Article Link

A nice article in the Wisconsin Natural Resources Magazine, "What's the buzz about Bees?"

out with the old and IN WITH THE NEW

...a VERY interesting article in December's BEE CULTURE magazine regarding possible drug interaction going on inside the hive - between APISTAN and CHECKMITE. Not that we'd put BOTH inside the hive at once....but over the years - maybe we've made a "switch" in treatments in our apiary? WAX IS ABSORBANT - it's absorbing all those "additives" we put in the hives PLUS the stuff they bring in from the field. (The study also showed that even cleaned and re-processed wax used in making foundation still showed traces of these chemicals in it.)

In reading the article it made me VERY AWARE how important it is to implement some type of SYSTEM for cycling out "old foundation" on a REGULAR basis.

The president of our club, Jeff Champeau, uses a simple SHARPIE MARKER to mark the YEAR THE FRAME WAS INSTALLED into the hive. Anything showing a date 5 years prior gets pulled out and replaced. It's about 2 frames per deep - place the new "blank" foundation in positions 2 and 9 for drawing out. 2 frames per box means he's cycling out 20% of the frames on an annual basis.

As my hives are approaching year 3 and 4, I need to think about implementing this - THIS spring, but I think I'm going to go for a 3 year cycle...we're doing your best as a beekeepers from allowing things to build up to toxic levels in there. Healthy bees!

beekeepers survey

18 & older - take the survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/9NSWHZ5

the survey will be available until Feb. 14.

ECWBA Newsletter - Jan 29, 2010

1. Meetings. Here is the list of meeting dates for the start of 2010:

* February meeting: February 20, 2010, 9:30 am at Ripon Public Library.
* March meeting: March 20, 2010, time and place is yet to be determined.

2. Meeting Topics. Here are the discussion topics to be covered at the meetings:

* February meeting: Mite and disease control and prevention.
* March meeting: Splitting spring colonies and making nucleus colonies.
* May meeting: Another field day ??? Anybody interested in sponsoring this ???

4. Membership dues reminder. ECWBA membership dues for 2010 will remain at $15.00. Dues need to be paid by end of March, 2010, in order to continue receiving a newsletter and association communications.

5. Spring Bee Orders: Listed below are some suppliers of package bees and nucs (nucleus colonies). The ECWBA does not specifically endorse any one of these sources. These sources are known for quality bees.

* Lee Heine, Watertown, WI, 920-261-5363. He has 2# & 3# packages available in April.
* Lapp’s Bee Supply, Reeseville, WI, 800-321-1960. Lapp’s has 2# & 3# packages available in April.
* John & Sheri Kohn of Honey Glow Farm, Owen, WI, 715-229-4766. Kohn’s have 2# and 3# packages available in April. They also have nucs available in late April and early May.
* Chris Hansen of Hansen Honey Farm, Rhinelander, WI, 715-369-0383. Three pound packages due in Rhinelander on or around April 23.
* Chris & Becky Werner of Indian Summer Honey Farm, Germantown, WI, 262-242-6569. Werner’s handle nucs, but not packages.

A LINK FOR ORDER FORMS has been posted in the blog preceding this one - for some of the above bee vendors. You may download any of the forms from the blog for more information about each vendor.

6. Group Package Bee Order and Pick-up. Ed Curran from the Brandon area plans to order package bees from Lee Heine for a late April pick-up. He has volunteered to coordinate a group purchase for package bees. If you are interested in participating and would like more information, feel free to give Ed a call at one of the following numbers: Home—920-346-5295, or cell—920-948-5395.

Beekeeping Notes:

* Plan for 2010 – do you want to expand your beekeeping operation or just improve upon what you already have?
* Secure an order of package bees or nucs for spring delivery. It’s best to order early to assure that you’ll be able to get bees.
* Now is a good time to plan and purchase equipment for 2010. This gives you plenty of time to assemble and paint any new hive components.
* Register for and plan to attend a beekeeping class sometime this spring.

Best of beekeeping,
Jeff Champeau
President, ECWBA
Telephone: 715-330-9969

P.S. You may send membership dues to the association’s treasurer or president at one of the following address: George Weigel, 268 S. Peters Ave., Fond du Lac, WI 54935 or Jeff Champeau, 145 N. Wisconsin St., Berlin, WI 54923

Bee Order Forms

here's a link that will open/download a PDF of BEE order forms for this years PACKAGES/NUCS:
ORDER FORMS 2010