Welcome to MSBA

MSBA is a non-profit membership organization of beekeepers in Maine, dedicated to education, using best practices and honey bee health. Affiliated with local chapters throughout the state, MSBA also works with the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry to promote the honey bee, products of the hive and initiatives to support beekeepers. 

Andrew Cote
Beekeeping School

PLEASE GO TO BEE SCHOOL
BEFORE YOU GET BEES

Acquiring some basic but essential skills is critical to becoming a successful beekeeper. “Bee School” will get you off to a great start.

In-person courses run for varying lengths from January through April, all over the state. There are also a number of online classes available in 2024.
“𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘊𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘮𝘢𝘴 𝘱𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘺 𝘴𝘺𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘺 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘴. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦’𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘥𝘰 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘳𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘶𝘱𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺.” — Andrew Coté

Black Bear Cub
Black Bear Cub

BEEKEEPER'S CALENDER

March
Most queens will be laying eggs by the end of this month. Very little natural forage is available so monitoring food reserves is critical. It is not uncommon for a hive to make it through the hardest part of winter only to starve in March or April. If honey reserves are low, feed candy or dry sugar. Colonies that consume feed should be monitored carefully and fed as needed. Pollen substitute may be fed to strong colonies with plenty of honey stores in mid-March. Set up equipment for new packages/nucs. Clean smokers and repair/build hive boxes. Install electric fencing if there is bear activity in your area.

Maine state apiarist Jennifer Lund
Jennifer Lund

NEW IG ACCOUNT

Maine State Beekeepers has a new Instagram account. Please follow us at @mainestatebeekeeperssassoc, or click the link below. If you would like to send us pictures to share on our account, you can email them to MSBA.insta@gmail.com and we will review them and share them with our beekeepers!