Maine State Beekeepers Association
We love honeybees - you should too
→ Inspect the brood pattern at the beginning of dandelion bloom. → Check the queen's performance, symptoms of brood disease and Varroa. → Reverse brood chambers if bees are in the upper box only. → Apply mite treatments and requeen failing queens if necessary. → Divide and requeen colonies at fruit bloom via multiple frame splits or colony divides to recoup winter … [Read more...]
Though this guy seems to have more shop tools than many have at their disposal, it is a nifty idea. Thanks to Prince William Regional Beekeepers for pointing us to this video. … [Read more...]
Thanks to Prince William Regional Beekeepers for pointing us to this video. … [Read more...]
→ Monitor food reserves. → Feed medicated (Fumagilin-B) light syrup (1:1) to hives low on stores. → Scrape bottom boards and check the brood pattern on a mild day. → Install package bees April 15th or later and feed light syrup. Some people medicate with Fumagillin. → Apply mite treatments to wintered colonies if Varroa are detected … [Read more...]
There will be a PUBLIC HEARING on Thursday, April 04, 2013, 1:00 PM, Cross Building, Room 214 on the beekeeper limited liability law that MSBA has requested. We need to support the formation of a Working Group to get this bill moving forward. If you can attend the meeting to show support it would be great – if not please send testimonials or an email of support. Address the emails to the ACF … [Read more...]
The Bee Informed Partnership (BIP) is a USDA/NIFA (U.S. Department of Agriculture/National Institute of Food and Agriculture) funded project with the stated goal of reducing colony losses. The program is a collaboration of research institutions, Universities and beekeepers in the US. It is now time for your active participation! To receive a personalized invitation to participate in Bee … [Read more...]
Check colony conditions. If honey reserves are low, feed candy or dry sugar. Colonies that consume feed should be monitored and fed as needed. Feed protein supplements (pollen substitute) for brood production to hives colonies that you are planning to split. Make sure they have sufficient honey stores, they will go through stores much more rapidly as they engage in brood rearing. If you … [Read more...]
Renew your MSBA membership. You don't want to miss a single issue of The Bee Line, our printed journal, do you? Order bees in package or nuc's for late April-early May arrival. Check wintering colonies for honey reserves by hefting the hive. Note that the "heft the hive" method works as long as the bees haven't chimneyed up the center leaving a bunch of (heavy) honey frames on the … [Read more...]
by Sarah A. Gould My journey with bees is one that is different from many of the stories of my fellow beekeepers. For one thing, I began beekeeping at 15 years old. This fact alone differentiates me from many other beekeepers who perhaps have turned this hobby into a side career or retirement hobby. This is not say that there isn’t a strong population of younger beekeepers, but compared to … [Read more...]
Review by Andrew Dewey Michael Bush is a queen bee producer living in Nebraska who has for many years answered countless postings on internet forums BeeSource and BeeMaster, as well as the Organic Beekeepers mailing list. His web site (bushfarms.com) contains a cornucopia of information about bees and how to work them. And as Bush makes very clear, most of the book’s content can actually be … [Read more...]
Do you have bees you need removed?
Have no fear. Our Honey Bee Swarm Removal Team can help ASAP, or direct you to the right person in your area.
Members of the Maine State Beekeepers Association are indicated with a bee icon … [Read More...]
This document is intended as a reference and standard for honeybee management in Maine, with particular emphasis on urban/suburban … [Read More...]
Annual Bee Schools are sponsored by Local Chapters, Adult Education Programs, and sometimes in cooperation with the County Extension Service. These … [Read More...]
