Bee farming

[JB4310]

This colony collapse disorder took out half of my friends hives in the last 2-3 years. Especially over the winter, I guess it's normal to loose a percentage of hives in the winter but CCD has been decimating bee colonies worldwide.
Don't know if it's slowing down or still getting worse.

He told be the hives will produce a heartier bee designed to last through winter months, the summer bees die off?


Learn about CCD - Honey Bee Colony Collapse Disorder : National Agricultural Library

JB.

 

[First one]

This is a good book, The Beekeeper's Handbook (Third Edition) alot of nice illustrations .

 

[20 20]

I am curious as to the mite issues, some say treat the bees, others say let it be. I don't care for chemicals, but also don't want to start something that I may kill without having knowledge.

 

[NorTracNY]

20_20,
I'm actually taking free beginner bee classes right now from a very strong club in Western NY. The classes are great. I'll be receiving my bees in about 2 months.
From the club here, there is NO concern about CCD. At last nights class on pests and diseases, it wasn't even brought up! Someone asked the question afterwards about it. No local beekeeper in the club had ever had seen a case of it. There were some cases of absconding though. CCD appears to be largely a case of stress with the bees. There is some "contagious" aspect though.
As for treating for the Varroa mites, most of the members avoid chemicals. Some do dust with sugar, but it was clear that a strong colony will handle the mites on their own. It was also made clear that ALL colonies will have some mites.
For your location, be aware of bears and protecting the hives from them. In one night they can decimate an apiary.

 

[20 20]

Thanks NorTracNY, I missed out on a free class . You are also correct about our bears they don't seem to care much what people think

question for you that is off topic, do you own a NorTrac machine?

 

[dcyrilc]

Thanks NorTracNY, I missed out on a free class . You are also correct about our bears they don't seem to care much what people think

One thing to be aware of with your bears is that they will be after the bees not the honey. Bears actually eat the bees.

 

[dsquared]

I locate my hives in full sun, and facing southeast (if possible). As mentioned before, you don't want them sleeping in. As far as the questions about mite treatments, I quit treating three years ago. I buy queens from a local queen breeder (he is 100 miles from me in PA) and requeen my colonies with his queens (or their offspring when one of my colonies swarm). I've been lucky (for far, knock wood, make the sign of the cross) and haven't lost any colonies to mites since I stopped treating.

As I mentioned, it's a lot more difficult than when I started out 20+ years ago but I still enjoy it, especially this time of year when I'm assembling equipment, watching the maple trees getting ready to bloom and dreaming about the d@mn snow melting away.

 

[Jstpssng]

Hey, thanks for asking this question. I'm hoping to start a hive next year, and this thread has proved educational. I have a friend downstate from me who keeps 2 hives; he says the only problem he's ever had was when he bought bees with mites. I've gotten a lot of helpful hints from him. He raises Russian bees, and has also mentioned the hassles of getting them through the mail.

The blueberry grower next door to me dropped off several hives last year; to keep bears away he puts out electric tape, similar to what you see in horse pastures. The fence was run by a cell filled with "D" cell batteries, and were there for several weeks without incident.

 

[dave1949]

Here is a link to a place that sells different, odd looking hives.

Gold Star Honeybees - Home of the Gold Star Top Bar Hive

Have no idea if good or bad. Just ran across it in the Maine Org. Farmers newspaper.
Dave.

 

[GOLD STAR]

Hello Tractor Folks --
I don't own a tractor, though I've long had a hankering for a Kubota - not sure why, maybe it's the color...

Anyway - I wanted to say hello and thanks to the person who posted about Gold Star's top bar hives - they are "odd" looking - on purpose! and they are intended to be as natural as possible - to help promote healthy bees.

It's important that we return to a method of farming that supports bees - migratory pollination is certainly having its difficulties with keeping bees alive while being transported around the country to mono-crops, so it's nice to see Gold Star's products mentioned here.


-- Christy Hemenway
GOLD STAR HONEYBEES
207-449-1121
Gold Star Honeybees - Home of the Gold Star Top Bar Hive