Meeting Minutes from June 15, 2010 at Arlington Echo

Prior to the meeting, Jerry Fischer and Bart Smith conducted an open hive demonstration for the membership. Only one of two packages installed as a part of the Short Course has survived.

Mr. Luna welcomed all beekeepers to the meeting and a short business meeting followed:

The reading of the minutes from the April meeting was dispensed with in order to save time.

Mrs. Luna gave a treasurers report and indicated that the association had $1,646.58 in the account.

Mr. Luna reported that the Shady Side Rural Heritage Society Oyster Roast would be held in October and that the group was looking for a beekeeper for this event. Please contact Mr. Luna if you are interested.

Donna McCoy is out of town for a few days. She will loan you the extractor when she returns for a mere $25. If you return it clean, you get back $15. In her absence, please e-mail Mr. Luna if you want to borrow the extractor.

The Anne Arundel County Fair will be held September 15-19. The Maryland State Fair will be held August 27-September 6. Please consider entering your bee products! Fair books were available at the meeting and are also available at the libraries.

There is an event at the Governor’s House on July 17^th at 10 a.m. in honor of “Pollinator’s Day”. Mr. Luna mentioned that beekeepers have a hive on grounds.

Lastly, Mr. Luna emphasized the need for SAFETY in the apiary. It is imperative for beekeepers to take precautions by wearing protective gear and using the smoker when checking their hives, particularly if hives are located in an isolated area. Please be careful!

Please remember to register your bees with the Maryland Department of Agriculture

There was a door prize drawing for a new bottom board (Paul Knight won it) and some brand new frames (Jack Thibodeau won them).

Program Notes

Following the business meeting, Jerry Fischer, the state apiarist from the Maryland Department of Agriculture gave a power point presentation on “Summer Management”.

The presentation covered 7 topics: Divides and Spilt Colonies, Nectar Flow, Rearing Queens, Removal of Honey/Extraction, Monitoring Mites, Hive Needs and Fair Consignments.

1. Dividing and Splitting Colonies: When thinking about splitting or dividing a colony, Jerry encouraged the group to “think like a bee” and posed the question “when would bees do this naturally”? In Maryland, this would typically occur when bees are likely to swarm. Beekeepers want to consider doing this before the major nectar flow in Maryland, which, he stated, gets earlier and earlier each year. In Maryland the tulip poplar and black locust nectar is flowing in late May/early June. Nucs/divided colonies can be placed 2 to 3 miles from the former colony.

1. Nectar Flow: The first nectar flow in Maryland is not the best for honey. This is “brood flow” (i.e. maples) or “bee build up flow”. The major flow of tulip poplar and black locust runs from April 20^th to June 15^th. Mr. Fischer stated that due to cold weather in the south and the availability of packaged bees that occurs in late April to early May, that Maryland beekeepers should consider nucs and dividing of colonies so that bees can take advantage of nectar flows that are occurring earlier each year (i.e. before the arrival of the packaged bees).

Mr. Fischer indicated that a good rule of thumb to follow when placing supers on hives would be “when you see your first dandelion”. Consider 9 frames with spacers, so that bees can build out more comb, which makes it easier to uncap honey. Utilize an upper entrance when nectar is flowing (i.e. a hole that can be corked later on) so that bees returning to the hive with nectar can get to the super faster. This increases the visits to the super each day, which is beneficial to the beekeeper.

1. Queen Rearing: When to do this? You would do this the same time the bees would –during a major nectar flow – when the bees make their swarm cells. Mr. Fischer noted that queens are not lasting as long as they used to last. Years ago queens lives to be 3 to 5 years. Now queens live up to 2 years.

Early divide – use swarm cells/eggs

Later queens – use nucs/grafting

1. Honey Removal: Various methods can be used including a brush, chemicals, blower (use vacuum cleaning in “blow function”), or bee escape. You want to extract as soon as you remove supers in order to avoid problems from humidity.

1. Mite Infestation: Methods of survey include visual, sticker board, drone brood and sugar roll. Mr. Fischer emphasized that hives should be treated for mites “only if necessary” and that beekeepers do not want to treat if mite numbers are below the threshold level, which could lead to hives becoming resistant to products. (Numbers – if less than 45 on a 24 hour sticky board or less than 5 on a sugar role – if above those numbers you would treat and if below those numbers you would not treat the hive.) Treat per label of the product. If you need to treat the hive, take the honey supers off the hive and treat. The beekeepers first responsibility is to raise healthy hives. The best time to treat is when there is little or no brood.

1. Hive Needs: Include a water source, feeding and ventilation. Ventilation is needed in July and August, but also is needed in the winter. During the nectar dearth in July and August – consider planting something that blooms in July or August near the hives in order to give the bees a nectar source. Opening the hives for lengthy periods in July and August can lead to robbing, as can outside feeding. Feed internally so the bees can protect themselves.

1. Fair Consignments: County fair books are now available. On page 63 you will see all the categories for entries. The Anne Arundel County Fair will be held September 15-19. The State Fair will be held August 27 to September 6^th. Entries for the State fair will be August 24 and 25 from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Lastly, in all summer hive management activities, Mr. Fischer encouraged the group to remember to “Think Like a Bee” when determining hive needs. The meeting was adjourned at 8:25 p.m.

Meeting minutes respectfully submitted by:

Lindsay Barranco

(AABA Secretary)

AABA MEETING – APRIL 20, 2010 AT ARLINGTON ECHO

The President welcomed everyone to the meeting. Thirty five people attended. Paul Dill, the President, Maryland State Beekeepers Association, was a first time attendee. Kevin Kohler, a reporter for Taste of the Bay, a local magazine, is a friend of the honey bee, and is doing a story for future publication.

The minutes of our February meeting are on our web site: http://aabees.org.

Our Treasurer, Doris Luna, gave a report on our finances. There is a total of $1600.34 in the bank account. Most of our expenses were toward the Short Course. She then gave a report on the Short Course which was finally completed tonight, the latest ever. We had 33 applications, and a total of 51 (included several families). There were many delays in getting the packages of bees for installation at Arlington Echo. Income from registration and the sale of books was $1,111; expenses were $923.24. So AABA made a profit of $178.76. Printing costs were about 30% higher than last year. The course evaluation sheets were very complementary about the course. Some suggested running the course in the Fall and/or starting it much earlier in the year.

Attendees were urged to REGISTER YOUR BEES WITH THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF AGRIGCULTURE and also join AABA for the outrageous sum of $3.00/yr 

It's a Bugs World, March 7 at the Sheraton Hotel in Annapolis was a big success.

Earth Day at Quiet Waters is this Saturday, April 24th. Dave Crump will be there representing AABA. He will be assisted by Steve Hanlon

Dates for future meetings are: June 15, August 17, both Tuesdays.

Anne Arundel County Fair – September, 2010

A Panel of Experts was convened to answer questions.

Door prizes were won by: Steve Hanlon (swarm trap); Dick Crane (bee veil); and John Connors (screened bottom board). We adjourned at 8:30.

AABA MEETING MINUTES FROM FEBRUARY 16, 2010 AT ARLINGTON ECHO

The meeting was called to order as 7:05 p.m. by the AABA President, Loyd Luna, who welcomed all attendees.

Mr. Luna introduced Jody Johnson, who is a doctoral candidate at the University of Maryland Baltimore. Ms. Johnson spoke to the group about the Sub Lethal Effects of Pesticides on Honey Bee Health and Behavior.

A power point presentation, which summarized a study Ms. Johnson had conducted, was presented and a question and answer period followed.

A business meeting followed a short break.

• Minutes from the August 2009 meeting were not distributed because the AABA secretary had resigned and the minutes were not finalized.

- An election of officers was held. The following slate was presented. There were no additional nominations made from the floor and the following officers were elected unanimously by the membership:

Officers for 2010:

President – Loyd Luna

Vice President – Ned Wall

Treasurer – Doris Luna

Secretary – Lindsay Barranco

Chairlady, Publicity – Amy Jameison

Chairman, Programs – Bart Smith

Chairlady, Competition – Amy Jameson

Chairman, Awards – Dwight Fielder

Chairman, Refreshments – Carolyn Grant

Librarian – Carl Guerci, Jr.

A Treasurer’s report was given by Doris Luna. Mrs. Luna reported that there was $1554.10 in the treasury as of February 16, 2010. She further reported that 13 applications had been received (so far) for the 2010 short course.

The short course will be held on March 9,16 23, April 6^th, April 17^th. Please advertise the course. The short course has been advertised at the library and in the Evening Capital.

Dave Polk indicated that he will have packaged bees, but said to contact him quickly because he predicts he will be sold out in March.

Mr. Luna reported that Joe Brotherton has offered to mentor anyone going through the short course. His home phone number is 410-695-2909.

“It's a Bugs World” will be held on March 7th at the Sheraton Hotel in Annapolis. Mr. Luna will be there answering questions about honey bees and asked for a volunteer or two who could assist that afternoon. The time frame is from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and any time a beekeeper can give would be greatly appreciated.

Mr. Luna reported that a Baltimore City School teacher from the Expeditioning Learning School would like someone to come talk to her first graders about bees. If there are any volunteers, please contact Mr. Luna.

Mr. Luna reported that he has received the following Maryland Beekeeping Statistics from Jerry Fischer (Maryland Department of Agriculture):

The MSBA meeting was held Saturday, February 20^th at the Howard County Fairgrounds. The MSBA County Vice-President is Oliver Snyder, our Web Master.

Please note the dates for future meetings: April 20 June 15,August 17, all Tuesdays.

The Anne Arundel County Fair – 16-20 September, 2009 was very successful. Mr. Luna thanked all the volunteers who assisted. Ms Kimberly Mayer won the CDR Mumford trophy for Best in Show.

REGISTER YOUR BEES WITH THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE!!

The door prize drawing (a primed super) was won by Chrissy Perry.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:40 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Lindsay Barranco

(Secretary AABA)