Minutes from December 12, 2012
The meeting was called to order at 6:30 by president Joseph Klingelhutz.
New members were introduced. Welcome!
Treasurer’s report: Current balance, $1401.16. Dues will be collected in March for 2023.
Secretary’s report: A new member sign-up sheet was passed around. Members were reminded of our mentorship program and new members encouraged to sign up.
Iowa Honey Producer’s Annual Conference: (James Miller)
Pesticide use and the residue in the beeswax from years of using miticides was a topic at the conference. Negative effects on the colony have been observed, from smaller queen attendant bees to less fertile drones. Cycling out old frames would help rid the colony of some of this residue. State apiarist Andy Joseph indicated that, statewide, beekeepers were seeing less nosema, fewer cases of European Foul Brood and mite counts have been lower than average. There were sessions on various methods of producing comb honey and a discussion of the biology of bee mating was interesting. Some speakers for next year’s conference will include Jamie Ellis, Marla Spivak and, virtually, Tom Seeley. He also mentioned the youth scholarship program, and one can find information about that on the IHPA website. James expressed how interesting the conference was and encourages all to try to attend one.
Introduction to Beekeeping: Dr. David Peck
Dr. Peck is director of research and education at Betterbee in Greenwich, New York, and spoke with us virtually about what considerations one needs to make when thinking of becoming a beekeeper. The following is a summary of his presentation.
H e said it’s important to start with one’s goals for becoming a beekeeper. Is it for better pollination, to acquire quality food (honey), or simply a desire to get back to nature? The goals can help a decide how to proceed with planning.
He gave a brief history of man’s knowledge of bees and working with bees, dating back as early as 8000 years ago with evidence of managing bees as early as 655 BCE. He went on to talk about bees and the makeup of a colony, how bees gather nectar and pollen. On a chart, he demonstrated how, throughout the season, there are “booms and busts” of nectar and pollen for the bees and that the beekeeper needs to manage around these peaks and valleys.
Within the natural hive, typically a hollow in a tree, honey stores are at the top, with the brood comb and bee bread in the lower part. The entrance is usually located near the bottom. Dr. Langstroth, who discovered the concept of “bee space”, created a hive with linear frames, in a wooden structure, to somewhat mimic the natural experience.
Practical considerations: Hive components can be wood or polystyrene. While there are benefits to each, either are acceptable. The beekeeper needs to make sure there are components for expansion as the colony grows. In addition to the traditional Langstroth hive, there are Apimaye hives, Flow hives (not recommended for beginners), top bar hives (again, probably too difficult to manage initially) and observation hives, which are best for special circumstances rather than as a singular hive.
Hive size is a consideration—8 versus 10 frame, and deep brood boxes versus mediums and combinations of each. There is no one ideal configuration and the weight and management of each configuation can be a determining factor in choosing which to use. The same applies to frames (wood, plastic, wood w/plastic) and foundation. Plastic foundation is probably better for a beginner to work with. Betterbee sells a synthetic comb called BetterComb which is another option.
Tools that are indispenible are a smoker and a hive tool. Which style to select is probably not as important as selecting one and learing to use it well. Dr. Peck doesn’t recommend a bee brush for beginners, as it can irritate the bees. Protective clothing is a personal choice and he suggests that one go with the type of outfit, from full suit to just a veil, that one feels comfortable with.
Of the three choices available to most for obtaining bees –nucs, packages or swarms—the best option is to purchase locally. Bees from California or Georgia simply will not be as adapted to northern climate as locally bred bees and queens. Additionally, the new beekeeper should not be as concerned as to the “breed” of bee—Italian, Carnialan, etc. How many colonies should the beekeeper begin with? Two colonies double one’s cost but also doubles experience, increases chances of survival and allows exchange of materials and resources between the colonies. Starting with 15 colonies, though, is not recommended. Honey harvest should be secondary to learning to manage bees, the primary management objective being to control mite populations, and there may be no honey for the beekeeper in year one or even year two. Successful beekeeping is a mindset of constant learning.
Dr. Peck pointed to resources available on the Betterbee website, Betterbee.com, and encouraged members to subscribe to their newsletter. He has an article in the next edition about extended release oxalic acid. Betterbee also has a Youtube channel.
Honey Queen report: Rachel Vakulich Rachel reported on her experience at the IHPA annual conference, where she was crowned Iowa Honey Queen for 2023. Congratulations, Rachel! She encouraged members to let her know of any upcoming events she might attend. We’re excited to have Rachel representing not only our area of the state but all of Iowa.
Open discussion: Randy Hahn talked about how quickly his colonies have been losing weight already this fall. He has been weighing them regularly. Others indicate they had noticed similar weight loss. There followed some conversation about how to weigh them. Just learning to lift them and become accustomed to how they should feel can be helpful.
Beekeeping classes Will Swain is teaching several classes this winter and spring. Information about them can be found on his web page, iowacitybeekeeping.com. Bob Wolffe mentioned the classes taught by Indian Creek Nature Center. Local classes will be listed on our club’s website as well.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:15. Thanks to all for coming.
http://eastcentraliowabeekeeping.blogspot.com
Note: As often is the case, we had more to talk about than we had time for. Winter preparation and management is one of the most important aspects of the beekeeper's tasks. Ed St. John did a great presentation on winter prep and management a couple years ago. To view Ed's slide presentation, you can click here.
