At the March and April WVBA meetings, I distributed paper copies and directed members to a web-based colony loss survey, a continuing effort to define overwintering success of backyard beekeepers in Oregon. This was the 9th year of such survey activity. I received 282 responses from OR backyarders, keeping anywhere from 1 to 48 colonies; […]
Winter loss report WVBA Read More »
At the March and April WVBA meetings, I distributed paper copies and directed members to a web-based colony loss survey, a continuing effort to define overwintering success of backyard beekeepers in Oregon. This was the 9th year of such survey activity. I received 282 responses from OR backyarders, keeping anywhere from 1 to 48 colonies;
Winter loss report WVBA Read More »
At the April meeting (April 24) we knew of only a single swarm. Rich covered swarming in his comments and his comments will be posted in the meeting minutes. we should begin to hear of local bee swarms in May and June. Swarming means different things to different individuals. Some beekeepers see swarms as a
Let the SWARMS begin Read More »
At the April meeting (April 24) we knew of only a single swarm. Rich covered swarming in his comments and his comments will be posted in the meeting minutes. we should begin to hear of local bee swarms in May and June. Swarming means different things to different individuals. Some beekeepers see swarms as a
Let the SWARMS begin Read More »
Last year, 271 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 38 WVBA respondents included in the OR report, which are posted on the website: http://pnwhoneybeesurvey.com/survey-results/2015-16-survey-reports/ Colony loss levels last year from WVBA respondents were 31% for 8-frame and
Survivorship Survey – PNW Honey Bee Health & Beekeeping Practices Read More »
Last year, 271 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 38 WVBA respondents included in the OR report, which are posted on the website: http://pnwhoneybeesurvey.com/survey-results/2015-16-survey-reports/ Colony loss levels last year from WVBA respondents were 31% for 8-frame and
Survivorship Survey – PNW Honey Bee Health & Beekeeping Practices Read More »
There was an informative webinar mid-January from Bee Culture Magazine [“The Kim and Jim Show”] that was all about packages. You can still view the one-hour broadcast at Bee Culture webpage www.beeculture.org Look for it filed under events. Kim and Jim discussed only packages but their comments would generally apply to nucs, although with a
STARTING PACKAGES/NUCS Read More »
There was an informative webinar mid-January from Bee Culture Magazine [“The Kim and Jim Show”] that was all about packages. You can still view the one-hour broadcast at Bee Culture webpage www.beeculture.org Look for it filed under events. Kim and Jim discussed only packages but their comments would generally apply to nucs, although with a
STARTING PACKAGES/NUCS Read More »
Dead colony forensics – examining a dead colony to help determine what might have been the reason for non-survival. Identifying the problem can guide changes in management leading to improved overwintering success. Last year backyard OR beekeepers lost 43% of their overwintering colonies – there were additional losses during the active year resulting in approximately
Dead Colony Forensics Read More »
Dead colony forensics – examining a dead colony to help determine what might have been the reason for non-survival. Identifying the problem can guide changes in management leading to improved overwintering success. Last year backyard OR beekeepers lost 43% of their overwintering colonies – there were additional losses during the active year resulting in approximately
Dead Colony Forensics Read More »
