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Iowa Honey Producers Association |
The Buzz Newsletter April 2005 |
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Greetings from the President of the IHPA Dear Honey Producers, Spring has sprung. Are we ready? Spring always creeps up on us. We have good intentions, but not always a good follow through. I have had more talks to give and orders this winter than usual, so have used up my reserve and haven’t found enough time to work on products. I am not complaining, just mystified at how fast time can get away. I hope the conditions are right for spring work: installing packages, getting nucs established and hive splitting. Those new honey bees and queens won’t wait for ideal conditions. Don’t wait too long thinking the weather will improve. Wasting hard earned money is not an option. Work your hives when you feel it is warm enough. I went to the Capitol again in March to talk with legislators. I have been in contact with several key legislators and hope the information will help them. Thanks to Iowa Honey Queen, Teresa, for helping me at the Capitol. Mike and I attended the beginning beekeeping class held in Red Oak. The class instructors, John Johnson and Bill Eickhold, did a great job of informing the eager class attendees. Several other classes have been held in different areas of the state. Thanks to all of the instructors for getting the information out about the wonderful world of honey bees and beekeeping. Did you register your hives with IDALS? It is very important that you do. Keep up on the spraying information by talking to chemical dealers to find out the recommendations and cautions concerning the different insecticides being used. For more information, contact the local extension director in your county. They can put you in touch with the right person to answer all your questions. We as beekeepers need to know if the spray being used is going to affect our colonies and what we need to do to keep them safe. Ask questions when the commercial pesticide applicator calls to tell you they are going to spray in the area of your registered colonies. Ask what they are going to apply and what the precautions are. Ask them if the label mentions honey bees. Ask them if it is possible to spray late in the afternoon or early evening. Contact insecticides just kill what gets in contact with it as it is being sprayed. If the label says residual, it means that the insecticide can be present hours after it has been applied. Information can be obtained from IDALS also by contacting the Pesticide Bureau. Spring is also the time of year to plant more
bee friendly surroundings in your yard. Research different types
of flowers, shrubs, trees or grasses that will benefit your honey
bees. Many fine books and catalogs are available. They mention
if honey bees are attracted to many of the plants and what growing
conditions are needed to help the plants grow. You can beautify
your grounds and provide nectar and pollen for honey bees at the
same time. Sincerely,
The Buzz Newsletter Submissions Please send submissions, classified ads, and photos
to Alex W. Ebert by email to TheBuzz@ABuzzAboutBees.com The Buzz is a monthly newsletter published by the Iowa Honey Producers Association which is an affiliate of the Iowa State Horticultural Society. IHPA Membership is only $10 annually. To join IHPA and receive your complimentary member subscription to The Buzz Newsletter, please contact:
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