Maine State Beekeepers Association
We love honeybees - you should too
SARE Project Title: A Comparison of Honeybee Colony Strength and Survivability Between Nucleus- and Package-Started Colonies The SARE project hives, like the rest of our bees here in Maine, are in their winter cluster working their way through their stores, hopefully to emerge in spring healthy and strong. My last inspection of the Westbrook colonies was a simple check from the outside, … [Read more...]
In 2010, 621 Maine beekeepers registered 6,975 hives. The registration numbers reflect an increase of approximately 150 hobby beekeepers since 2008. There are more than 1,000 beekeepers with 8,000+ hives estimated in Maine. The estimate is based upon the number of beekeepers who attend beekeeping workshops, the number of individuals enrolled in beekeeping short courses and the current membership … [Read more...]
Review by Frederick B. Wardwell All you need to know to make prize-winning mead is told in Dr. Roger A. Morse’s book Making Mead. in 125 pages, he gives formulas, sanitation procedures, equipment requirements, and other helpful information. i know that this is all you need, because I first made wine 60 years ago, studied college chemistry for six years, and read every word of The … [Read more...]
The North American Beekeeping Conference was held in Galveston,Texas, this January 4 – 8th.The conference is generally held the first week of January and the location is always in the South.This conference incorporates a number of beekeeping organizations and is coordinated by the American Beekeeping Federation. This year several other groups were meeting at the conference including the Apiary … [Read more...]
We offer our sincere condolences to the family of fellow beekeeper and former Sagadohoc County Beekeepers Association President Robert A. (Bud) Budden. http://www.timesrecord.com/articles/2011/02/24/obituaries/doc4d669e087bf51712039548.txt TOPSHAM — Robert A. Budden, 80, of the Meadow Rd. died unexpectedly on Thursday, February 17, 2011 at a local hospital. He was born in Greenville … [Read more...]
The past year presented several valuable lessons to beekeepers. For example: bees should be managed according to weather conditions and plant phenology, not calendar date; monitoring Varroa is crucial since mite populations can explode under certain circumstances; and the timing and choice of Varroa treatment can have variable outcomes. Also, reading pesticide labels is imperative! In … [Read more...]
The Eastern Apicultural Society annual meetings will be held in New England in both 2011 and 2012. Any Maine beekeeper who is serious about expanding their beekeeping knowledge and skill set should plan to attend one or both of these meetings. The 2011 EAS will be held the last week of July in Rhode Island and the 2012 EAS will be held the second week of August in Vermont. Both of these meetings … [Read more...]
Preparation time: 20 minutes 1 c unsalted butter 1/2 c sugar, plus additional for dusting 1/2 c honey 1/2 c molasses 2 1/4 tsp baking soda 1 tsp salt 11/4 tsp cinnamon 1 1/4 tsp ground cloves 3/4 tsp ground ginger 2 large eggs 3 1/2 c unbleached white flour In large bowl cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add molasses while mixing at slow speed. Add … [Read more...]
About the Author | For any of us Beekeepers who have been practicing the art and science of beekeeping for a while, Dewey Caron’s name is a very familiar one. Dewey has spoken at meetings for most of the beekeeping clubs to which I belong, and has always been able to provide a new tidbit of knowledge every time I hear him speak. That’s the beauty of doing something for as many years as Dewey … [Read more...]
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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...]
Nuc Transportation & Installation
Prior to nuc pickup, the empty hive (i.e. bottom board, hive body, five or six frames of foundation and/or comb, entrance reducer, inner cover, outer cover, empty hive body, sugar syrup, feeder) should be assembled and prepared for installation. The hive should be located at the apiary site in accordance with the MSBA’s “Best Management Practices for Beekeeping” found at … [Read more...]