the summer solstice approaches and the last spring blooms begin to fade, my efforts begin to focus on having strong colonies for next spring. There is still a lot to do Continue reading →