Page 3

Greetings from the President of the IHPA

Dear Honey Producers,

We are supposed to be closer to Spring in March and experience Spring-like weather to get a good taste of the change in seasons, but are we ever going to get some warmer weather? Usually we are feeding colonies by this time to ensure they are building up and getting ready for the coming honey season at this time. The jury is still out on what we should be feeding the colonies. Some experts insist on using honey yet others think we should be using a sugar-water mixture and still others insist on high fructose corn syrup. Each has a very valid point, so until we get concrete evidence that one is indeed superior to the other, I guess it is up to each beekeeper to decide. All do agree, however, that making sure the colonies have feed this time of year is very important. Most also suggest that we use some sort of pollen substitute also. Do some research yourselves and decide which is the best option for your operation, but please check your hives when the weather warms up and have a plan in mind to supplement. Most colonies are lost due to starvation this time of year.

I hope you have ordered your packages or queens for spring delivery. Check the BUZZ advertisements for some places to get your packages and queens or check with the American Bee Journal and Bee Culture for additional ideas for ordering.

I certainly want to take this opportunity to welcome our new state apiarist, Andrew (Andy) Joseph. At this deadline, I don't have the contact number or e-mail address for Andy, but we will get that on our web-site as soon as we can. I am excited to have a state apiarist again and I am positive it will be a step in the right direction as far as our industry is concerned.

I have received several calls from people interested in becoming beekeepers. One comment that I have consistently heard is that these new people are unaware of any other beekeepers in their area or that the public isn't aware of the impact that honey bees do in a community and the need for pollination. I would like to issue a challenge to our membership. Please do all you can to help the public become aware of the necessity of honey bees and to talk to as many as you can about the pollination that honey bees do. We can now direct questions and information seekers to our state apiarist, but also remember to encourage people to continue to join our organization, the IHPA and to join the local beekeeping organizations. We need to get information out to the public like never before. They are interested and are asking lots of questions.

Remember to register your hives with the state. This allows you to make sure that pesticide applicators are aware that you are in the vicinity. Just because you know where all of your hives are located, the next door neighbor doesn't know. If you registered last year, please use the same number you were given last year to identify you. If you are new to beekeeping, please continue to contact Maury Wills-(515) 281-5783 to receive your number so that you can place your colonies on the registry. As Andy becomes established, Maury will instruct him in the operation of the registry. There is another article specifically for the Apiary Registration located in this issue of the BUZZ. I was invited to another aerial applicator's meeting, but it was postponed because of the weather.

If you are looking for equipment, please remember the Central Iowa Beekeepers will have an auction in April. For more information, contact Margaret Hala at (641)752-2981 or mhala@marshallnet.com.

Contact the Iowa Honey Queen, Diane Jurchen, if you are having an event and would like to have her attend. Her telephone number is (712) 779-0540. She is attending college, but check with her to see if she is available to help you with your promotion.

I am certainly ready for warmer Spring weather. I have been looking at seed catalogs, planning our garden, deciding what new flowers I want to plant and dreaming of a fantastic honey season. I want to wish you all the best for a wonderful spring and for you to anticipate the best honey flow ever. We are ready for warm weather!

Sincerely,
Donna Brahms, IHPA President

Youth Update and Information

The new scholarship youth have been attending beginning beekeeping classes. They received their equipment from the IHPA in January. They will receive the three pound packages of honey bees that were donated by Lee Heine of Wisconsin in May. We hope by that time the weather will have straightened out to allow them to install the packages and give the honey bees a better start to the year. We know it seems like a long time for the youth to wait to get started in the program. It gives them a chance to learn from their mentor about the beekeeping year, put their equipment together, attend classes and then to actually install the packages in nicer weather. This gives the youth and the honey bees a better experience. Remember to invite our young beekeepers to one of your local beekeeping meetings.

Design Contest Update

Mike received several designs for the contest to decorate the canvas area above the sales area at the Iowa State Fair IHPA sales booth. The board will decide on the winning design at the March board meeting and award the $75.00 prize.

Submitted by Donna Brahms