The Buzz Newsletter

Page 5

Del's notes

How do I do it get more projects to do than I can possibly do? I only mowed 3 times this summer because it was so dry. That was OK but I had to pump water out of the creek in to a pond by the house then my wife would pump it up to the garden. I only had 1 pump so I would carry the pump down the creek bank then up the creek bank every day. Then I would carry 6 five gallon buckets up the hill to the fruit trees the pump would not go that far. After all the buckets the shallow supers do not seem to bad now.

My bees started slow both the bitty bees and my regular size bees. All but one of my hives requeened themselves at least once and some two or three times. When I have been out inspecting there were a lot of queenless hives. I combined some weaker hives they all look good now, hope to get a good goldenrod flow I am seeing a lot of it near me.

After reading and rereading all the information on CCD I have more questions and no answers. Many beekeepers indicated that their hives were under some form of stress at least 2 months before the first incidence of CCD. Stress could include poor nutrition ( due to apiary overcrowding, pollination of crops with low nutritional value, or pollen or nectar death ), limited or contaminated water supplies, possible exposure to pesticides or high levels of Varroa mites. The loss of bees is disturbing, the amount of press and attention given to honey bees presents a great opportunity to educate the public about the importance of honey bees and all pollinators.

As you take your honey supers off call me to have your hives inspected before you wrap them for winter. My home phone is 641-526-8866 cell 641-990-3040 and e-mail
laserink@partnercom.net

Submitted by Delmar Nelson

A Word From the Iowa Honey Queen.

Hello Beekeepers!
I would like to give all of you an update, since the last time I wrote. I have promoted honey, and beekeeping in a variety of ways. I would like to give you a brief overview on my experiences. I was invited to talk about honeybees at a preschool in Ft. Madison, and was also featured on the front page for the town paper. The observation hive that I brought was a big hit for the kids. I was also at the state fair on August 9-19th. IHPA made it possible for me to present information on general beekeeping, do cooking demonstrations, and hands on activities with kids at the stage of the 1st floor of the Agriculture Building. Meeting Hillary Clinton, Rudy Giuliani, and Fred Thompson was definitely one of my highlights at the State Fair. WHO radio with Van and Bonnie in the morning hosted me to discuss beekeeping, along with an interview from Channel 8 News. I sold honey lemonade, honey and a variety products at the
IHPA booth.

I have several events planned for these next few months. I want everyone to know I am available whenever, my work is very understanding and flexible with my hours. I am currently on the waiting list at DMACC in Ankeny for the Registered Nursing program, so I will not be taking any classes until they contact me. Please contact me to help you with any event you are
planning.

I can't believe how fast my year is going. Before we know it, we will be attending the annual meeting in November. I would like to announce that I am planning on Nationals, if you can think of anything to help prepare me for the next step, please let
me know.
You can contact me by my email at Chizel2004@aol.com, or by phone at (515) 210-1027.

Sincerely,

Chelsa Bronnenberg
2007 Iowa Honey Queen