The Buzz Newsletter

April 2007

 

 

Page 6

A Word From The Iowa Honey Queen

Hello Beekeepers!

It is finally starting to warm up, and the snow is melting. I am looking forward for spring, and seeing a variety of flowers starting to bloom! I have been brainstorming some promotion opportunities that I will hopefully be able to pursue in the next few months. Please remember that I am here to service you, so remember to contact me if you are planning an event, I would be glad to help you!

On February 17th I traveled to Mason City to talk to the beginner’s beekeeping class. I was pleased to see so many people interested in beekeeping. Several young people from the youth mentor program were enrolled in the class, and seemed so excited to learn! I was able to talk to the class about my role as a Queen, and my future adventures as a Honey Queen. I passed my scrapbook around for the class to look at, and gave samples of a honey snack mix, along with recipes. We spent a large amount of the class watching a clip of the movie "Bees and Beekeeping," and building frames. I was so excited to build my first frame, thanks to Arvin and Pat! I think these classes are so beneficial and allow new people to get interested in beekeeping, I want to thank all of you who take your time to teach these classes.

I want to wish all of you a wonderful spring. Please contact me if you have something I can help you with at (515)210-1027 or Chizel2004@aol.com

Sincerely,
Chelsa Bronnenberg
2007 Iowa Honey Queen

Youth Mentoring Program

The youth mentoring program that was launched last year has been running under the radar but it’s still there. There are nine students in this program. The participants are Tova Jessen of Mapleton, Christian Hurd of Ames, Vivian Bernau of Altoona, Issac Sedlmayr of Afton, Noah Taylor of Bouton, Cameron Hall of Nashua, Amber Connett of Reasoner and Maggie Van Roekel of Wellman. All participants will be supplied with equipment and bees for one complete colony. They will each have a mentor to help them get started. The Iowa Honey Producers are supplying the equipment and Lee Heine is supplying the bees.

The SE Iowa Beekeepers started two students with bees in the spring of 2006. Vern and Doris Ramsey have been working with them. This is a great way to get kids started with bees.

Submitted by Phil Ebert

A New Season Begins.

It is March 14 already and I am not ready. I bought some used boxes, most of these boxes were only used 1 year before they were in a tornado. All the bees and frames were gone. 3 tops and the deep boxes were found and stored inside since 1977. I have only half of them cleaned and painted. Still need to make tops and screen bottom boards before my packages get here. I have decided to try small cell comb for mite control. I am useing Mann Lake all plastic frames and foundation # PF-100 cell size 5.0 to start. Will let everyone know how that works this fall.
I am looking foreward to start inspections in southern Iowa as soon as the weather permits. I am getting many calls and e-mails about dead hives, all are from starvation because of the long cold periods. Everyone is very concerned about the new Colony Collapase Disorder. CCD may not be new, reports date back to 1896 other names for it are Fall Dwindle disease, Absconding disease, May disease, Spring Dwindle and Autumn collapse. With CCD the bees fly away and do not come back so there are very few or no dead bees on the bottom board. Here are some web sites to check out for CCD info.

www.missoulanews.com/News/News.asp?no=6345

www.cosmosmagazine.com/node/087

http://maarec.cas.psu.edu/pressReleases/CollapseDisorderWG.html

Submitted by Delmar Nelson