The Buzz Newsletter

October 2010

 

 

Page 4

Iowa Code Includes Beekeeping

Did you know that beekeeping in Iowa is included in the Iowa Code?  The Iowa Code is the listing of the laws that the legislature has passed concerning every topic imaginable.  Beekeeping is included.  If you are interested you can go to the Iowa Code web page and look for beekeeping references.

http://www.legis.state.ia.us/Code.html
           
There are listings for the State Apiarist duties and requirements, the exemption of honey from the food code inspection process for sales of honey to grocery stores, the interstate travel of honey bees, (you need to have your hives inspected to remove them from the state) and there are rules governing the sale of frames of wax to try to control the spread of diseases from one beekeeper to another.  If you are selling hive bodies and they contain drawn comb, the comb needs to be inspected.  These rules are in effect to protect the beekeepers of the state and to control the spread of diseases such as American foul brood from one beekeeper to another.  That is why there is an inspection program administered by the Agriculture Department. If you have any questions concerning the inspection rules, please contact our State Apiarist, Andy Joseph at IDALS.

Andrew Joseph
Office of the State Apiarist
Iowa Laboratory Facility
2230 South Ankeny Blvd.
Ankeny, IA  50023
Andrew.joseph@iowaagriculture.gov
(515)725-1481

 

 

 

October Tips for the Beekeeping Year

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

· Apply either terramyacin 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 route. 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 5th and 6th 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) 778-4255 or mbrahms@netins.net  to 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.