Agenda June 13, 2022

 

Agenda

June 13^th meeting East Central Iowa Beekeepers Association

Hello!  Below is the agenda for our June 13th meeting.  Hope you are having a great spring and bees, if you have them, are building up strong as we are even now in a good honey flow.  Hope to see you at the meeting.

Doors open at 6:00

Meeting will begin at 6:30, ending by 8 pm

Introductions

Welcome New members

Treasurer’s report

Secretary's report

President's report

Johnson County Fair-- sign up sheet

Report from CIBA Winter Seminar

Report on IHPA Summer Field Day

Bees for sale? Floyd Otdoerfer

Guest Speaker--Adam Ebert from Ebert Honey-- Perspective on commercial beekeeping in Iowa and transitioning beyond honey

(15 minute Break)

Randy Oliver’s spreadsheet for varroa treatment--Jim Davis

Open discussion

Spring Has Sprung

 Yes, mid-summer, formerly known as spring, has finally arrived!  Hopefully, we can sometime return to seasonal norms and get a few nice 70 degree days in before the real heat and humidity make their presence.

Reminder: just a few things to keep in mind during this critical time of the year:

--Manage for swarms.  This is the peak swarm season.  Look for queen cells, make splits, set up swarm traps, make sure bees have space to expand

--Add supers.  There is a lot blooming right now and it will only get better.  Bees are bringing in nectar so give them space to put it so the queen has space to lay

--How are queens laying?  Evidence of a variety of brood?  Good laying pattern?

--Check for mites.  The deadline for the Bee Informed Mite Check is this Sunday.  If you haven't checked, try to do so this month.  Staying on top of the mite load is critical for long term survival.  If you have a count over 2 per hundred at this stage, consider a knock-down treatment.

--Plan ahead.  Have additional supers ready for when the strong flow begins.  Make sure you've finished cleaning up any deadouts from last year.

This will be coming soon.

Get out and enjoy your bees!!

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The Illinois Queen Initiative is hosting a free online zoom presentation next week.  48 Hour Queen Cells will be explained and discussed by an experienced beekeeper.  Pre-registration is required.  Find the link to their site here.