Friday, October 2, 2015

MIDWEST QUEEN SUPPLIERS

The queen is the major determinant of the honey bee colony performance.  Her genetics influence how the colony does in honey gathering, hive population, mite resistance, etc.  Some beekeepers feel bees acclimatized to regional or local conditions also influence the winter survival of the colony.  

To that end I have put together a list of queen suppliers from Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota and Michigan.  This list probably does not list all “local” suppliers, but gives you a start.  I have not purchased queens from all of those listed, so cannot speak to the quality of the queens or level of service.   ECWBA does not endorse any supplier or product. 

Also, please note that queen bee suppliers in the Midwest region can not start raising queens until mid to late April, so mated queens may not be available until late May or early June.  This listing will be put into the RESOURCES section of the blog for your future reference.
   
WISCONSIN

Jon Polcyn-Lone Oak Apiary of Montello, Wi.
TYPE: Open mated VSH Italian and VSH Carniolan
AVAILABILITY: June thru August
Telephone: 920-229-3046

Sweet Mountain Farm on Washington Island
TYPE: Local Russian Nucleus Colonies and Queens
AVAILABILITY: see website for availability
Website: www.sweetmountainfarm.com
Telephone: 920-847-2337 (emails preferred)

Fred Ransome-Flying Squirrel Apiary of Princeton, Wi.
TYPE: Open mated USDA Russian
AVAILABILITY: June thru August
TELEPHONE: 920-229-2204

IOWA

Golden Ridge Honey Farm
TYPE: USDA Russian
AVAILABILTY: TBD
TELEPHONE: 563-547-4222

Foley’s
TYPE: USDA RUSSIAN
AVAILABILITY: June thru August
TELEPHONE: 515-991-4666

MINNESOTA

BBHONEY of Houston, Minnesota
TYPE: Minnesota Hygenic and Hygenic Italian
AVAILABILITY: TBD
EMAIL:  www.bbhoneyfarms.com
TELEPHONE: 507-896-3955

NATURE’s NECTAR LLC  of Stillwater, Minnesota
TYPE: Carniolan, Italian and Minnesota Hygenic
AVAILABILTY: TBD
TELEPHONE: TBD

MICHIGAN

Rhodes Bee Farm
TYPE: Carniolan, Italian Minnesota Hygenic, Buckfast Cross, Grey Mountain (caucasian) cross
AVAILABILTY: TBD

TELEPHONE: 231-245-3039

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