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Iowa Honey Producers Association |
The Buzz Newsletter August 2005 |
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IHPA Board Meeting The Board met following the field day in Ames. Jim Strahan reported to the Board that a NW Iowa Beekeepers Club had been formed and they were going to staff the booth at the Clay County Fair. It was decided to explore the cost of having fliers printed to give away at the Clay County Fair Information Booth. The cost of this will be taken from the education fund. The Education Committee has set up classes for 2005 at DMACC, Iowa Valley CC and North Iowa CC. Louise Johnson is also exploring the possibility of having something in Northeast Iowa. Dick Blake has submitted a tape which we hope to edit and make available to beekeepers for a modest fee. Regina reported that there were a number of queen candidates and that preparations were being made for the State Fair. She hopes to improve on the set up for candle making. She also needs volunteers to help man the candle making booth. Recipe brochures have need designed and are to be printed. We will be awarding 12oz bears to the winners of the cooking with honey contest. Mark mentioned that he got some awards nominations last year after the plaques had been ordered. It was decided to have a September 1st deadline for the awards nominations. A letter will be sent to Patty Judge in support of the legislative action funding bee inspection. The need for a new directory of beekeepers was discussed but no action was taken at the present time. The need to get the Buzz” in the mail faster was talked about. Gordon is mailing about 265 copies each month. The Board instructed him to explore the cost of getting the Buzz” mechanically folded and tabbed. Nick Behren’s project of testing the effects of a fungus on Varroa mites at various temperatures and humidities has evolved into a lab project instead of a field experiment. We donated $300 dollars to this project. Nick has encountered a number of problems in setting this project up. Submitted by Phil Ebert
The Buzz Newsletter Mailings Please note “The Buzz” is bulk mail. It will not be forwarded if you move. You must notify Gordon Powell of any address change in order to continue receiving “The Buzz”.
A NW Iowa Beekeepers Association has been formed. Officers are Jeanne Rust-President, Sean Johnson-Vice President and Mike Hildebrand-Sec/Treas. Dues are $10 and they will meet quarterly. If you want more information you can contact Mike Hildebrand through e-mail at mikeh1@webbwireless.net
Aug. 11-21,2005 Iowa State Fair Des Moines State Fairgrounds Sept. 10th-18th 2005 Clay County Fair, Spencer Iowa Sept. 24, 2005 Board Meeting Des Moines Sept. 25, 2005 7th Annual Honey Festival; Indian Creek Nature Center, Cedar Rapids Nov. 17, 2005 Board Meeting Marshalltown Nov. 18 & 19, 2005 Annual Meeting Marshalltown To add an important date to the list, contact
the Buzz by email :
Jeff Slaymaker of Clarinda was called to Clarinda Academy for the third time this year to pick up a swarm of bees. Each time the swarm landed on the same spot on the wall of a building. After the second time, the maintenance people had sprayed insecticide on the wall in hope of deterring the bees. It didn’t work. Jeff and daughter Josie made a crude funnel out of a plastic bag and stapled it around the hole of an empty package cage. Then they raked the bees into the funnel and shook them into the cage. When they had all the bees, they just twisted the top of the bag shut. Jeff estimated there were four or five pounds of bees in the swarm.
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