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Iowa Honey Producers Association |
The Buzz Newsletter June 2007 |
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Greetings from the President of the IHPA Dear Honey Producers, Well, the weather has improved a little in our part of the state. We did receive an excessive amount of rain and wind a few weeks ago, but we are now recovering. I overheard some of the senior center clients talking about the weather and of course they said, "If you don't like the weather in Iowa wait a few hours." I think you can say that about any destination, but people like to think we are unique in the weather department. I hope everyone else has recovered from the Spring weather. Mike's brother had a lot of wind damage and they are only about a mile and a half away from us. We only had to repair our greenhouses. My computer is working again! I am still amazed at how much I use it. Every time I went to do something I had to try something a different way. I couldn't get files off of it because it said it couldn't communicate with the printer. It was just acting like a spoiled child! The Iowa House and Senate appropriated money in the Agriculture budget to fund a State Apiarist. Everyone keep your fingers crossed that the entire budget will be signed by the governor soon. The budget takes effect in July. Thank you to everyone who worked to make this happen. It has been almost six years since the Apiary Department was eliminated from the IDALS department. I am excited to finally have someone again that can help us with beekeeping problems and to guide our Iowa beekeeping industry with expertise. Thanks to Maury Wills and his staff for the help these past six years. This will give the officers and the board of directors more time to devote to actual IHPA business. Thanks again to Representatives Clel Baudler and Jack Drake and to Senator Nancy Boettger for sponsoring the amendment to once again include Apiary in the IDALS budget. I know other representatives and senators worked very hard to make this happen, to them we say thank you. The Iowa Honey Producers has also been awarded a grant to update and renovate the area where we are located during the Iowa State Fair in the Ag Building. It will be a tight schedule to get things done by August 9th, so we would like volunteers to help work to create a pleasing, workable space to sell our honey products and honey lemonade. Let me or any officer or board of director know if you would be able to help accomplish this with us. We are interested in all ideas and suggestions. The award letter will appear elsewhere in this newsletter. [See page 9] Speaking of the Iowa State Fair, please respond to the work schedule for help at the fair. The Iowa State Fair is August 9th through the 19th this year. I already have some slots filled up. Remember we need approximately 21 people to work each day for all 11 days of the Iowa State Fair. The IHPA will provide you with entry tickets when you schedule a time to work. Please contact me early so that you can obtain the day and the time that you would like to work. Don't forget to enter your items in the Apiary Department at the Iowa State Fair. We want to have a great showing. While you are out working with your honey bees, take notice of that great looking frame of honey or the best looking extracted frame, the best hive to get an observation hive going from, that wonderful tasting honey and beautiful comb honey. Don't forget to take your camera with you while working in the bee yards. It isn't as hard as it appears. Just make sure that you follow all of the rules and suggestions in the state fair book. To receive one, please call the Iowa State Fair at (515) 262-3111 or log onto www.iowastatefair.org for information. Remember to get your bids for selling honey or honey products to John Johnson by the 30th of June. I always appreciate the hard work of our members to get such a great variety of items that we offer for sale to the wonderful people attending the Iowa State Fair. Look for the bid sheet form in this issue. Many of you have talked about raising your own queens. The IHPA is planning a Field Day doing just that. Pat Ennis is working hard to provide another great field day for you. Please reserve July 14th to learn about raising queens in Iowa. The event will be held at the Iowa 4-H Camp located near Luther, Iowa. It will be where we were last year. It just so happens that the farmers' market that I attend on Saturdays isn't going to be held on that day, so I can attend. I know it is a busy time of year, but what a great time and location Pat and Peggy provided us with last year. Please consider attending. Chelsa Bronnenberg, our 2007 Iowa Honey Queen is available to help you promote your products. Call her to schedule a time for her to help you. Colony Collapse Disorder is still in the news. Maury Wills e-mailed Bob Cox recently and Bob suggested that we contact the lab in Beltsville, MD if we need to send any suspicious samples. It appears that by the inspection reports most of the honey bee death loss is not CCD. Of course, not all is reported. Just remember to use good hygiene management and be careful with your treatments for mites. Follow all of the directions. Let's hope this will clear up. If you would like any updates, contact the University of Pennsylvania. They are doing the main work on this research. I need to get some beekeeping work done myself, so I had better get to work. "Bee " careful out there in the heat. Sincerely,
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