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Greetings from the President of the IHPA

Dear Honey Producers,

If we don't get most of our autumn chores done this year we are entirely too busy. Hasn't the weather been "beeutiful"? Mike, son Steve and grandchildren JoAnn and Jack planted around 700 garlic cloves last week and got the garden in tip-top shape for winter. Grandma's child size gardening tools sure do the trick. We even have enough to squelch any squabbles now. The extracting is complete. Most of the farmers' markets are finished. The honey bees seem content with this nice weather. The furnace hasn't had to run yet. We are gearing up for holiday craft shows and indoor markets. Just when I think I have time to breath, something else pops up.

The pesticide informational meeting that we had last month gave each individual a task to complete and then we will assemble the information and take it to Secretary of Agriculture, Bill Northey. Some positive things are going to come out of this co-operative effort to get a handle on the pesticide spraying. I will keep you informed as things develop. The deadline to submit reports was Oct. 15, so as I write this, reports have just been submitted. No outcome is available at this time.

I look forward to seeing you at the Annual Meeting of the IHPA in Marshalltown. We have a great meeting lined up thanks to Pat and Peggy Ennis. We will welcome new youth beekeepers, present some awards, have an election, and enjoy the company of fellow beekeepers. Please bring items for both the silent auction and the live auction. These auctions support our Iowa Honey Queen Program.

As we turn our attention to getting our hives ready for the winter ahead, let's remember to take every effort possible to provide a healthy colony. Did you remember to remove the fall treatment from your hives? There are reports of chemical build-up in the hives from mite treatments, so make sure that you remove them on time. Is your entrance reducer in place to keep out unwanted pests and drafts? Did you wrap your hives? Do they have adequate stores of food for the winter months? Is there enough ventilation present? Damp honey bees are not a good thing. Let's hope for a winter that will let our honey bees survive.

If you are contacted to help serve on a committee, act as a mentor for our youth program, run for officer or as a director, or to lend a helping hand, I certainly hope you will consider doing so. We are a volunteer organization and the work needs to be spread out over the entire organization. We have come to rely on a few volunteers and we would welcome your help to carry out the mission of the IHPA. Quoted from the by-laws of the IHPA. "The objects of this Association shall be to coordinate the interest of the beekeepers of Iowa and bring them into closer relationship of mutual helpfulness by association, conference and correspondence; to sponsor legislation for the benefit and protection of the industry; to assist in the dissemination of information on the control of diseases; to inform the members and the public of the valuable use of honey as well as the importance of the honey bee in relation to the pollination of agricultural crops, and to support every effort to promote the advancement of the beekeeping industry." To go along with that, the board has decided to include a list of "perks" for being a member of the Iowa Honey Producers Association. Most of the items are taken for granted, but listing them really puts into perspective the work that is carried on in this organization. Some of it is never even noticed by the membership, other factors are noticed readily. Help us continue the great tradition of beekeeping in Iowa.

We need to start thinking of ideas for our 100th anniversary. Let the board know what your thoughts are for celebrating 100 years of beekeeping in Iowa. It will be here before we know it.

Enjoy the "beeutiful" fall colors, the crisp weather, the joy of family and "BEE THANKFUL"!

Sincerely,

Donna Brahms, IHPA President

The Nebraska Beekeepers Association Chemical Free Workshop

November 14: Deadline to register for Chemical Free Workshop; submit registrations to Nancy Holman Southeast Community College, Continuing Education Division, 301 South 68th Street Place, Lincoln, NE 68510, phone 402-437-2712, fax 402-437-2703

November 21-23: Chemical Free Beekeeping Workshop at Southeast Community College, Lincoln NE, Current speakers confirmed are: Dee Lusby, Randy Quinn, Dean Stiglitz, Laurie Herboldsheimer, Corwin Bell, Kelley Simmons, and Michael Bush. Topics Small cell beekeeping, Experiences in natural cell beekeeping, Bee breeding, Top bar hives, Natural cell size and varroa, Small cell management, several others are in the process of deciding and making arrangements details will be updated as available.

www.nebraskabeekeepers.org

Extractor for Rent Through the Department of Ag

The Department of Ag has some small-scale extracting equipment available for loan:

Small motorized extractor

Hot knife

Honey filter baskets

Just call me (Andy) at (515) 725-1481 if interested.