April 2007 Meeting April 17th
NOTE OUR NEXT MEETING IS April 17th . This is the THIRD Tuesday NOT the Fourth Tuesday!!!
Well SPRING HAS SPRUNG. I saw a field of Vetch beginning to bloom today. The alfalfa is getting tall but I haven't seen any of it blooming yet. Hopefully the rain will keep coming every few days. The honey bees have been bringing in pollen and some nectar. I have already stopped feeding in some places were the bees seem to have plenty to forage.
Some of the hives I have checked lately have a considerable amount of honey left on them from the winter. If you are feeding syrup be sure and check on your hives, watch for them becoming HONEY BOUND. (This is were the bees fill the cells with honey and the Queen doesn't have any empty cells to lay eggs in). You may need to remove some frames of honey and replace them with empty frames. Or add another box of frames with empty cells in them.
No room for the queen to lay will cause Swarming!!! I haven't received any swarm calls yet but I'm sure it won't be long.
I have already seen some drone brood with varroa mites on them, keep an eye out for these pest. If they are present, treat. With the new discovery that Varroa Mites can spread several types of viruses, which can be fatal to the honey bee, it has become very important that we keep these pest under control as much as possible. At the next meeting we will be giving more information on Raising Queens. At our May Meeting we will be grafting Queens. In the April Meeting we will also be covering what you should be doing in May.
If you are an old beekeeper, a new beekeeper, or a young beekeeper come and learn about "Producing Honey in Oklahoma". Even if you are just interested in honey bees come join us.
There are a lot of new things now to do with beekeeping, new Varroa Mites treatments, new antibiotics, screen bottom boards, new equipment that makes beekeeping easier, etc. Everyone is invited to attend and bring a door prize or snack if you wish, but it is not required. Come join the fun! Our meetings are from 7 pm - 9 pm and we meet at the Oklahoma County Extension office at NW 10th and Portland in Oklahoma City, the North Auditorium. Remember we will need some help with the refreshments this month, our usual person who handles this will not be able to attend. So if you can, bring a yummy treat, but it is not required. BEE THERE!
The reason Carol my wife wasn't at our last meeting is because she was in Washington D.C. on business. While she was there she discovered that there was going to be a Congressional hearing on CCD (Colony Collapse DISORDER). YES, She got to attend. There were several beekeepers who testified about losing their bees. Also several scientist from various universities and entomologist from the USDA who were wanting to do research on what is causing the disorder.
Oh by the way she will be in Florida during our next meeting so be sure and bring goodies for refreshments. THANK YOU, to those who brought the goodies to the last meeting. There was plenty.
Hopefully, Your Queens are ordered and your colonies are built up and you're ready to make your splits. ReQueen those DINKS.
SEE YA AT OUR MEETIN !
Well SPRING HAS SPRUNG. I saw a field of Vetch beginning to bloom today. The alfalfa is getting tall but I haven't seen any of it blooming yet. Hopefully the rain will keep coming every few days. The honey bees have been bringing in pollen and some nectar. I have already stopped feeding in some places were the bees seem to have plenty to forage.
Some of the hives I have checked lately have a considerable amount of honey left on them from the winter. If you are feeding syrup be sure and check on your hives, watch for them becoming HONEY BOUND. (This is were the bees fill the cells with honey and the Queen doesn't have any empty cells to lay eggs in). You may need to remove some frames of honey and replace them with empty frames. Or add another box of frames with empty cells in them.
No room for the queen to lay will cause Swarming!!! I haven't received any swarm calls yet but I'm sure it won't be long.
I have already seen some drone brood with varroa mites on them, keep an eye out for these pest. If they are present, treat. With the new discovery that Varroa Mites can spread several types of viruses, which can be fatal to the honey bee, it has become very important that we keep these pest under control as much as possible. At the next meeting we will be giving more information on Raising Queens. At our May Meeting we will be grafting Queens. In the April Meeting we will also be covering what you should be doing in May.
If you are an old beekeeper, a new beekeeper, or a young beekeeper come and learn about "Producing Honey in Oklahoma". Even if you are just interested in honey bees come join us.
There are a lot of new things now to do with beekeeping, new Varroa Mites treatments, new antibiotics, screen bottom boards, new equipment that makes beekeeping easier, etc. Everyone is invited to attend and bring a door prize or snack if you wish, but it is not required. Come join the fun! Our meetings are from 7 pm - 9 pm and we meet at the Oklahoma County Extension office at NW 10th and Portland in Oklahoma City, the North Auditorium. Remember we will need some help with the refreshments this month, our usual person who handles this will not be able to attend. So if you can, bring a yummy treat, but it is not required. BEE THERE!
The reason Carol my wife wasn't at our last meeting is because she was in Washington D.C. on business. While she was there she discovered that there was going to be a Congressional hearing on CCD (Colony Collapse DISORDER). YES, She got to attend. There were several beekeepers who testified about losing their bees. Also several scientist from various universities and entomologist from the USDA who were wanting to do research on what is causing the disorder.
Oh by the way she will be in Florida during our next meeting so be sure and bring goodies for refreshments. THANK YOU, to those who brought the goodies to the last meeting. There was plenty.
Hopefully, Your Queens are ordered and your colonies are built up and you're ready to make your splits. ReQueen those DINKS.
SEE YA AT OUR MEETIN !
posted by Tom Thornton at 9:43 PM
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