What's The Buzz

Nelson County October 2019

Nelson County Beekeepers

What’s The Buzz

Volume 5, Issue 8

Meeting

October 17th @ 6:30 pm

Officers President-Steve Hutchins Vice President-Darrell Hester Secretary-Bennie Hite Treasurer & Editor-Susan Zhunga Hospitality-Monthly Volunteers Newsletter Publisher– Georganne Collins

Inside this issue: Financials & Minutes

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Extractor

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Dr. Thomas Webster will be our guest speaker for this meeting.

He is an Associate Professor College of Agriculture, Communities, and the Environment Cooperative Extension at Kentucky State University Specializing in honey bee diseases, and beekeeping.

Dr. Webster will be available for a question an answer period after his talk.

Items Available for Sale 3

Beekeepers Calendars

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Robbie Smith County Extension Agent for Horticulture

Page 2 Financials & Minutes FINANCIAL STATEMENT 9/30/2019 Opening balance

1/1/2019

$2,125.37

Gross Income

$763.00 Due/Extractor

Net Expense

$-1,259.22 A&C Fair/Food/ Door Prizes

Bank Balance

$1,629.15

Nelson County Beekeepers September 19th, 2019 Meeting Steering Committee Meeting Attending: Gene Englert, Darrel Hester, Steve Hutchins, Pat Swartz, Henry Wilkerson, and Susan Zhunga.

Discussed: Discussed the Ar ts & Cr afts Festival.

Ricky will head up the road clean up program for this fall.

Bee Meeting: Open forum, round table discussion.

Problems we are having with our hives. We also held a swap meet. Around 43 people attended.

Susan Zhunga Treasurer

Page 3 Attention Attention There are 2 extractors complete with all that you need to extract honey. It comes with a refractometer to test you honey. $10.00 for usage, with a 4 day maximum.

All members are encouraged to join us on Facebook. Ask questions, show your progress, and share your pictures.

“Nelson County Beekeepers”.

We would love to hear from you.

ITEMS AVAILABLE FOR SALE Test kits for American Foul Brood (AFB) and European Foul Brood (EFB) are available for purchase from Extension Office for $14.00 each. Please call me (Susan 507-8789) for availability.

Mike Johnson – Will make wooden ware to order.

Boxes, frames and wax dipping. Contact Mike for information and pricing @ 502-249-2007.

The Club - has NCB T - Shirts Prices are: $8.00 for children $10.00 for Adults and

$12.00 for Adults 2x & 3x.

Page 4 Volunteer Opportunities

ROAD CLEAN UP Ricky Humphrey is heading up our road clean up fund raiser. The club gets $200 for a 2 mile section of road. It helps pay for speakers and food suppliment for the “Pot Luck” at each meeting.

Ricky will be looking for volunteers for the last Saturday in October, which will be the 26th.

Please contact Ricky at the October meeting to sign up for the cleanup. Bags and vests are provided by the County. Please help us with this project. The more volunteers, the faster we get done. With at least 6 people, it usually takes about 1 ½ hours.

Hope to see you there.

Beekeepers Calendars for the Upcoming Season Read them all and take the information to your bee yard. We need to prepare for the fall and the winter. Also information on when to treat for Varro Mites.

BEEKEEPERS CALENDAR Dr. Thomas Webster

October What’s Happening Inside the Hive? Brood rearing declines dramatically to a small cluster of cells. Drones remaining in the hive are ejected by the workers. The bees begin to winterize their hive

Page 5 by collecting propolis, a sticky substance made from plant resins. The hive is now harder to open, and many frames are glued into position with propolis.

Beekeeper Chores - Queen excluders should be removed by October, since they no longer serve any purpose. Late October or early November is the time to remove the mite treatments. The bees may take a little syrup in early October, but it is usually too late to feed the bees if they have not stored enough honey to make it through the winter. Take a last look at the bees and make a note as to the size of the cluster and the amount of stored honey. This information will be useful in spring, when you may wonder about problems the bees had in making it through the winter. Some animals — mainly skunks — are looking for food in preparation for winter. Prevent skunks from scratching at the front of the hive by stapling a barrier of chicken wire or hardware cloth around the front of the hive. In eastern Kentucky, bears are becoming prevalent. Like skunks, they will eat the bees to fatten up for winter, but in a much more destructive manner. One bear can demolish the hives and consume most of the brood comb. If bears have been a problem in your area, prevent them from attacking your hives with an electric fence. If bears are persistent, either the bees or the bears must be moved. Contact your local office of the Department of Fish and Wildlife about bear problems.

(Continued on page 6)

Page 6 Observations and Ideas - You may note that some hives have propolized more than others. This is largely a genetic trait. If you feel this is an annoyance, try queens from a different queen producer. After the first hard frost, watch the eviction of drones. It’s often a real struggle between the workers and the drones.

BEEKEEPERS CALENDAR Back Yard Beekeepers Association September The Bees. The drones may begin to disappear this month. The hive population is dropping. The queen’s her egg laying is dramatically reduced.

The Beekeeper. Har vest your honey crop.

Remember to leave the colony with at least 60 pounds of honey for winter. Check for the queen’s presence. Feed and medicate towards the end of the month (the first 2 gallons is medicated). Apply mite treatment. Continue feeding until the bees will take no more syrup. Attend bee club meetings.

Time Spent. Estimate 2-3 hours.

October The Bees. Not much activity from the bees. They are hunkering’ down for the winter.

Page 7 The Beekeeper. Watch out for robbing.

Configure the hive for winter, with attention to ventilation and moisture control. Install mouse guard at entrance of hive. Setup a wind break if necessary. Finish winter feeding. Attend bee club meetings.

Time Spent. Estimate 2 hours.

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RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

Bardstown KY 40004

317 S Third St

Nelson County