The Buzz Newsletter

October 2008

 

 

Page 10

October Tips for the Beekeeping Year

Are your bees ready for winter?  You might want to consider the following:

· Apply either terramycin powder or patties as an American Foul Brood preventative.

· Wrap your hives with the hive wrap of your choice.  Remember that the honey bees need to be able to exit the hive during warmer weather for cleansing flights, don't wrap them too tight, leave an escape. Note: Honey bees keep the hive around 90 degrees winter and summer, wrapping them too tightly might result in suffocation. 

· Ensure that they have enough reserves for winter.  Feed the bees as needed.

· Place a small stick or pebble (about 1/16" thick) under the inner cover to vent the hive.  Moisture is one of the major problems for a hive during winter months.

· If you haven't installed your entrance reducers, do so now.  They help keep rodents out of the hive.

· If you are not wrapping your hives, move the colonies to their protected winter location, usually facing south.

· Register for the Annual meeting.  Many helpful tips can be obtained by attending the Annual Meeting of the Iowa Honey Producers Association on November 7th and 8th in Marshalltown at the Best Western Regency Inn.  Fellowship results in many different options for keeping honey bees.

· Bring your award-winning photos,  your outstanding honey foods and any mead or wine that you make to the Annual meeting for the contests between members.  It is great fun to see the photos, taste the scrumptious food and to sip the different meads that our members offer.

· Consider becoming a mentor for the IHPA youth scholarship beekeeping program.  Contact Mike Brahms, (712) 774-5878 or mbrahms@netins.net  volunteer.  We need you to let us know that you would be willing to guide a young person in learning the skills necessary to become a beekeeper.  The youth are the future of this organization.