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.
Fill Out the 2024/2025 Maine Beekeeper Survey
The annual Maine beekeeper survey of losses and management practices is now live and ready for your input! Gathering this type of data is important for seeing trends, recognizing when and how losses occur, and determining where to focus education/outreach activities in the future. A summary report of the survey will be presented at the Maine State Beekeepers annual meeting in October and available online.
Survey link:
2024/2025 Maine Beekeeper Survey
2025 MSBA Webinars
- April 22 7PM with Dorinda Priebe- 'Extreme Swarm Management'
- May 5 7PM with Lincoln Sennett- 'Commercial Beekeeping'
- June 5 7PM with Tucka Bee- (topic TBD)
Dial In for Upcoming Webinars
+1 929 436 2866 US (New York)
Meeting ID: 868 3034 6655
Passcode: 253900
Beekeepers Calendar
April
Brood production is ramping up this month. A few good pollen and nectar sources will start blooming, but poor weather may hinder the ability of foragers to access it. Continue monitoring food reserves and feed light syrup (1:1) inside the hive if necessary. If weather permits (calm, sunny and above 55º), quickly sample wintered colonies for varroa mites using an alcohol wash, then apply mite treatments if Varroa are detected above threshold. Install nucs and packages and feed light syrup until they have drawn out comb in brood chambers.
Full Beekeepers Calendar
State Apiary Chats with Jen and Brittney are back!
Join in for the first one of 2025 on April 21 at 7PM.
These are not recorded so, as Jen says, ‘Bee there or bee square’. Join Zoom Meeting- https://us06web.zoom.us/j/
Additional Apiary Chats- are scheduled on June 16, July 21, August 18, September 15 and October 20 all starting at 7PM