Do you know what is in the foods you eat? Most of us are only vaguely aware. Nutritional labelling, mandatory on many foods, can help lead to a better understanding. Do you find nutrition labels on honey jars better informs you of your dietary choice? Honey labels may soon be subject to a … Read more about Does honey have “added sugar”?
Drifting
WVBA beekeepers may recall meeting Dan Wyns. Dan, with Ellen Topitzhofer, has been the 2 person BeeInformed PNW Tech Team working out of Oregon State the past 3 seasons. Dan moved back to his native state to form a Michigan Tech Team this spring. The PNW Tech teams offer regular on-site hive … Read more about Drifting
2018 WVBA Loss Report
With the most recent PNW honey bee survey, the 10th year of such survey activity I received 303 responses from OR backyarders, keeping anywhere from 1 to 50 colonies; Willamette Valley members sent in 34 surveys, 10 more than the previous year, reporting loss/survivorship of 153 fall … Read more about 2018 WVBA Loss Report
Swarm trapping
At the April WVBA meeting Morris Ostrofsky gave lots of practical information, most from his own experience, on how to capture swarms via swarm traps. If you’re looking to increase your number of colonies, consider setting out one or more swarm/bait boxes, an inexpensive means of starting additional … Read more about Swarm trapping
2018 winter loss/survivorship survey now open
Last year, 334 OR/WA backyarder beekeepers returned April surveys on overwintering colony losses/survivorship, and management such as colony feeding, sanitation and Varroa control efforts. There were only 24 WVBA respondents included in the OR report, 4 fewer than the previous year. A specific … Read more about 2018 winter loss/survivorship survey now open
Our Bee Hive
Beekeepers are familiar with the saying ‘keep the bees out of the trees’? Today we say this referring to keeping bees in hive boxes in the spring, avoiding them swarming to end up in a nearby tree. Despite our best efforts, capturing swarms from trees remains part of spring bee activity. There is … Read more about Our Bee Hive
What in the BEE WORLD?
Heard the expression ‘A picture is worth a thousand words’? Here is a picture (SEE BELOW) that may be worth a thousand questions. Photo from web source Pinterest (and most recently seen in Cowlitz WA Beekeeping newsletter). To begin with Why? Why two levels? What is problem this is attempting to … Read more about What in the BEE WORLD?
Organic Grant initiative on Bee Health
Publicity about the ‘plight’ of honey bees have been a "key" to freeing of federal grant monies for beekeeping research/extension. Coining of the term CCD (Colony Collapse Disorder) in 2006 and Time Magazine cover “Plight of the Honeybees,” 2013 [Time labelled the situation Bee Apocalypse] helped … Read more about Organic Grant initiative on Bee Health
A Note from the President by Rich Farrier
Willamette Valley Beekeepers Association Established in 1967. I hope everyone had a wonderful and Merry Christmas. May there be peace and joy throughout the new year. May there be many blessings come your way in the New Year. I wish good health to all, including your bees. For me, I … Read more about A Note from the President by Rich Farrier
HAPBEE HOLIDAYS
Best wishes for healthy and happy holiday and good bee days ahead … Read more about HAPBEE HOLIDAYS
Insuring FAT fall bees for overwinter success
In September bee colonies rear the bees that are going to rear FAT fall bees. FAT bees store reserves in their bodies, a process that involves the bee blood protein called vitellogenin, suspending the normal aging process to live many weeks compared to their sisters who live only a few weeks during … Read more about Insuring FAT fall bees for overwinter success
Mite-a-Thon Sept 9-16
The “new” beekeeping calls for the need to sample bees in August, September and October to see how they are doing at keeping varroa mite populations in check. If mite numbers exceed 2-3%, it is suggested that due to risk of poor overwintering of the colony, colony loss (to BEE PMS) overwinter or … Read more about Mite-a-Thon Sept 9-16