What's The Buzz

Nelson County December 2019

Nelson County Beekeepers

What’s The Buzz

Volume 5, Issue 11

Meeting

December 19th @ 6:30 pm Guest Speaker – Our own member – Harley Blankenship. Presentation will be "The law of bees and honey, from ownership to marketing their product."

Harley is an attorney and has experience with both the law and beekeeping.

Officers President-Steve Hutchins Vice President-Darrell Hester Secretary-Bennie Hite

POT LUCK SUPPER – CHRISTMAS DINNER

Treasurer & Editor-Susan Zhunga Hospitality-Monthly Volunteers Newsletter Publisher– Georganne Collins

Inside this issue: Financials & Minutes

2

Extractor

3

We will be cooking spiral hams for our Christmas Feast. Bring what you can to share. Side dishes and desserts. Set up and clean up is done by volunteers.

Please help with this service. We all love the pot luck..

Items Available for Sale 4

Beekeepers Calendars

4-6

Robbie Smith County Extension Agent for Horticulture

Page 2 Financials & Minutes FINANCIAL STATEMENT 11/30/2019 Opening balance

1/1/2019

$2,125.37

Gross Income

$1,182.00 Due/Extractor/ road cleanup

Net Expense

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

Bank Balance

$2,048.15

Nelson County Beekeepers October 17th, 2019 Meeting Steering Committee Meeting Attending: Benny Hite, Ricky Humphr ey, Steve Hutchins, Erie Sharp, Henry Wilkerson, Susan Zhunga Discussed: Nomination for officer s need to be offer ed fr om other members. Need to thank Bill Newcomb for donating $75 dollars to the bee club for picking up trash on old Bloomfield Road. Talked about another bee school for beginners this spring.

Bee Meeting: After another fine tur key dinner featur ing Robbie Smith’s birds, Steve Hutchins shared a few hints on keeping your bees safe this winter. Again Nominations for offices are open and some officers would appreciate other members taking some of these positions. There were 36 people in attendance.

Benny Joe Hite Secretary

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 3 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.

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.

Page 4 From the AMERICAN BEE FEDERATION Basic beekeeping simplified is having: 

New, viable queens



Feed (natural or artificial)

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Good, sound equipment

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Disease-free hives (good medication program or integrated pest management)

When processing honey from a beehive, a good rule of thumb is for every 60 pounds of honey produced, one pound of beeswax will be made (1 to 60 ratio).

In order to manipulate population dynamics, the timing of hive management is critical, such as the splitting of hives just prior to swarming season. Also, feeding syrup and pollen supplement at least 21 days prior to a pollination inspection or honey flow induces the queen to lay eggs.

BEEKEEPING INSURANCE SERVICES Beekeeping Insurance Services are specialists in working with beekeepers to provide them with the best possible options for their insurance needs. As licensed Crop Insurance Agents, their experts can work with you to best understand and take advantage of the benefits offered by the USDA's Apiculture Insurance Program. Beekeepers from around the country who have colonies located in any one of the eligible states may enroll their colonies and take advantage of the benefits this program offers.

Page 5 (Continued from page 4)

General Liability 

Property

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Harvested Honey

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Bee Boxes

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Auto

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Equipment/Inland Marine

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Workers Comp

Beekeepers Calendars BEEKEEPERS CALENDAR WINTER SURVIVAL – By Kevin Hale Winter Survival depends on your Fall preparation Take your losses in the Fall not, in the Winter.

If you don't have good bees in the Fall, you will not have good bees for the Spring honey flow.

Must have young and health bees, and LOTS of them.

Keep Queen laying into the Fall and Winter.

Bees you see in October and November are Winter bees.

January through March are the survival months.

February through April are the Spring buildup months.

May through July are the honey production months.

(Continued on page 6)

Page 6 Normally we feed 2:1 don't trickle feed, determine how much that hive needs and feed it in one or two feedings.

Continue to feed sugar/protein patties through December. If a double hive in not strong, cut it down to a single box. Easier for a small hive to survive in a small space.

Reduce or block entrance from wind. Don't forget mouse guards.

Check hives every two weeks to make sure they have plenty of food. Don't open for inspection. Keep hives open only minimal time to add food. Wrap hives if necessary it can help smaller hives.

Winter feed should never be considered emergency feed.

In January, February and March I used sugar blocks and sugar/ protein blocks on top of frames in 3� spacer. Be careful placing to early or bees will move up to them. Winter patties, or candy boards also good option. I am a firm believer of providing protein all winter. Kevins' sugar/protein blocks contain 15% protein, most purchased winter patties contain only 4% protein.

Prop outer covers open with stick (I (Kevin) do this year round).

Good for ventilation to prevent moisture.

Beetles: Smash them !! Not much you can do right now, they are not bad and will cluster with the bees.

Page 7 THANK YOU - THANK YOU- THANK YOU Thank You Chef Robbie for preparing two superb turkeys. We are grateful for all you do for us. Also thank you to all the members who continue to add to the success of our pot luck suppers.

We are also grateful to Pat Swartz and her clean up crew for both serving and clean out suppers. Pat is grateful for all the help she can get. It's an awesome undertaking. Thanks again and keep up the good work.

President Steve Hutchins 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.

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

Bardstown KY 40004

317 S Third St

Nelson County