Important note: There will be a field day to inspect hives at Dadant, Sunday afternoon (04/09/17) around 2-3pm.
Our monthly meeting this month will be on 04/13/17 at 7pm at Dadant. During this meeting we will be talking about different ways by which to raise queens. This discussion will cover the ‘why and the how’ of queen rearing and will go over different methods as well as some of the equipment used in those methods.
Sneak peak at some of the equipment and methods that will be covered:
THIS SATURDAY – MARCH 25TH AT 1PM WE WILL BE DEMONSTRATING A SPLIT AT THE DADANT BRANCH LOCATION AS WELL AS TAKING TIME TO ANSWER QUESTIONS DURING A LIVE HIVE INSPECTION.
This coming meeting we will have Jessica Driver, our local bee inspector with VDACS coming to give us a “state of the union” on our local bees and different things going on at the state level.
During the meeting we will also be covering on how to split your bees with details about a field day set for the following Saturday.
February 9th at 7pm
Please come out and listen to our speaker of the month – Jessica Loque!!!
Jessica runs approximately 85-100 test hives for Smithers Viscient/Bayer on her farm in Snow Camp NC testing different applications of pesticide and their affect on the bees. As well as running these scientific studies she is also a contributor in the periodical Bee Culture. Jessica is a well respected beekeeper, author, and scientist and is sure to enlighten all with her presentation on her operation she runs with her husband Bobby.
Unfortunately not enough people signed up, if you are still interested in keeping bees or have any bee related questions please come by our monthly meeting at Dadant – 820 Tightsqueeze Industrial Rd. Chatham VA 24531. We meet on the second Thursday of every month at 7pm.
Come join the Pittsylvania County Beekeepers for our upcoming meeting on August 11th! We will be joined by our friend and regional beekeeping resource Jim Zeigler for a program covering a number of topics:
What’s happening in our hives? – “I thought we were in the dearth period”
Do I have varroa mites? When and how should I treat them?
What the heck is honeydew and how do I know it when I see it?
Is there such a thing as Zombie Bees?
See you there!
Come this Thursday, June 9th at 7pm and hear Larry and Martha Hupp give a talk on how to make and market creamed honey! Should be a good one!
The May meeting has changed to a round table discussion. All are welcome to come as we touch base on the state of the bees for this month (how has rain affected production, beetles, honey crops, etc)
MARCH 10 – JESSICA DRIVER, APIARY INSPECTOR FOR VDACS – GIVING A “STATE OF THE BEES” – 7PM
APRIL 14TH – PHIL AND ELIZABETH BARFIELD, MEADOWS EDGE FARM – SWARM MANAGEMENT – 7PM
MAY 12TH – GARRETT MOORE, WHISTLE CREEK APIARIES – HONEY PACKAGING AND SALES – 7PM
DATES TBD –
ANNE ZUDEKOFF, PIEDMONT BEEKEEPERS – QUEEN GRAFTING
LARRY HUPP – CREAMED HONEY PRODUCTION
BOB COLE, BC BOOKS – ADVENTURES IN BEEKEEPING/BEEKEEPING AROUND THE WORLD
Practical Back-Yard Beekeeping
For Small-Scale (Hobby) and Serious Sideline Beekeepers
Friday- February 5 and Saturday February 6, 2016
Mr. JERRY HAYES FEATURED SPEAKER – INSTRUCTOR
Olde Dominion Agricultural Complex in Chatham, Virginia
FRIDAY FEBRUARY 5, 2016
Friday Evening (6:00 PM) we will sponsor a Special “BEEKEEPERS DINNER AND PROGRAM” Starting with an exquisite catered meal from ChataMooCa. All courses will be flavored with specialty honeys! The main course will be Certified Virginia Black Angus Beef. (This meal gets rave reviews every year from the attendees!) Immediately following the dinner, (7:00 PM) Jerry Hayes will present a down to earth program titled “Rise, Fall and Resurrection of Beekeeping” to be followed by participant Q and A’s. PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. To Register: http://halifaxbeekeepers.org/index.php/upcoming-events Checks, Money Orders or questions- contact Jim Zeigler jimmyz6@centurylink.net ) or call Jim at 434-376-4490.
SATURDAY FEBRUARY 6, 2015
09:00 CHECK IN AND AT-DOOR REGISTRATION – PRE-REGISTRATION PREFERRED
Kickoff Coffee, Tea, Donuts and Fruit & Light Lunch At Noon; planned morning and afternoon breaks.
Planned Hot Topics for the day: END AT 4:00 PM
Beekeeper Beginnings from Jerry
Varroa – Knowledge Gaps and Misperceptions
The Colossal Colony Impact of Poor Nutrition
The Ever Lurking Effects of Nosema
Small Hive Beetles – A Spreading Scourge
Plenty of Q and A Time
To Register: http://halifaxbeekeepers.org/index.php/upcoming-events Checks, Money Orders and
Questions go to Jim Zeigler jimmyz@centurylink.net or call Jim at 434-376-4490
In Jerry’s 35 plus years in the Apiculture Industry his overarching desire has been to create sustainable honey bee management practices while partnering with other segments of agriculture. The cornerstone of his career has been to educate others that honey bees are the key pollinators and that they play a critical role in agriculture. He has written a must read monthly column “The Classroom” in the American Bee Journal™ for the past 30 years. Jerry is a founding member of the Colony Collapse Working Group, A science advisory board member for Project Apis Mellifera, and the Bee Informed Partnership. He has been author and co-author on multiple research papers on how to understand and preserve honey bee health.
Jerry was The Chief of The Apiary Section for the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Affairs for many years. In that role he was responsible for the regulatory health of 350,000 Honey Bee Colonies in the State of Florida. Jerry joined Monsanto Corporation in 2012 to become their BeeLogics™ Commercial Lead for the BioDirect Business Unit.
Speaker Jerry Hayes
Pittsylvania County Beekeepers Association 