Keeping Honey Bees

Industrial Ag – Industrial Beekeeping

• Scientific America Aug 20, 2013 By Ferris Jabr

5 P Stressors

• Pesticides (On the plants like neonics, fungicides, … and in the hive like antibiotics, mite treatments…)

• Pests (Varroa, tracheal mites, …)• Pathogens (Foul Brood, viruses, …)• Poor Nutrition (Sugar syrup, pollen patties,

monoculture flowers…)• Pedigree

Honey bee US history

• Introduced to N. America in 1600 with early colonists• Feral populations noted in 1622 and expanded populations in advance of

settlers• 1852 Langstroth bee hive – movable frames• Migratory hives increasing as monoculture increasing since 1900• Feral colonies once flourished with genetic composition different than

managed colonies• 1980s Varroa mites decimated feral populations but some evidence feral

populations may be recovering• 1990s Neonics introduced making up 80% seed treatment market by mid-

2000s. 2008 neonics 24% of global market for insecticides. • 2006 Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) noted. Managed colonies have declined

nationwide.

Why keep honey bees?• Honey• Interested in social

insects• Apitherapy, bee

products• Enhance pollination

in farm and gardens

But … are honey bees competing with native bees for floral resources?

• Maybe during seasonal scarcity• Perhaps competition makes everyone work

harder so more visits to flowers and more pollination

• Coastal California studies• Re-establishment of native plant restoration

areas in California

Start Up Costs

• Beginner kits range from about $170-$250 but need to add some additional medium supers and shipping. Bare minimum about $350.

• Bees (local nucleus colony) about $160.

Other Major Considerations

• Ensure ecology of area can ‘handle’ colonies

• Time –need to spend time with them and learn about them

• Location – easily accessible and safe

• Ability to lift deeps and supers

• Don’t mind getting stung

Honey Flow (at The Farm Between)Time Plants

Mid-late April Pussy willows, alder, maples

May-early June Fruit trees, berry bushes Dandelions

June Raspberries, blackberries, aroniaBlack Locust

June/July Elderberry, Clovers, Milkweed, boneset, vetch, summer wildflowers, mintsBasswood trees, Sumac

Late August to early October

Goldenrod, Joe Pye Weed, Asters

Late September, October Maximillian sunflowersWitch hazel

Resources for Vermont

• Vermontbeekeepers.org• Ross Conrad’s book Natural Beekeeping • Mike Palmer (St. Albans) Youtube videos

(Franklin County Beekeepers Club)• Kirk Webster (Champlain Valley) Youtube

videos

Know your beekeeper, know your honey, know your bees