Maine State Beekeepers Association
We love honeybees - you should too
→ Only 3 days left to Register for the Maine State Beekeepers Annual Meeting taking place on Saturday, October 13, 2012 in Portland → Confirmed Speakers include: Jerry Hayes, leading the efforts to control Honey Bee parasites and pathogens using non-chemical controls at Monsanto Tony Jadczak, Maine State Apiarist Lincoln Sennett of Swan’s Honey Michael Bush, author … [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...]
There are lots of great things for the Maine Beekeeper to do to keep cabin fever at bay during these snow months. For instance: Assemble and repair beekeeping equipment. Purchase new equipment if necessary. Read beekeeping texts and periodicals. Sign up for a beekeeping course offered by Extension, Adult Education or local beekeeping association. Renew your … [Read more...]
Leave the bees alone and hope for a January thaw so the bees can have a cleansing flight. Register for the North American Beekeeping Conference & Tradeshow (ABF Annual Conference) January 10-14, 2012 Las Vegas, Nevada Reserve your spot for the Vermont Beekeepers Meeting on January 24th, 2012 Assemble and repair beekeeping equipment. Purchase new equipment if … [Read more...]
Provide upper ventilation. Remove mite treatments prior to wintering or wrapping the colony. Wrap colonies with tar paper or commercial wrap and provide with an insulating board or moisture absorbing material (Homasote) by Thanksgiving. Sell honey at craft fairs, etc. Read periodicals. This monthly post is adapted from "The Beekeepers … [Read more...]
Harvest fall honey crop and remove supers around September 10-20. Extract ripe honey. Partially filled supers should be fed back to the bees above the inner cover. Reduce entrances, apply brood medications and apply mite treatments after the supers are removed from hives. Feed heavy (2:1) medicated (Fumagillin) syrup or frames of honey to hives low on honey stores. Prevent … [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...]
