beelines - ky agr...6-8:30 p.m. est. pulaski county extension service, 28 parkway drive, somerset....
TRANSCRIPT
BeeLines ● February 2017 ● 1
February 2017State Apiarist Dr. Tammy Horn Potter ● Kentucky Department of Agriculture, Ryan F. Quarles, Commissioner BeeLines
Hap-beeVal Day!
This Valentine beeswax sculpture is by
Rich Mundell, past president
of the Heartland Apiculture Society.
Try to avoid letting the colony consume its honey stores. We are having a mild winter, and the honey bees will run out of honey (i.e., their fuel) if you are not vigilant in
keeping up their nutritional needs. Heavy sugar syrup will help the bees survive until the
flowers start blooming. The ratio for heavy sugar syrup is 2 parts sugar to 1 part water.
Rotating the colony so that the honey bees move back into the center of the hive, and moving honey frames within their vicinity, will help them perceive that they have adequate stores. Re-tilt the hive so moisture can run out of the hive.
Consider adding a super of drawn beeswax foundation to allow the honey bees plenty of room to move up and out. This will help you manage swarming.
Coping with an unusually warm winterPhoto: Leah Steidle, 2016
BeeLines ● February 2017 ● 2
Apiarist’s Report and Education Events
State Apiarist’s schedule● Feb. 4: South Central Bee School.
Scottsville. Details at left. ● Feb. 9: Beginner Beekeepers Series.
Topic: Basic Biology. 6:00-8:30 p.m. EST. Pulaski County Extension Service, 28 Parkway Drive, Somerset. Details at left.
● Feb. 11: Kentucky Pollinator Protection Plan discussion, 1-3 p.m. EST at Bernheim Arboretum. Bernheim Members, $10; non-members, $12. 2499 Clermont Road, Clermont (Bullett County).
Patricia A. Smith, [email protected].
● Feb. 25: Small Farm / Garden Conference. Details, next page.
● Feb. 27: Fort Harrod Beekeepers Association. 6:30 p.m. EST. Mercer County Extension Office, Harrodsburg.
It’s winter workshop time, and continuing education is the heart of the State Apiarist’s report; so on to the list of seminars, workshops and classes.
● Feb. 4: South Central Bee School, Allen County Intermediate School, 720 Oliver Street, Scottsville. Registration $10 per person. Pre-registration not required. Registration 7:30 a.m. CST, welcoming remarks 8:15 a.m., and sessions conclude with door prizes at 4 p.m. Guest speaker: Jennifer Berry, University of Georgia. Lunch not included, but may be brought in. Classes offered for all levels of beekeeping. Veterinarians will be allowed to attend the Veterinary Feed Directive and Bee Disease course in the afternoon, at no charge. Kelley Beekeeping and Dadant will attend with supplies for sale. Contact vendors directly for pre-orders to be delivered that day.
● Feb. 4: South Eastern Bee School, Whitley County High School, Boulevard of Champions, Williamsburg. Registration 8 a.m. EST. Charge: $20 for preregistered attendees, $25 at the door. Mike Studer, Tennessee State Apiarist, speaks about “Myths and Misconceptions.” $25 per person, $40 per couple. Under 18s are free. Lunch and refreshments included. Vendors will be present.
Exit 15 off I-75 and go east on 25W. Go 1.3 miles and turn left. Go a quarter-mile, and the school is on the right.
● Feb. 9: Beginner Beekeepers Series. Speaker, Dr. Tammy Horn Potter. Topic: “Basic Biology.” 6-8:30 p.m. EST. Pulaski County Extension Service, 28 Parkway Drive, Somerset. $25 per person, $35 per couple, for the entire series. Seating is limited (no more than 40 seats), so register promptly. Sponsored by the Lake Cumberland and Lincoln County beekeepers associations.
Register with Beth Wilson (606) 679-6361, or [email protected].
● Feb. 11: Bee My Honey Brunch at Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill, 3501 Lexington Road, Harrodsburg. 9:30-11:30 a.m. $50 per person. Private tours of Shaker Village’s demonstration apiary with the beekeeper, followed by a festive three-course brunch featuring the sweet labors of hard-working honey bees.
More information: (800) 734-5611.
● Feb. 21: Honey Production. 6-7:30 p.m. CST at Cumberland County Extension Office, 90 Smith Grove Road, Burkesville. Speaker, Dr. Tammy Horn Potter. $8 for this class, $30 for series of six on several ag topics.
Pre-register (270) 433-7700.
● Feb. 25: Discovery Trek: Introduction to Beekeeping, Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill, 3501 Lexington Road, Harrodsburg. 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. EST. $55 cost includes admission + 20 percent off dining voucher. Shaker Village is home to 40 hives that produce spring and fall crops of honey. Learn the basics of setting up hives from experienced Shaker Village beekeepers. Participants will learn about the honeybee lifecycle, choosing hive equipment and assembly, hive site selection, pest management, the costs of beekeeping, how to establish your first hives, and what to expect in your first year as a beekeeper. Practical instruction and a variety of guides and resources will be shared. Participants will also take home a beginner beekeeping book.
Register at https://shakervillageky.org/event/introduction-to-beekeeping-3.Merin Roseman, (800) 734-5611.
● Feb. 25: Northeastern Bee School, Maysville Community and Technical College, 1755 U.S. Hwy. 68, Maysville. Speaker: Dr. Clare Rittschof, University of Kentucky. Classes in all aspects of beekeeping offered. Registration 7:30 a.m. EST, school 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Preregistration $20 adults, $7.50 children 12 and under, before Feb. 22. Registration $25 at the door. Lunch included.
Bobby Fore, 1338 Stevens Road, Owingsville, KY 40360. Mark payments “ATTN: 2017 Beekeeping School”
and make checks payable to Licking River Beekeepers Association.
●
See EDUCATION, page 3
BeeLines ● February 2017 ● 3
James Foster, president of Big South Fork Beekeepers Association, supervises 4-Hers during a bee hive build. (Photos by Greg Whitis)
● Feb. 25: Small Farm / Garden Conference, Franks Building, Boyd County Fairgrounds, 1768 Addington Road, Ashland. Dr. Tammy Horn Potter, state apiarist, and UK extension specialists and agents. 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. EST. Door prizes. Free. Lunch not provided.
Caution: Google directions may not be reliable. For directions, visit boyd.ca.uky.edu (Boyd County Cooperative Extension website).
Also follow this link: https://www.google.com/maps/ @38.3804321,-82.7226268,14.25z to view a map online.
● Feb. 25: Beginner Bee School, Northern Kentucky Beekeepers Association, Boone County Enrichment Center, lower level, 6028 Camp Ernst Rd., Burlington. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. EST. 30-minute lunch. Bring a brown-bag lunch; club provides drinks and snacks. No charge.
Tom Spille, [email protected].
Mar. 4: Audubon Beekeepers Bee School, Henderson County Cooperative Extension Expo Center, 3341 Zion Road, Henderson. Speaker, Debbie Seib, President, Heartland Apiculture Society. Pre-registration, $15 for adults. $5 for 12 years and younger. Lunch included. Registration at the door, $20.
More information: Larry Stone, (270) 339-7245; Jan Powell, (270) 860-2942; Or visit audubonbeekeepersassociation.com.
Mar. 4: Kentucky Queen Bee Breeders Association. Kentucky Department of Agriculture, 109 Corporate Drive Complex, Frankfort. Guest speakers, Dwight Wells, Heartland Bee Breeders Association, and Tom Webster, Kentucky State University. 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. EST. Open to members. Membership is $100, and can be paid at the door or mailed to treasurer Joe Taylor, P.O. Box 234, Leitchfield, KY 42755.
Association president is Dorothey Morgan, [email protected] or (606) 801-1491.
EDUCATION . . . from page 2 ● March 11: Bluegrass Beekeepers School, Kentucky State University, Frankfort. Registration 8 a.m. EST, opening session 9 a.m., school concludes 3:30 p.m. Pre-registration $25 per adult, $10 high school age and younger. Registration at the door $35 per adult and $15 for high school age and younger.
For registration form and information, visit Bluegrass Beekeepers Association web page, bluegrassbeekeepers.com,
or contact Phil Clark, (859) 492-9910 or [email protected].
● March 18: Kentucky State Beekeepers Association Spring Meet, Franks Building, Boyd Co. Fairgrounds, 1768 Addington Rd, Ashland, KY 41102. Also sessions in Catlettsburg. Stephanie Tarwater (Tennessee inspector) and Gabe Blatt (West Virginia Heartland Queen Bee Breeders). Main area hotels are Hampton Inn and Fairfield Inn. Many nearby restaurants.
Caution: Google directions may not be reliable. For directions, visit boyd.ca.uky.edu (Boyd County Cooperative Extension website).
Also follow https://www.google.com/maps/ @38.3804321,-82.7226268,14.25z to view a map online.
Apiarist’s advice available on podcastState Apiarist Dr. Tammy Horn Potter was interviewed on the Kentucky Farm Bureau “Across Kentucky” podcast on how honey bee hives make it through the trials of winter.
AUDIO: kyfb.com/federation/newsroom/ across-kentucky-january-28-201
Honey Bee Health videos at KSBAThe Honey Bee Health Coalition has produced a series of honey bee health videos, focusing on combating parasites. The videos are available at the KSBA website and are watchable on portable media, including smartphones, enabling beekeepers to take this data to the field.
visit ksbabeekeeping.org/honey-bee-health-coalition-unveils-videos-to-help-beekeepers-combat-devastating-parasites/
BeeLines ● February 2017 ● 4
Rules OverviewFailure to meet any one of these requirements will
result in a disqualification.Students interested in writing an essay should contact
their local 4-H offices for contest details. The state selection must be done through the 4-H system.
Preparation for National Judging: ● Typewritten or computer-generated double-spaced, 12-
point Times or similar type style, on one side of white paper, following standard manuscript format.
● Essay must be 750 to 1,000 words on the essay topic. ● Essays will be judged on:
(a) scope of research, 40 percent;
(b) accuracy, 30 percent;
(c) creativity, 10 percent;
(d) conciseness, 10 percent; and
(e) logical development of the topic, 10 percent.
● All factual statements must be referenced with bibliographical-style endnotes.
● On a separate page, a brief biographical sketch of the essayist, including birthdate, gender, complete mailing address, email address, and telephone number, must accompany the essay.
● Each state may submit ONE entry only. ● Final judging and selection of the National Winner will
be made by the Foundation’s Essay Committee, whose decision is final.
● National winners will be announced by the week of May 1, 2017.
● All National entries become the property of the Foundation. No essays will be returned.
EligibilityThe contest is open to active 4-H Club members only. 4-H’ers who have previously placed first, second, or third at the National level are NOT eligible, but other state winners are eligible to re-enter.
Students must write on the designated subject only. There will be NO exceptions.
The National winners’ essays will appear in an issue of the American Beekeeping Federation’s newsletter.
Each state winner, including the national winners, receives an appropriate book about honey bees, beekeeping, or honey.
Questions: Regina K. Robuck, Executive Director, Foundation for the Preservation of Honey Bees, Inc., (404) 760-2887.
National First Prize $750 Second Prize $500, Third Prize $250
Suggested deadline: Entrants are encouraged to turn in essays to their local 4-H office by Feb. 20. (Check with your local 4-H Agent for confirmation of your local deadline.)
Local offices will each forward a winning essay by Feb. 27 to Dr. Tom Webster ([email protected]), Kentucky State University, who will process them to the 4-H national office by March 3.
The contest is sponsored by The Foundation for the Preservation of Honey Bees, Inc.
Beekeeping has had its 15 minutes of fame for the past seven years. Now more than ever, the general public, along with beekeepers, are asking, “What will happen if the bees are gone?” With the continued threat of pesticides, this is a very real question. Your paper should research and help answer this question.
Survey your community to see what is being done. Include your state in your survey to see if there are any programs they are using for pollination or any other program that could aid the honey bee.
The scope of the research is an essential judging criterion, accounting for 40 percent of the score. The number of sources consulted, the authority of the sources, and the variety of the sources are all evaluated.
Personal interviews with beekeepers and others familiar with the subject are valued sources of information and should be documented. Sources not cited in the endnotes should be listed in a “Resources” or “Bibliography” list.
Note that “honey bee” is properly spelled as two words.
Submissions due Feb. 20 in 2017 honey bee essay contestLet’s have another Kentucky winner,
as we had in the 2016 contest!
2017 Essay Topic:How can MP3 (Managed
Pollinator Protection Plan) more effectively protect honey bees
from pesticide exposure?