2016 05 Buzz News

May 2016

Nelson County Beekeepers nelsconcountybeekeepers@gmail.com

What’s The Buzz

Volume 2, Issue 5

Meeting

May 19th @ 6:30 p. m.

COOKOUT-

Robbie will cook hot dogs &

hamburgers and members will supply the sides.

Please bring enough for a large group as the club is growing.

PROGRAM –

SWAP MEET – Time to sell or trade

some of your new or gently used equipment. Clean Officers it up, bring it in, and don't forget to put your name President-Doug Brink and price on it. Don't forget to bring lots of money to Vice President-David Donathan buy some of these great finds. Please bring Secretary-Pat Swartz Beekeeping related items ONLY.

Treasurer-Susan Zhunga Hospitality-Debbie Ritchie

Subject – Round table discussion. Swarm season is here and in full swing. How are things going in your bee yard

UP COMING EVENTS

Robbie Smith County Extension Agent for Horticulture

What are your club’s plans for National Pollinator Week, June 20-26?

Inside this issue: Genome-wide DNA Analysis

2

Meeting Minutes

3

HERE ARE SOME WELL DESERVED THANK YOU’s TO SOME OF OUR MEMBERS

4

Doing big battle with the small hive beetle

7

All kinds of quick, easy activities can be organized at your public library, farmers’ markets, grocers, and other locations. For example, each of the past two years, Dr. Tammy Horn Potter has coordinated a honey tasting at Whole Foods in Lexington, along with Lucky Frost. Let us know what you’re doing, and send us photos after! Info from BEELINES State Apiarist Dr. Tammy Horn Potter.

Upcoming event that folks should attend: “Heartland Apicultural Society returns to the Bluegrass State”.

July 14 – 16, meeting will come to Bowling Green, Kentucky. Details will be given as we receive them or just go to http://www.heartlandbees.org.

Page 2 Genome-wide DNA Analysis Of Honey Bees To Fight Bee Losses Eurofins Genomics, the genomics division of the Eurofins Scientific Group and international market leader in genomic services, is the industrial partner of the Institute for Bee Research in Hohen Neuendorf, just north of Berlin.

The experts develop a novel breeding method for honey bees.

The goal is to select bees with increased resistance against deadly natural parasites, namely virus infections in combination with a mite (Varroa destructor), which threatens to extinguish honeybees worldwide. The Eurofins Genomics laboratories will initially employ the latest sequencing technology (next generation sequencing) to find small natural changes (SNPs) in the DNA of bees. Based on this, so called SNP chips will be developed to characterise gene variations in bees with known parasite resistance, productivity and gentleness. The identified

genetic basis of these positive physical and behavioural traits will, in the future, enable beekeepers to genetically identify the wanted bees, eliminating the need for time consuming selection over many bee-generations.

In addition to the investment of Eurofins Genomics, the project is supported through the program “Research for Innovation in Agriculture” of the Ministry for Food and Agriculture with funds of the “Landwirtschaftliche Rentenbank”.

Through this innovative technology, we will gain detailed insight in the genetic variability of honey bees, an essential basis to guarantee breeding success in the long run”, says the scientific coordinator of the project, Kaspar Bienefeld, professor at the Institute for Bee Research.

His research group is dedicated to promote breeding of bees with modern technology, aiming to preserve

the precious role of bees for agriculture and plant diversity.

“We at Eurofins Genomics are excited to contribute to the preservation of healthy bee populations and functional ecosystems. We are very happy to help with our long-standing experience in genome wide DNA analysis and latest technologies to overcome challenges in such an important project”, says Dr. Peter Persigehl, General Manager of Eurofins Genomics Europe. http:// www.eurofinsgenomics.e u/en/eurofins-genomics/ corporate-information/ press-releases/bees.aspx.

DON’T FORGET TO JOIN US ON FACE BOOK!!

Page 3 April 2016 REGULAR MEETING MINUTES There were five new members in attendance this evening: Mike Vittow Rich Greenwell Billy Brown Clint and Regina Varney Josh and Crystal Allen Rick Humphrey gave a report on the 3 acre pollinator planting that is to be off the BG and RT 31. He was able to get everything donated and it now at the approval stage.

The club voted to sponsor 2 students to attend the 4H camp this summer. The cost will be a little over $400.

The Early Childhood Education center has asked for us to come and speak about bees to the students sometime in May. Pat Swartz has committed to doing this.

Trash pick-up will be on Friday evening with rain date being Saturday morning.

Next month’s meeting will be May 19 and will be a “swap meet”. Everyone is to being clean, usable equipment that they no longer want or need to swap or sell.

Menu will be a cookout and all are to bring sides to go with a cookout.

Clay Guthrie from Dadant was our speaker. He gave an excellent program entitled “What I wish I knew when I was a new beekeeper”. He also gave very generous door prizes.

Pat Swartz Secretary Financial Statement As Of 4/30/16 Start $2799.21 Expense 625.00 – K. Hale $200 4H Sponsorship $400 Xmas $25 Income 574.00 - Dues – T's & Hats – Road Clean-up Balance $2748.21

Page 4 HERE ARE SOME WELL DESERVED THANK YOU’s TO SOME OF OUR MEMBERS JOB WELL DONE !!!!!!!

Pat, Spring and baby Lucy went to Bardstown Head Start to talk to 3 to 5 year old children about bees.

We spoke to 6 classes of children. We took pictures, a hive body, bee equipment, a couple of frames of wax and some natural wax for them to see and handle.

They were attentive and asked some cute questions. One little guy said that he helped his and a big thank you to: Katie Martin, Mike and Pam Johnson, Leon and Janet Brown, Doug Brink and David Delaney, Pat Swartz, and Steve Hutchins. This helps put more money in our account for future projects.

uncle with his bees and got stung on the "tenderloin" as he was pointing to the back of the ear. Sooo cute. It was a worthwhile trip as they really were interested.

Future Note: Found out that if we speak to vulnerable populations

(such as children or the elderly), representing the club or the extension office, we must get a back-ground check which the extension office pays for and has the form that you must fill out.

Road Clean-Up It went great with the help

We did it in little over an hour and the weather was perfect. Again, thank you all!

To Ricky Humphrey With the guidence of Robbie Smith, and the tenacity of Ricky Humphrey, we have finally secured a location for our “Pollination Station”.

Ricky worked with Sen. Higdon and the Road Department to gain access

Page 5 to 3 acres of the South side of exit 21 off the BG and across  from Speedway on the  Bardstown/New Haven exit.

Ricky was also able to secure donations from Bardstown Mills for some of the seeds  and Blue Grass Feed for the weed kill. We will be planting Sunflowers this season. It should be a great show of color. Excellent job Ricky, and thank you Robbie. Job well done.



Spring Buildup May 1st honey flow begins  



 

Locust and tulip popular blooming Your foraging bees must be built up before the flow starts Number one reason for weak honey crop is the bees build up on the flow



Reverse



Need nightly temperatures averaging around 50 degrees Reverse more than once in necessary

Re-arrange frames, create queen laying space, keep her laying

bees process it to

and in bottom box



Remove honey if necessary to provide laying space (honey bound hive)

18.5% to create honey. You must have extra storage space for



the nectar storage until bees can process it.



I only use excluders if necessary and only my modified version



A super of honey is the best excluder

Prevent Swarming

 

Congestion Issues

 

Remove brood

Reverse hive boxes or re-arrange frames Add supers of comb

Queen Issues



Weak queen pheromone (queen perfume)



Keep young queens (re-queen yearly)



Remove old queen and re-queen

Find swarm cells break hive down into nucs ASAP



Hive manipulation:







in the center



Install ventilation spacers Info from www.haleshoneyfarm.com

Blooming Bardstown Garden Tour

Honey Flow Management

Have 3 boxes of pulled comb on every honey hive by April 15th tax



day (sooner if you have early spring like 2016)



Helps to prevent swarming



Ready when the flow starts



Locust and tulip popular blooming soon



Nectar starts out at about 80% water and

June 11, 2016



The Garden Tour 9:00—4:00 $10 day of show, $8, in advance, call for group rate



The Market Place 8:00—2:00



The Silent Auction— 8:00—2:00

Page 6 Doing big battle with the small hive beetle In Kentucky, the small hive beetle female prefers to start laying her eggs the last week of this month, when the temperatures really start to spike in the 90s. Ideally, you will have already started spreading salt (table salt is fine) around and under your hives. You should also put your beetle traps next to the brood cluster. The small hive beetles prefer the warmth of the brood area in the springtime. Also, if your hives are in the shade for half the day, you should consider moving them to a sunnier location. If your hives have died from small hive beetle, vacate that area or at least score the surface area and expose any small hive beetle larvae and pupae to the sunlight.

According to Jennifer Berry (University of Georgia), the small hive beetle’s cuticle cannot handle the UV light.

They die from exposure. It wouldn't hurt to move the hive a few feet from its original location. Some beekeepers want to know if they can take honey frames that may have been “slimed” a little from the small hive beetle defecation.

As the small hive beetles consume pollen, honey and brood, they defecate. This,

in turn, causes the honey to ferment, creating carbon dioxide bubbles, which then ooze out of the cells. Some beekeepers will suggest that if you take some of those honey frames and put them into strong colonies, the strong colonies can clean them up. However, if you are going to consider selling that honey, I would advise you not to consider placing those frames back into colonies. Not only are you putting slime into a healthy bee colony, but you could be adding small hive beetle eggs tucked into the crevices. The adult small hive beetle female prefers to lay a second round of eggs in late summer ( July and August). Again, she really likes to lay when the temperatures are hot. So consider that in your integrated pest management calendars, and prepare your soil. If small hive beetle gets the upper hand in your colony, coumaphos (product name: Checkmite) will still work (Varroa mites are resistant to it), but use gloves, a respirator, and protective eyewear. Info from BEELINES State Apiarist Dr. Tammy Horn Potter.

2016 Officers Kentucky State Beekeepers Association



Ray Tucker Jr., President Home Association: Lake Cumberland



John Benham, Past President Home Association: Allen County



Rick Sutton, President Elect Home Association: KSBA



Jake Osborne, Vice President Home Association: Grayson County



Helen Fenske, Secretary Home Association: Nelson County



Jim Hazelrigg, Treasurer Home Association: Pennyrile



Kent Williams, Historian Home Association: Lake Barkley



Tana Peers, SergeantAt-Arms Home Association: Kentuckiana

Still needed: 2016 Kentucky State Fair Honey Booth manager Preparations are already underway for the Honey

Page 7 Booth at this year’s Kentucky State Fair, August 18-28.

Please send letter or email of interest to Ray Tucker, or contact him at home (606) 679-5257 or cell (859) 2211994, if you are interested in managing the honey booth for this year.

MAY

MAY AND THE BEES: Bees are in full operation now that it is May. You can stop feeding strong hives now because they are bringing in lots of nectar and pollen. The hive is expanding rapidly. The Pro-Tip: A second label or tag brood chambers are filling on your honey bearing a brief up fast and becoming note assuring the purchaser crowded and congested. that your honey is from Kentucky bees/hives helps MAY AND THE BEEKEEPER: assure the purchaser that RED ALERT!! BEES SWARM they are buying local IN MAY Kentucky honey. You also You will have to implement need to have the required a swarm control strategy. label containing weight in Keep in mind that bees ounces and grams, the swarm as a way of physical address of where multiplying. It is not a sign the honey was processed. of being a poor beekeeper. and by whom. This However, there are some information will also help important steps to your sales. Honey is implement to try to prevent accepted for sale starting swarming. Review the link the Sunday before the Fair above. Keep in mind that begins (Aug.14) after noon you must provide room for EDT, and daily thereafter your hive to expand. And, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. EDT. you should put on honey Beekeepers who bring their supers in May. Put on as honey in before the Fair many as you'd like. I think it starts will have a better is good practice to have a chance of selling all they minimum of two honey bring, and they will get a supers on all hives during good display position on the the nectar season. Three or sales table. Info from four supers are even BEELINES State Apiarist Dr. better. Don't wait to add Tammy Horn Potter.

your supers or you may miss particular nectar flows. Get all supers on by May 1st!

Consider having an extra, empty hive on hand so you'll be able to capture a swarm. You will want to capture your own swarms or you will probably receive phone calls once your neighbors learn you are a beekeeper. We receive several calls each week all Spring and Summer.

Doug Brink has NCB TShirts ($11) and Hooded Sweatshirts ($23) for sale.

Janet Brown is selling NCB Hats and Visors for $10.00.

The club gets $2.00 from each sale.

Larry Marks is selling the Marks' Frames for $12.00 for a set of three frames.

Comes with instructions.

Hive Beetle Vacuums made to order, see Gene Englert for pricing.

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

Nelson County 317 S Third Street Bardstown, KY 40004

University of Kentucky

Cooperative Extension Service