Presenter: Erin MacGregor-Forbes, Master Beekeeper

This will be a lecture style workshop discussing the causes of and reasons for honeybee swarms, how to manage and reduce the swarm impulse in your own colonies, how to make splits (artificial swarms) and how to capture swarms once they have left the colony.

Participants will learn the fundamentals of how to assess their colonies’ swarm preparations, how to make a split, what to have on hand to be ready to capture swarms, and how to make a “Swarm Trap.”

Each registered Participant will leave the workshop with one plant pot style swarm trap ready for use in his or her own apiary.

The purpose of this workshop is to begin educating our membership in methods of sustainable apiary management and prevention of nuisance bee issues.

Beekeeping Courses Planned for 2012 and 2013

Cumberland County Cooperative Extension is pleased to offer the most comprehensive Beekeeping Education program in Maine. With three levels of beekeeping instruction provided by Certified Master Beekeepers, we have programs for beekeepers of all levels.

This year, we are offering four Beginning Bee Schools, two in the fall and two in the spring. This is great for new beekeepers, prior to their first year of bees, or is a great refresher course for beekeepers just now going into their first winter, and even those with a couple of years of experience who want to refresh their skills and knowledge.

Intermediate School (Apiary Management) is geared towards beekeepers with 2+ years of experience. The focus of this class is how to effectively manage an apiary under Maine conditions. It will include how to keep your colonies healthy and thriving, and how to meet the goals you have with your bees such as swarm prevention, honey production, colony maximization. This intermediate level class is focused on IPM strategies for keeping healthy colonies utilizing the honey bees own natural cycles as a guide.

Advanced Intermediate School (new this year) is designed for accomplished beekeepers with 5+ years of experience or those who have already taken Intermediate Bee School. Completion of an Intermediate Bee School or instructor permission is a prerequisite for this course. This class will discuss advanced topics such as backyard queen rearing, mating nuc management, advanced nuc management, advanced swarm management. live colony removal, managing multiple yards, and more.

For more information and registration:

http://umaine.edu/cumberland/programs/beekeeping-course-schedule-in-cumberland-county/

At the EAS conference on August 17, 5 Mainers earned their Master Beekeeper certification:

CCBA President Jack Hildreth
CCBA Treasurer Peter Richardson
Mark Cooper
Larry Pfeiffer
Phil Gaven

Congratulations to all!

Speakers:

September 4: Tony Jadczyk, Fall Management

October 2, Matt Scott, On Bears