Contributed by Dewey Caron How much surplus honey have your bees stored this year? Our active storage season is over or about over by this time. I hope you are thinking about exhibiting your honey in the State Fair Honey Show (deadline online August 7th). At the very least plan […]
OREGON State Fair – Honey & Products of the Hive Show The 2014 OR State Fair Honey competition is now a separate division. We have been able to get the judging standards and the entry categories modernized. See the Exhibitor handbook for details (www.oregonstatefair.org) . The Honey show will have […]
contributed by Dr. Dewey M. Caron The middle week of June is our set aside for special recognition of pollinators. Governor Kitzhaber has proclaimed the middle week of June 16th to 21st as Oregon Pollinator Week. Several events are planned to recognize honey bees including a queen rearing course in […]
The Oregon State University Extension Service has posted an article “12 Plants to Entice Pollinators to Your Garden“, reprinted below: CORVALLIS, Ore. — Consider adding some flower power to your landscape to bring in the buzz of pollinators to your garden. “Floral abundance is one of the strongest ways to promote […]
The Pacific Northwest Extension Publication on How to Reduce Bee Poisonings from Pesticides from Oregon State University has been recently updated. Click on the picture or the link to read the publication.
Excerpted from the USDA “Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP) – Honeybee Assistance” Fact Sheet. The Agricultural Act of 2014 (the 2014 Farm Bill) authorized up to $20 million in a fiscal year (FY) for the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP). […]
An unprecedented and devastating bee kill occurred this past month at the end of the almond bloom. Affected beekeepers, the Pollinator Stewardship Council (info@pollinatorstewardship.org) and the American Beekeeping Federation (www.abfnet.org), plus representatives of EPA, met Monday, March 24 in Los Banos, California to discuss the pollinator losses. 75 beekeepers attended […]
Contributed by Dewey M. Caron Beekeeper interest in Treatment-Free beekeeping has never been stronger. Electing not to treat bees or seeking to move toward treatment free is a possible option in our colony stewardship. Bee colonies in the wild experience heavy losses. Our hives, with mites, viruses and other “issues,” […]
Our own Bee Girl flew over to Cardiff, Wales to speak at the launch of the International Bee Research Association’s BEEWORLD Project. This project “aims to encourage teachers, schools and communities to have a greater understanding of bees, and their importance to people and the planet “. Sarah’s talk focused […]
As part of a USAid Farmer:Farmer and Partners of the Americas Program Laura Bee Ferguson at the College of the Mellissae was offered the opportunity to travel to Jamaica for a one-month volunteer beekeeping study and service trip. Service included travelling with a team throughout the island to teach on pesticides, value-added hive […]
Here in southern Oregon, excessive moisture in the hive is one of the biggest concerns. Consider using a telescoping cover instead of a migratory lid so that the lid is watertight. If the bottom board is solid, the hive should be tilted so that water drains out and away. Make sure there […]
The Oregon State University Extension Service has posted an article “12 Plants to Entice Pollinators to Your Garden“. The Pollinator Partnership has published guides on selecting plants for pollinators. Our area is designated as the Sierran Steppe-Mixed Forest-Coniferous Forest-Alpine Meadow Province. You can find general advice on bee gardens at […]
