Late November

So - here we are late November....no snow yet (great lakes area). We've had a couple of cold weeks - then they seemed to warm - it's been hovering in the 40's to 50's.

The off-site hives are bundled up (wrapped with black tar paper with a couple of straw bales on the wind side). The hives in the Beehouse are enjoying the fact that i can move that front flap up and down for them! There have been some 50 degree days that they've been out in force - getting water from the bird bath, airing themselves out as well as carrying on with hive duties.

Everything of vegitation is brown and dry - no substantial pollen or nectar left for them. There's a small cluster of mustard greens and arugula that has managed to stay green through the frosts...and has some flowers yet - and they've found them! (note to self: leave a bigger patch of greens "go" for next year).

...back to the bee books and pictures of bees....thinking of warm summer days.

From the South Lawn

From the New York Times, "From the South Lawn - a Sweet Smell of Honey"

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/11/04/us/politics/20091104_BEES_SS1/index.html

For the first time in history, honey has been made on White House grounds. It's a bumper crop.

Wisconsin Honey Producers Convention

Wisconsin Honey Producers Convention
Nov. 5 – 8, 09 Best Western Trail Lodge Hotel & Suites
3340 Mondovi Rd, Eau Claire, WI 54701
715-838-9989

Thursday, November 5, 2009
3:00 p.m. Board Meeting
6:00 p.m. Board Dinner
7:00 – 9:00 p.m. Introduction to Beekeeping – Doug Jensen, Dave Wolske, Tom Prescott
9:00 – 10:00 p.m. Question and Answer with Doug Jensen, Dave Wolske, Tom Prescott
8:00 p.m. Budget Committee Meeting

Friday, November 6, 2009
8:00 a.m. Registration
8:30 a.m. Exhibits Open
8:45 a.m. Sessions Open – Call to Order – President Tim Fulton
8:50 a.m. Welcome – Eau Claire Chamber of Commerce
8:55 a.m. Introduction of the Wisconsin Honey Queen and 2010 Queen Candidates
9:00 a.m. Dr. Sue Cobey - UC/Davis
The Benefits of Being Promiscuous
Mating behavior, genetic diversity, changes in the US honey bee gene pool.
10:00 a.m. Break
10:20 a.m. ABF Update – Lee Heine
10:30 a.m. State Fair Update
10:50 a.m. Randy Oliver
12:00 p.m. Luncheon (ticket required)
1:00 p.m. John Buhrow – Leinenkugel’s Brewery
Leinenkugel portfolio of Honey Weiss Biers
2:00 p.m. Liz Meils – DATCP Wisconsin State Apiarist
2:15 p.m. Richard Ericksrud – WC Freight – Transporting Bees
2:45 p.m. National Honey Board Update – Lee Heine
3:00 p.m. Break
3:30 p.m. Business Meeting
5:30 p.m. Dinner on your own
6:30 p.m. Queen Candidate Presentations
6:35 p.m. Wisconsin Honey Queen Marketing Presentation
6:45 p.m. Special Entertainment – Howard Luedtke
8:00 p.m. Wisconsin Honey Queen Fund Auction
Auctioneer – Jerry Andrews (Andrews Auction)

Saturday, November 7, 2009
8:00 a.m. Registration
8:30 a.m. Exhibits Open
9:00 a.m. Sessions Open – Announcements
9:05 a.m. Randy Oliver
10:00 a.m. Break
10:20 a.m. American Honey Princess – Allison Hull
10:30 a.m. Honey Queen Year in Review – 2009 Wisconsin Honey Queen Amy Roden
10:45 a.m. Dr. Sue Cobey UC/Davis
Stock Importation & Developing a Protocol for the International Exchange
of Honey Bee Germplasm.
Status of bee semen importations, methods of transport for semen & eggs,
performance of instrument inseminated queens.
12:00 p.m. Lunch on your own
1:00 – 3:00 p.m. Kids N Bees Expo
1:00 – 4:00 p.m. Rhona Amundson – skep making demonstration
1:00 p.m. Dr. Marla Spivak – University of Minnesota
University Minnesota Update: Propolis, Nosema, and the Hygienic Line
2:15 p.m. Sue Bee Honey Update – Doug Mammen
2:30 p.m. Break
3:00 p.m. Dr. Jennifer Eddy – Eau Claire Family Practice – Medical treatment with Honey
6:00 p.m. Cocktail Hour
7:00 p.m. Banquet (ticket required)
9:00 p.m. Dance & Social – Entertainment by Brandon Larson (Premier Sound & Video)

Sunday, November 8, 2009
8:00 a.m. Executive Committee Meeting