2013 Newsletter Collection by Missouri State Beekeepers Association

2013 Newsletter Collection Sponsored By:

Missouri State Beekeepers Association P.O. Box 448 Oak Grove, MO 64075 www.mostatebeekeepers.org

February 2013 Eugene Makovec Editor editor@mostatebeekeepers.org

Spring workshops, meetings kick-start the year in beekeeping Dadant and Sons to celebrate anniversary with tri-state meeting in Hamilton Dadant and Sons, publisher of American Bee Journal and the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest purveyor of beekeeping equipment, will mark its sesquicentennial by hosting a tri-state meeting (Illinois, Missouri and Iowa) March 15-16 in Hamilton, Illinois. Attendees are invited to tour the Dadant headquarters on Friday afternoon, then attend a welcome banquet that evening. Saturday will feature beekeeping lectures by such notables as Randy Oliver, Jerry Hayes, Jim Tew and others. More details and registration information appear on pages 8-9 of this newsletter. The full agenda, hotel information and registration form appear on pages 10-11 of this newsletter. Early From the President ............ 2 Local associations ............ 11 registration is recommended, as this event is expected Is there a club near you? New ideas, changes for 2013 to draw a sizable crowd. Apimondia 2013 ................. 5 Membership application .. 12 (continued Join online via Paypal! Sept. 29 - Oct. 4 in Kiev on page 4)

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Dadant Tri-State Meeting 8 Agenda and registration

New Queen Chair ........... 13 Directory of officers .......... 13

Page 2 From the President

Missouri State Beekeepers Association

valued members. We will be reaching out to our membership over the coming It’s at about this time of the year - soon after holiday gifts have been months to provide us with new ideas and opened, considered, rejected, returned and finally settled on - that I new initiatives designed to support the begin evaluating my beekeeping equipment inventory. Now’s the time state-wide beekeeping community. No to consider my beekeeping plans for the new season and begin making matter your slant and style as a beekeeper decisions for my newest needs. The beekeeping supply catalogs are – commercial, hobbyist, conventional or scattered across the living room floor as I carefully and methodically alternative – you’ll find a welcome home consider what’s new, what’s missing, what needs to be replaced, and what with the MSBA. Don’t be surprised to needs to be tried. This, for me, is Christmas all over again. It’s a new receive a survey asking for your input year with a fresh start for a new beekeeping season and the opportunity and guidance. And don’t be surprised to to correct the many mistakes made in the previous months. discover your MSBA Regional Director in In a similar fashion, this is the time of the year when the Missouri attendance at your upcoming local association meeting, soliciting your State Beekeepers Association begins considering goals for the coming input and offering assistance. year, and beyond. By the time you read this, the MSBA Officers and As most of you know, we have decided to forgo the Spring, 2013 Directors will have already met once in Columbia to discuss goals and Membership Conference. After many hours of discussion, and in objectives for the coming months. As many of you know, the MSBA consideration of the Dadant 150th Anniversary Celebration on March Board begins 2013 with an encouraging mix of new leadership, combined 15th and 16th in Hamilton, Illinois, we have decided that two major with long established wisdom. Our organization launches into the new beekeeping events, held at approximately the same time of the year, is year with high energy, innovative ideas, a sound fiscal foundation and a too much. So, to ease everyone’s need to make the decision (and also strong determination to develop creative programs and services for our to ease your travel budget), we have decided to put all our energies this members. year into a fall conference that will “knock your socks off”. We’ll soon Over the past several months phone calls and emails have been flying be announcing the location and date for the fall event. across the state as MSBA officers and directors consider bold, new ideas. I encourage everyone to consider attending the Dadant Celebration. New website designs, online video instruction, streamlined membership It features a tremendous lineup of speakers and is certain to be highly services, beginning beekeeper training programs, governmental liaison attended by beekeepers from across the region. You can get more programs and mentoring services are all on the table for discussion and information on the MSBA website at www.MoStateBeekeepers.org. consideration. This is the time for the MSBA to step up to the plate I would be seriously negligent in my remarks without thanking our and assume a fresh and innovative new role for all beekeepers across outgoing president, Grant Gillard, for his leadership and guidance of the the state. organization over the past two years. He leaves us with a strong and As we continue to build and strengthen our organization, it is my sturdy ship, heading in the right direction and ready to challenge new strong conviction that our strength and direction begins with our seas. Grant will remain on the board as Past-President and will continue to play a vital role in the organization as we plan and implement future programs. I look forward to his invaluable advice and consultation as challenges arise and opportunities are presented. This is also the time of the year to catch up on all the many beekeeping articles and books that have been stacking up at the side of my favorite chair, waiting for times when the bees are not calling for my attention. This past year was, once again, filled with lots of media interest in honey bees and beekeepers. It was next to impossible to browse the magazine stands without discovering a feature article, or two, related to beekeeping. It’s my nature to purchase every magazine and every book that has the slightest reference to bees and beekeeping. As a result, my reading stack is tall and imposing. As I peer across the room from my computer, I see it looking back at me … screaming for attention. I’d better get to it! Till next time … John

by John Timmons

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Page 4

Missouri State Beekeepers Association

Upcoming meetings and workshops promise an early spring Eastern to host second annual Mardi Gras banquet

S So orr ld y O ... ut !

continued from page 1 and research entomologists; Jerry Hayes Jr., Ph.D., wellThree Rivers Beekeepers and the University of Missouri known author, lecturer, American Bee Journal columnist and Extension Center for St. Charles County are offering a Beginning Beeologics Commercial Lead at Monsanto; Heather Rose Beekeeper Class on February 1st and 2nd (Friday 6:00 p.m. to Matilla, Knafel Assistant Professor in the Natural Sciences, 9:30 p.m. and Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.). Come learn Department of Biological Sciences, Wellesley College, and about the fascinating honeybee and how to manage them and a leading environmentalist recognized for her teaching and prolific research on honeybee genetic diversity, nutrition, hive their home, the beehive. In two class sessions, you’ll learn from experienced beekeepers, communication, foraging and swarming; and Juliana Rangel, videos, written material, and hands-on demonstrations. You’ll Assistant Professor in Apiculture, Department of Entomology, continued on page 7 receive full instructions on the kinds of equipment you need, where to get it and where to get your bees. You’ll also be invited to join Three Rivers Beekeepers for continuing education and mentoring. The classes will cover the following topics: Honeybee Biology, Basics of the Hive, Basic Beekeeping Equipment, Purchasing and Assembling Hive Equipment, Obtaining and Installing Honeybees, Inspecting and Managing the Hives, Solving Common Beekeeping Problems, and Preparing Your Hives for Honey Collection. Cost for the program is $75.00 per person. Register online at www. ThreeRiversBeekeepers.com, or call the Extension Center at 636-970-3000. The Eastern Missouri Beekeepers Association (EMBA) will offer courses of instruction for beginners and experienced beekeepers on Saturday, February 9, 2013, at Maritz in Fenton, Missouri. The Experienced Beekeepers’ course will be tailored towards intermediate and expert level beekeepers, and will place special emphasis on biology, queen rearing, swarming, and colony BeeWeaver Queens & Bees behavior. Order Early for Spring 2013 The Beginners Beekeeping course is intended for persons with no prior Chemical Free Beekeeping since 2001... beekeeping experience, and will cover like Grandpa used to do it! all aspects of basic beekeeping to prepare students to start beekeeping in 2013. Featured instructors will include: Jamie Ellis, Assistant Professor of Entomology at the University of Florida and one of the country’s preeminent extension BeeWeaver.com

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Apimondia 2013 to be held in Kiev, Ukraine If you’re in the mood for a more exotic than usual vacation this year, and would like to combine it with an unforgettable beekeeping adventure, then Apimondia 2013 may be just the thing. Billed as “the most prestigious, massive and comprehensive event in beekeeping, both on domestic and global level”, Apimondia will be held this year in Kiev, Ukraine, with the motto: “Discover the European Honeyland”. Here is more from the Apimondia website: • Participants: More than 12,000 beekeeping industry representatives, from over 100 countries - the leading industry experts and specialists, scientists, international and national organizations’ representatives, public figures, manufacturers of beekeeping equipment and veterinary products and other products related with beekeeping; exporters and importers of beekeeping products and also beekeepers both amateurs and professionals. • Scientific program: The scientific direction of Apimondia Congress will be carried under the title: Beyond the Hive: Beekeeping and Global Challenges, and will be dedicated to studying of the potential of beekeeping industry in solving of the global problems facing humanity today. We believe that in today’s dynamic and globalized world the beekeeping science have to reach beyond the narrow field of specialization and take an active position in finding solutions to such important issues as environmental pollution and exhaustion of natural

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February 2013

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Local clubs to jump-start spring with workshops, meetings BeeSpeakSTL.com to present first speaker in series continued from page 4

Michael will be joined by a panel of local beekeepers who will Texas A&M University, who is in much demand as a teacher of share their swarm luring and catching techniques. A Question biology and behavioral ecology and the reproductive behavior and Answer session will allow you to directly engage Michael and our local panelists with seasonal management questions. of honeybee queens. Tuition is $90 per person, including lunch and refreshments. BeeSpeakSTL.com is a St. Louis regional speaker series Registration closes February 2nd unless filled sooner. See dedicated to advancing and promoting beekeeping thoughout www.easternmobeekeepers.com for registration and additional the area. BeeSpeakSTL.com is jointly sponsored and hosted by Saint Louis Beekeepers and Three Rivers Beekeepers. Come information. Additionally, Eastern is hosting its Second Annual St. Louis join the growing number of St. Louis area beekeepers. All are Beekeepers Mardi Gras Banquet on Friday, February 8 at welcome at whatever level of experience! Maritz. It is open to all beekeepers in St. Louis and the surrounding region. Dinner features New Orleans style food and music, a cash bar, and door prizes including nucs, queens and beekeeping equipment. After dinner remarks are by Dr. Jamie Ellis from the University of Florida. Cost is $35.00, or $30.00 for those attending the next dayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s workshop. Details and registration are available at www.easternmobeekeepers.com. The Kansas City-area Midwestern Beekeepers Association will hold a Beginnerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Beekeeping Class on Saturday, March 16, at 3 Trails Camp in Kansas City. The cost is $60, which includes a box lunch and club membership. More details are available by calling Cathy Misko at 660-656Shop online at BeeGoodsMercantile.com 3485, or visiting their website at www. midwesternbeekeepers.org. New beekeeping speaker series debuts in St. Louis BeeSpeakSTL.com will present the first speaker in its series, Michael Bush, author of The Practical Beekeeper: Beekeeping Naturally, on February 23, 2013 at the University of Missouri - St Louis. Cost is $17.00 in advance, $20.00 at the door. Michael Bush is one of the leading proponents of treatment-free beekeeping. He has been keeping bees since the mid 1970s, usually from two to seven hives up until the year 2000. The growing prevalence of the Varroa mite forced more experimentation and his numbers have increased to about 200.

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150th Anniversary Celebration Location Sullivan Auction site 1066 E, Hwy 136, Hamilton, IL March 15th & 16th, 2013 TENTATIVE AGENDA Friday, March 15th, 2013 12:00-4:00 p.m. Open House at Dadant & Sons, Inc. manufacturing locations: Hamilton, IL, Dallas City, IL, Kahoka, MO. 5:30 p.m. Welcome & Banquet Dinner at Sullivan Auction Site, Hamilton, IL. 6:30 p.m. After Dinner speaker: Dr. James Tew, Bee Culture Columnist, Author, Beekeeping Extension Specialist - Wooster, OH. 7:30 p.m. Close Saturday, March 16th, 2013 8:00 a.m.Registration - Sullivan Auction Site- Hamilton, IL. 8:45 a.m. Coffee and Rolls 9:00 a.m. Welcome by Tim C Dadant, President, Dadant & Sons, Inc. 9:15 a.m. Randy Oliver - ABJ Columnist, Commercial Beekeeper and Bee Researcher - Grass Valley, CA. 10:05 a.m. Break 10:30 a.m. Dr. James Tew - Bee Culture Columnist, Author, Beekeeping Extension Specialist - Wooster, OH. 11:20 a.m. Jerry Hayes - ABJ Columnist, Bee Research at Monsanto - St. Louis, MO.

KEYNOTE Randy Oliver He has 40 years of practical beekeeping experience, plus holds B.S. and M.S. degrees in Biological Sciences. Randy researches, analyzes, and digests beekeeping information from all over the world in order to not only broaden his own depth of understanding and knowledge, but to develop practical solutions to many of today’s beekeeping problems, which he then shares with other beekeepers through his various articles in the American Bee Journal, his speaking engagements worldwide, and on his website: www.ScientificBeekeeping.com Dr. James Tew He is currently the Beekeeping Specialist for the Alabama Cooperative Extension Service, Auburn University. In 2011 he retired after 34 years as the Ohio State Extension Beekeeping Specialist at Ohio State Univ. He has taught and has conducted applied research on honey bees and their behavior, specifically pollination behavior. He writes monthly articles for Bee Culture and has written two books, Beekeeping Principles and Backyard Beekeeping. He enjoys woodworking, photography and feeding ungrateful birds. He can be reached at: tewbee2@gmail.com, twitter.com/onetewbee and facebook.com/tewbee2. Jerry Hayes Jerry Hayes took an Apiculture Program under Dr. Jim Tew at the Univ. of Ohio. Then went to work at the USDA Bee Breeding and Stock Lab in Baton Rouge where at the time African Honey Bees were on the horizon and ID technioques were being studied. He later became a Regional Dadant Branch manager in Michigan and eventually moved to Dadant’s Headquarters in

12:10 p.m. Lunch Break 1:30 p.m. Randy Oliver - ABJ Columnist, Commercial Beekeeper and Bee Researcher - Grass Valley, CA *All 3 Sessions (A, B, C) will be running in all 3 time slots A: Setting up a Honey House - Kent Robertson, Manager of Dallas City, IL. metal Plant B: Honey & Hive Product Marketing - Charles and Karen Lorence - Aurora, IL. C: Queen Rearing and Making Spring Splits - Ray Latner - High Springs, FL. Branch manager, Beekeeper 2:15 p.m. Sessions: A, B, C 2:45 p.m. Sessions: A, B, C 3:15 p.m. Sessions: A, B, C 3:50 p.m. Raffle drawing 4:00 p.m. Close *If session exceeds room capacity, attendees will be moved to another session.

SPEAKERS Hamilton, Illinois. In 2003, he moved to Florida to become the Chief of the Apiary Inspection Section. He has written, with many writers' help, the “Classroom” in the ABJ for 20 plus years. He is on several science advisory boards for Colony Collapse Disorder and research funding projects. Starting in late January of 2012, he began a new beekeeping disease research job at Monsanto Corporation headquartered in St. Louis, MO.

SPECIAL EVENTS Friday afternoon conference attendees will have an opportunity to tour the facilities of Dadant and Sons in Hamilton, IL. Tours will include visits to the company's office, showroom, library and warehouse. In addition, guided tours will allow visitors to see the production of wax foundation. Tours also available at our Kahoka, MO. candle plant and the Dallas City, IL. metal plant. Also on Friday evening, at the Sullivan Auction site, there will be a kick-off banquet dinner for meeting registrants who have pre-registered. Following the banquet dinner, all meeting pre-registrants will have an opportunity to hear Dr. James Tew. In order to participate in the Friday evening banquet, participants need to pre-register. See the registration form for details. On Saturday, in addition to hearing three nationally recognized keynote speakers, attendees will have an opportunity to participate in all three break-out sessions that will address beekeeper needs and interests. A Saturday luncheon, provided free of charge by Dadant & Sons, will be available to all meeting pre-registrants. There will be a raffle for door prizes at the meeting.

Hwy 96 North

Hwy 218 IOWA

Sullivan Auction site

MISSISSIPPI RIVER

Hwy 136 from Missouri

Hwy 136

Dadant & Sons Hamilton, IL

Hwy 96 South

Hwy 136

ACCOMMODATIONS Hotel rooms are available in Keokuk and outlying areas. Ask for Dadant rate when making reservations. Baymont Inn 4th & Main St., Keokuk, IA 319-524-8000 80 rooms, downtown opposite River City Mall shopping, exercise facility with whirlpool & sauna, indoor heated pool, free local calls and free continental breakfast. King whirlpool suites, non-smoking and handicap rooms available. Pets allowed, rv/truck parking, elevators, game room, Major credit cards accepted. Super 8 Motel 3511 Main St., Keokuk, IA 319-524-3888 www.super8.com Restaurants nearby, fitness facility, cable TV, HBO, complimentary continental breakfast, laundry facility, wireless access available in public areas. Check-in time 1:00 p.m. major credit cards accepted.

ILLINOIS

Fairfield Inn 3404 Main St., Keokuk, IA 319-524-9000 www.marriott.com 61 rooms, 3 floors, indoor swimming pool, whirlpool, 4 honeymoon suites with jacuzzi & micro fridge. Free continental breakfast, 24-hour coffee & tea, free local calls, smoke-free policy, cable with free HBO, high-speed internet, check-in time 3:00 p.m., major credit cards accepted.

SESSION PRESENTERS CHARLES and KAREN LORENCE - ABJ Columnist

Honey & Hive Product Marketing RAY LATNER - Dadant-High Springs, FL - branch manager, beekeeper

Queen Rearing and Making Spring Splits KENT ROBERTSON Dadant-Dallas City, IL - metal plant manager Setting Up a Honey House

Hampton Inn 3201 Main St., Keokuk, IA 319-524-6700 www.hamptoninn.hilton.com 63 guest rooms including accessible rooms. Complimentary beverage area and free hot breakfast, fitness room, indoor heated pool, safety deposit box, business center, elevators, high chairs and play pens. Free internet access. Service animals allowed, sorry no pets. Smoking rooms available.

ADDITIONAL ACCOMMODATIONS ARE AVAILABLE IN SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES Carthage, IL Nauvoo, IL Quincy, IL Macomb, IL

11 miles 13 miles 36 miles 38 miles

25 rooms 290 rooms 733 rooms 300 rooms

www.prairiewindsmotel.com www.beautifulnauvoo.com/stay_hotels.html www.seequincy.com/SeeOurAreaAdamsHotel.php http://www.macomb.com/lodging.html

Kahoka, MO

24 miles

17 rooms

www.welcomeinnkahoka.com

Keokuk, IA Ft. Madison, IA Burlington, IA

3 miles 20 miles 38 miles

300 rooms 174 rooms 692 rooms

www.keokukiowatourism.org/lodging.htm www.fortmadison.com/visit-us/lodging/hotelsmotels/ www.growburlington.com/visit_stay.cfm

REGISTRATION PROCEDURES

Pre-registration will allow your hosts to make adequate preparations for meals. Only those who pre-register by the deadline date of Feb.15, 2013 will be eligible to attend the free Friday evening banquet dinner and the Saturday luncheon. Etc. Registration will be limited

Dadant 150th Anniversary Celebration Pre-registration Form One household per pre-registration form only, please. If you need additional preregistration forms, you may either photocopy this page, or contact Dadant and Sons by phone or e-mail to request that additional copies be sent to you. Be certain to give your mailing address when requesting additional preregistration forms.

Name(s): Postal Address: City, State ZIP: Phone No. E-mail: Registration: Registration:

______ Friday eveing banquet ______ Saturday luncheon

Complete and return by Feb.15th to Dadant & Sons, Inc., 51 S. 2nd Street, Hamilton, IL 62341-1397.

Page 10

Missouri State Beekeepers Association

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February 2013

Page 11

Local Beekeepers Associations 1 Beekeepers Association of the Ozarks 4th Tuesday of each month, 7:00 p.m. Darr Ag Center, 2401 S. Kansas Expwy, Springfield www.ozarksbeekeepers.org

2 Boone Regional Beekeepers Association 3rd Sunday of month, 3:00 p.m., Columbia Insurance Group, 2102 Whitegate Dr. (back door), Columbia President Jim Duever 573-254-3373 www.boonebees.org 3 Busy Bee Club 4th Tuesday of each month, 7:00 p.m., Cedar County Health Center, Owens Mill Road, Stockton Neal Lee 417-276-3090, Neil Brunner 314-276-4252 grnthumb@alltel.net 4 Eastern Missouri Beekeepers Association 2nd Wednesday of each month, 7:00 p.m., location changes. Bob Sears, President 314-479-9517 www.easternmobeekeepers.com 5 Golden Valley Beekeepers 2nd Monday of each month, 7:00 p.m. (but varies) Henry County Courthouse, Clinton MO Contact Kathy Murphy 660-678-5171 murftk@copper.net 6 Jackson Area Beekeepers 4th Tuesday of each month, 7:00 p.m. First Pres. of Jackson, 206 E. Washington Contact Grant Gillard 573-243-6568 gillard5@charter.net 7 Jefferson County Beekeepers Association 2nd Tuesday of each month, 7:30 p.m., Hwy B & 21 Jefferson County Extension Center, Hillsboro Contact Scott Moser 636-285-7295 8 Joplin Area Beekeepers Association Last Tue. of each month, 7 pm, SM Bank Community Building (7th and Duquesne Rd), Joplin Steve Davis, President 620-202-0232 9 Mid Missouri Beekeepers 3rd Sunday of each month, 2 pm, Old Train Depot, St. James. Steven Todd, President 573-885-6650 steventdd447@gmail.com 10 Midwestern Beekeepers Association Nov-March, 3rd Sunday of each month, 2:30 p.m. April-Oct, 3rd Thursday of each month, 7:00 p.m. (Schedule varies; please call first to confirm.) Bass Pro Shop, Independence, Conservation Room Cathy Misko, President 660-656-3485 cathymisko@earthlink.net 11 Mississippi Valley Beekeepers Association Last Tuesday of Month in Quincy, IL Contact Bernie Andrew 217-938-4975

12 Missouri Valley Beekeepers Association 3rd Monday of each month, 7:00 p.m. Location varies, contact below if unsure President Calvin Brandt cvbrandt@landolakes.com 13 Parkland Beekeepers 3rd Tuesday of month, 7pm, Ozark Federal Savings President Jim Johnson 573-330-6498 or 573-330-6499 14 Pomme de Terre Beekeepers 2ndThursday of each month, 7 pm Missouri Extension Office, Hermitage Contact Bessi Shryer 417-745-2527 15 SEMO Honey Producers 2nd Thursday of month, Church of Christ, Poplar Bluff Contact Ernie Wells 573-429-0222 wells.ernie@gmail.com 16 South Central Missouri Beekeepers Association 1st Friday of month, Howell Electric Coop, West Plains Monty Wiens, President 417 257-3994 17 Southern MO Beekeepers of Monett â&#x20AC;&#x153;MOBeesâ&#x20AC;?) 3rd Tuesday of each month, 7:00 p.m. United Methodist Church, Hwy 37 NW of Monett Leon Riggs, President 417-235-5053 18 Southwest Missouri Beekeepers Assn. of Neosho 1st Tuesday of month, Neosho High School FFA Bldg President Roger Ross 417-472-3504 19 Three Rivers Beekeepers 3rd Monday of month, University of Missouri Extension, 260 Brown Road, St. Peters, Missouri, 7:00 p.m. For info: 2952 Greenleaf Drive, St. Charles, MO 63303 info@threeriversbeekepers.com 20 Northwest Missouri Bee Busters 1st Monday of odd months, 7:00 p.m. 511 4th Street, Conception Junction, MO 64434 Gerald Auffert, President 660-944-2535

21 Lake of the Ozarks Beekeepers 3rd Saturday of month, 1:00 p.m. UMC Extension Office, 100 E. Newton,Versailles MO Contact Russell Kasnick 573-372-3122 22 Northeast Missouri Beekeepers Association 1st Friday of month, 6:30 pm Running Fox Elementary (3 miles south of Wayland) Acting President Randy Ewart 573-248-5561 rewart@centurytel.net 23 Gasconade Region Bee Keepers 2nd Tuesday 7:00, First State Comm. Bank, Owensville President Rodney Angell 573-259-5811 2224 Nowack, Rosebud MO bee143@fidnet.com 24 St. Louis Beekeepers 4th Tuesday 6:30, Schlafly Bottleworks contact@saintlouisbeekeepers.com www.saintlouisbeekeepers.com See state map on facing page for approximate geographic locations.

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February 2013

Page 13

Queen program under new leadership

Directory of Officers

by Joyce Justice We have two ladies who are going to make the Missouri Honey Queen program a great success! They are as follows: Wanda Johnston Missouri Honey Queen Chairperson Phone (816) 392-4960 headyhoney@kc.rr.com Nita Stigall Missouri Honey Queen Co-Chairperson Phone (816) 520-2414 nstigall@yahoo.com Wanda and Nita are anxious to have all the Missouri bee clubs looking for candidates and contacting them with their names so all the necessary forms can be quickly forwarded to them or tell the candidates how to get the information from the web. These ladies will make a great team. Please help them to make the Queen Program something to be proud of. Joyce

President: John Timmons 636-940-8202 2952 Greenleaf Drive, St. Charles MO 6330 president@mostatebeekeepers.org Vice President: Valerie Duever 314-402-4841 2362 County Road 185, Auxvasse MO 65231 vicepresident@mostatebeekeepers.org Secretary: Steve Moeller 573-886-0662 7035 N. Kircher Rd., Columbia MO 65202 secretary@mostatebeekeepers.org Treasurer: Jaime Stevens 573-225-6935 PO Box 214, Dexter MO 63841 treasurer@mostatebeekeepers.org Past-President: Grant Gillard 573 243-6568 3721 North High Street, Jackson MO 63755 pastpresident@mostatebeekeepers.org Northwestern Director: Open northwestdir@mostatebeekeepers.org Northeastern Director: Steve Harris 314-805-6451 1224 Sherbrooke Road, St. Charles MO 63303 northeastdir@mostatebeekeepers.org Southeastern Director: Cory Stevens 573-225-6935 PO Box 214, Dexter MO 63841 southeastdir@mostatebeekeepers.org Southwestern Director: Gary Dowling 620-724-3189 507 N. Ozark St., Girard KS 66743 southwestdir@mostatebeekeepers.org Central Director: Bob Brammer 660-385-2840 31649 Lake St., Macon MO 63552 centraldir@mostatebeekeepers.org Program Chairperson: Open program@mostatebeekeepers.org Newsletter Editor: Eugene Makovec 135 Alex Dr., Foley MO 63347 editor@mostatebeekeepers.org

314-703-7650

Auxiliary Treasurer: Dolores Vivian 816-690-7516 443 Fricke Road, Bates City MO 64011-8280 auxiliary@mostatebeekeepers.org Queen Chairperson: Wanda Johnston 816-392-4960 queenchair@mostatebeekeepers.org Co-Chair: Nita Stigall 816-520-2414 State Fair Chairman: Dean Sanders 816-456-4683 cell 37804 Old Pink Hill Road, Oak Grove MO 64075 State Entomologist: Collin Wamsley collin.wamsley@mda.mo.gov

573-751-5505

Associate Professor of Entomology: Richard Houseman HousemanR@missouri.edu 573-882-7181 1-87 Agricultural Building, University of MissouriColumbia, Columbia MO 65211

Missouri State Beekeepers Association P.O. Box 448 Oak Grove, MO 64075 www.mostatebeekeepers.org

RENEW NOW:

Don’t forget -- if you have not already done so, please renew your membership for 2013, either via the form on page 12 or on our website. (If you’re still getting this via snail mail, and your label says 2012, it’s time to renew!)

This newsletter is published six times per year, in even months. Submissions are due by the 15th of the month prior to publication. The email edition is in color, and contains hyperlinks and bonus back-page material, while the print version is in black-and-white. If you are a member currently receiving the printed newsletter and you wish to upgrade, just send an email to editor@mostatebeekeepers.org with “email newsletter” in the subject line. I’ll reply with confirmation, and add you to my list. Advertising rates are as follows:

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Classified Ads: Advertise one to three beekeeping-related items in a one-line ad at no charge. This service is for non-commercial MSBA members only, and is limited to one ad per item per calendar year. Honey Trading Post: This is a free service to members wishing to buy or sell honey on a wholesale basis. Just email or call the editor with contact information and whether you are buying or selling. Pricing is between the interested parties.

Missouri State Beekeepers Association PO Box 214 Dexter, Missouri 63841 www.mostatebeekeepers.org

April 2013 Eugene Makovec Editor editor@mostatebeekeepers.org

Mark your calendars!

MSBA Fall Conference to be held October 25-26 at Lake of the Ozarks This year’s Fall Conference of the Missouri State Beekeepers Association will be held Friday and Saturday, October 25-26 at the Lodge of Four Seasons in Lake Ozark, MO. Lodge information is available at http://4seasonsresort.com/ -- registration and room rates will be announced at a later date. Planning is ongoing, but our speakers will include Greg Hannaford of Oklahoma and Blake Shook of Texas. Much more information will be provided as it becomes available. Online conference registration will begin in August.

Happy Spring ... finally!

We were greeted with two inches of slush upon our return from a mid-March pilgrimage to Dadant. A week later the greater St. Louis area was blessed with its biggest winter storm of the year, with over a foot of snow in some parts. But Spring is finally here, and what colonies survived the long winter are making up for lost time -- as are the plants and trees, most of which are about 4-6 weeks behind last year. A member of the mint family, henbit (Lamium amplexicaule) provides a soft, early spring blanket to farm fields, forests and garden areas. A quick Google search reveals a variety of ways to kill this uninvited guest; however, as with many other “weeds”, the beekeeper chooses to live and let live … and the bees are grateful. See back cover for more on this fuzzy purple flower.

Bee prepared to volunteer for our ...

Take the Survey!

Your input is needed for this annual survey of beekeeping practices. Please see page 9 for details and instructions.

Missouri State Fair Booth The 2013 Missouri State Fair dates are August 8th thru 18th. We already have local clubs signed up for Friday, August 9th; Sunday, August 11th; Monday, August 12th; Friday, August 16th; and Saturday, August 17th. Our biggest need for volunteers is during the week. Start planning your vacation dates now to include helping out in our booth. This year we are asking you to sign up for half days: 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. or 3:00 p.m. to closing at 9:00 p.m. Arrangement for overnight accommodations nearby is available for you to reserve dates of your choice. Please call Dean Sanders at 816-456-4683, or Steve Harris at 314-805-6451 for more information and to let them know what day(s) you can help. THANK YOU ! Your help is very much appreciated! Dean and Steve

INSIDE THIS ISSUE From the President ............ Dadant Anniversary ......... 800 Beekeepers to Hamilton! Electric bees ...................... Drawn by more than beauty Beekeeper of the Year ....... Grant Gillard

2 4 7 9

Bee Informed Partnership ... 11 Annual Survey due April 15 Local associations ............ 11 Membership application .. 12 Join online or by mail New Queen Chair ........... 13 Directory of officers .......... 13

Page 2 From the President

Missouri State Beekeepers Association by John Timmons

Peering out the back window toward my hives, I see them covered in about a foot of fresh snow, but I know my bees are well into their spring rituals. The queen is busy replenishing the colony after a long, hard winter, while her offspring anxiously await the start of their mad dash for pollen and nectar. This is a great time of the year for beekeepers as we anticipate all that’s before us in the coming months. In spite of the long, lingering winter, a lot has happened in the world of Missouri beekeeping since my February message. I just returned from the Dadant and Sons 150th Anniversary Celebration in Hamilton, Illinois. What a tremendous event it turned out to be, with more than 800 beekeepers in attendance! Everyone had an opportunity to tour all the Dadant facilities on Friday, followed by dinner and a presentation by Dr. James Tew. For those of you who haven’t had the opportunity to hear Jim speak, I can tell you that it’s a real treat. While no one disputes his profound honey bee expertise, it’s his wildly entertaining beekeeper humor that left us all rolling in the aisles. On Saturday, we listened to some extraordinary presentations by Randy Oliver, Jerry Hayes, Jim Tew, and others. Randy, Jerry and Jim always provide a wealth of new beekeeping knowledge and it’s a pleasure hearing about their new observations and discoveries. Everyone went home from Dadant with fresh perspectives on beekeeping and valuable new information. As Dadant planned the Friday evening dinner gathering, I had been asked to make a short presentation about the Missouri State Beekeepers Association. Little did I know that I would have to follow Jim Tew. I have a couple of observations: following Jim Tew on the podium is like following Jay Leno … the audience was so caught up in laughter that they had little time to recover for my remarks. Also, I can tell you that speaking to a room filled with 800 people is a bit intimidating. However, I pulled it off, reporting on two special notices that I’ll share with you now. It gives me great pleasure to report the MSBA award for the 2013 Beekeeper of the Year. There was little question who it would go to this year and, in somewhat secret deliberations, the Awards Committee proudly placed this year’s award into the hands of Grant Gillard. Grant has exemplified himself as an important beekeeping educator and contributor to the growth and vitality of the MSBA. Not only does Grant contribute as a popular speaker around the region, but his role as the Past-President of the MSBA set a standard that encourages me to work hard. Congratulations, Grant, for an honor well-deserved. I also announced in Hamilton, and I’m happy to report to you now, the selection of a date and venue for our 2013 Fall Membership Conference. After visits to several sites in the center of the state, and receiving bids from each, we have selected the Lodge of Four Seasons at Lake of the Ozarks for our next conference on October 25-26. After careful study of all the possibilities, there was simply no question which venue could provide the best facilities at the best price. We’re pleased to be attending the Lodge in October and will keep everyone informed as we compile the list of speakers and agenda. Suffice it to say, that since this is our only membership conference for 2013, we intend to put together a show that will “knock your socks off”. Put it on your calendar! We’ll be certain to announce the speakers and vendors far in advance of the event, and open online registration as early as possible. Speaking of vendors, it’s my personal goal and objective to ramp up our vendor participation for future conferences. We need to support our vendors at our events, making their decision to attend an easy one. And it’s with this objective in mind that I’m proud to announce the appointment of Tim Hyde as our new Vendor Liaison. Tim has proven

his value to the beekeeping community over and over as he contributes to three clubs in the St. Louis area while providing an ever-increasing contribution to the MSBA at the state fair booth in Sedalia. It’s no exaggeration to say that beekeeping in the eastern portion of the state wouldn’t be the same without Tim’s contribution, and I’m happy to have him as a part of the membership conference team. Tim will communicate with all our valued vendors and coordinate their attendance in October. In closing, I hope everyone is ready for, what’s sure to be, a busy and prosperous beekeeping season. Till next time … John

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Missouri State Beekeepers Association

Dadant and Sons celebrates 150th Anniversary For Immediate Release (Dadant and Sons), March 18, 2013 Eight hundred beekeepers converged on the Dadant & Sons, Inc., Beekeeping Supply and Candle Company in Hamilton, Ill, March 15 & 16, 2013 to attend the Sesquicentennial Anniversary celebrating the company’s 150 years of business. Festivities on March 15 included a tour of the company’s three main area manufacturing facilities in Hamilton and Dallas City, Illinois, and Kahoka, Missouri, as well as a complementary banquet and evening speaker at Sullivan Auctioneers, llc., located outside of Hamilton on Highway 136. We would like to thank the Sullivan family for their generosity and helping with our 150th Anniversary celebration. The following day, beekeepers were treated to a full day of speeches and displays, as well as lunch provided by the company. Saturday’s program included speeches from nationally known beekeeping experts: James Tew, retired Ohio State extension beekeeper and current extension beekeeper at Auburn University; Randy Oliver, California commercial beekeeper and pollinator and monthly columnist for the American Bee Journal; Jerry Hayes, Jerry Hayes, at right, long-time American Bee Journal former Florida State columnist, reminisces with Luke Dadant Menn, a apiarist, who currently sixth-generation member of the Dadant family. works for Monsanto in St. Louis on bee health and writes the monthly Classroom column for the American Bee Journal; and Chuck and Karen Lorence, Illinois sideline beekeepers and honey marketing experts. Talks were also given by Tim Dadant, company president; Kent Robertson, Dadant’s Dallas City Metalware plant manager; and Ray Latner, Dadant’s Florida branch manager. Dadant & Sons, Inc., began their business in Hamilton, Illinois in 1863 when At right, Joe Graham, editor of the American Bee Journal for Charles Dadant emigrated from France to the United States with the intention the past 39 years, listens to one of the 800 or so attendees at of growing grapes in West Central Illinois. However, Charles, who had also been Dadant’s anniversary celebration. a hobby beekeeeper in France, soon discovered that honey bees flourished and produced excellent honey crops in this area due to the abundance of native wildflowers, as well as clover and alfalfa grown by farmers. From this sideline pursuit the family’s beekeeping business continued to grow. At one time, the family was known as one of the largest honey producers in the country. continued next page

Randy Oliver, California beekeeper, research scientist and author of the long-running “Sick Bees” series in the American Bee Journal, was a center of attention during breaks in the lecture schedule at the crowded Sullivan Auction House. All photos by Eugene Makovec

April 2013

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Dadant draws 800 beekeepers to Hamilton, Illinois continued from previous page Charles and his son, C.P. Dadant, also began to manufacture beeswax comb foundation for other beekeepers when it was discovered that providing reusable combs for beehives greatly increased the hive’s honey productivity. Eventually, the company added beehives, honey processing equipment and other beekeeping accessories to the wide range of products they sold to beekeepers. As the family business grew, producing quality beekeeping supplies became a larger part of the business. Today, Dadant & Sons, Inc., is the largest beekeeping supply manufacturer in the world. They also manufacture candles for both the religious and decorative candle trade. Besides its plants in Hamilton and Dallas City, Ill., and Kahoka, Mo., it owns a woodenware plant in Polson, Mont. It also has 10 branch sales offices located throughout the country, in addition to significant international sales volume. On the educational front, it maintains the monthly American Bee Journal magazine, the oldest English language beekeeping magazine, as well as publishing an extensive line of beekeeping educational books.

“The sting is the thing that binds us.” Jim Tew, Auburn University extension beekeeper, addresses the crowd during Saturday’s meeting. Tew brought down the house with a rousing after-dinner address on Friday evening.

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April 2013

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Bees can sense the electric fields of flowers by Ed Yong, NationalGeographic.com and created e-flowers—artificial purple-topped blooms with designer A bumblebee visits a flower, drawn in by the bright colours, the patterns electric fields. When bumblebees could choose between charged on the petals, and the aromatic promise of sweet nectar. But there’s flowers that carried a sugary liquid, or charge-less flowers that yielded a more to pollination than sight and smell. There is also electricity in the bitter one, they soon learned to visit the charged ones with 81 percent accuracy. If none of the flowers were charged, the bees lost the ability air. Dominic Clarke and Heather Whitney from the University of Bristol to pinpoint the sugary rewards. have shown that bumblebees can sense the electric field that surrounds But the bees can do more than just tell if an electric field is there or a flower. They can even learn to distinguish between fields produced by not. They can also discriminate between fields of different shapes, which different floral shapes, or use them to work out whether a flower has in turn depend on the shape of a flower’s petals and how easily they been recently visited by other bees. Flowers aren’t just visual spectacles conduct electricity. Clarke and Whitney visualised these patterns by spraying flowers with positively charged and brightly coloured particles. and smelly beacons. They’re also electric billboards. You can see the results below. Each flower has been sprayed on its right “This is a big finding,” says Daniel Robert, who led the study. “Nobody half, and the rectangular boxes show the colours of the particles. had postulated the idea that bees could be sensitive to the electric field of a flower.” continued on page 13 Scientists have, however, known about the electric side of pollination since the 1960s, although it is rarely discussed. As bees fly through the air, they bump into charged particles from dust to small molecules. The friction of these microscopic collisions strips electrons from the bee’s surface, and they typically end up with a positive charge. Flowers, on the other hand, tend to have a negative charge, at least on clear days. The flowers themselves are electrically earthed, but the air around them carries a voltage of around 100 volts for every metre above the ground. The positive charge that accumulates around the flower induces a negative charge in its petals. When the positively charged bee arrives at the negatively charged flower, sparks don’t fly but pollen does. “We found some videos showing that pollen literally jumps from the flower to the bee, as the bee approaches… even before it has landed,” says Robert. The bee may fly over to the flower but at close quarters, the flower also flies over to the bee. This is old news. As far back as the 1970s, botanists suggested that electric forces enhance the attraction between pollen and pollinators. Some even showed that if you sprinkle pollen over an immobilised bee, some of the falling grains will veer off course and stick to the insect. But Robert is no botanist. He’s a sensory biologist. He studies how animals perceive the world around them. When he came across Chemical Free Beekeeping since 2001... the electric world of bees and flowers, the first question that sprang to mind was: “Does like Grandpa used to do it! the bee know anything about this process?” Amazingly, no one had asked the question, much less answered it. “We read all of the papers,” says Robert. “We even had one translated from Russian, but no one had made that intellectual leap.” To answer the question, Robert teamed up with BeeWeaver.com Clarke (a physicist) and Whitney (a botanist),

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Missouri State Beekeepers Association

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April 2013

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Grant Gillard named 2012 Missouri Beekeeper of the Year Outgoing MSBA President Grant Gillard was named Missouri Beekeeper adapted queens. of the Year during Dadant’s 150th Anniversary celebration and meeting in He markets his honey through farmers markets, wholesale to grocery March. The following is excerpted from the award presentation by current stores, and from his driveway with a self-service “honor box”. President John Timmons. Grant is a Presbyterian Pastor in Jackson, Missouri, husband to Nancy It’s customary at our spring membership conferences, that we honor and father of three grown children, Austin, Claire and Barbara. that member of the MSBA for his or her contribution to the organization He is a frequent conference speaker, and has published numerous and Missouri beekeeping. Like most state beekeeping organizations, the articles in both Bee Culture and American Bee Journal, in addition to a MSBA has been around for many decades. And, as with any successful number of books on beekeeping. organization, it’s usually a small group of individuals stepping to the forefront with wisdom and guidance and grit and determination that From 2010 through 2012, Grant served as President of the Missouri keeps the wheels turning. In the case of the MSBA, it’s individuals who State Beekeepers Association. not only shine as beekeepers, but educators and leaders. These are the It gives me great pleasure to present this year’s Missouri State Beekeeper Association “Beekeeper of the Year” award to Grant Gillard. individuals that make any organization successful, and the Missouri State Beekeepers Association is no exception. It is with this high standard of excellence in mind that the Board of Directors of the MSBA presents this year’s award for Beekeeper of the Year to Grant Gillard. Following his graduation from Iowa State University, Grant began keeping bees in 1981 with twenty hives in southern Minnesota. A lot has happened since 1981, having transplanted himself from the cold confines of Minnesota to the near-tropical climate of southeastern Missouri. Grant describes himself as a “Serious Sideliner”, operating multiple apiaries totaling around 200 hives, give or take a handful depending on the time of year and the number of swarms he’s captured. His beekeeping operation remains, as his wife Nancy puts it, “a hobby on steroids”. His methodology is best described as keeping bees as naturally as Nancy Gillard applauds as her husband Grant is announced as the 2012 Missouri photo by Michael Godfrey possible with sustainable practices, including raising his own locally beekeeper of the Year.

Are you ready to survey? Help the Bee Informed Partnership assess the health of our industry -- Surveys due April 15!

The Bee Informed Partnership (BIP) is a USDA/NIFA (U.S. Department of Agriculture/National Institute of Food and Agriculture) funded project with the stated goal of reducing colony losses. The program is a collaboration of research institutions, Universities and beekeepers in the US. It is now time for your active participation! BIP and the nation’s beekeepers, cooperatively seek solutions to reduce colony losses. While some beekeepers are experiencing near normal loss levels, others are experiencing devastating losses. BIP seeks a collective approach to gather and share information on what works and what doesn’t work. We need your participation on two annual electronic surveys, covering both annual colony losses and management strategies. The information, after coming directly from beekeepers, is then analyzed and displayed graphically in a way that is easy to understand.

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Beekeepers can find out which management techniques correlate to lower colony loss when beekeepers anonymously share data. More data is always more accurate than less data. Last year’s survey included over 5,000 participating beekeepers sharing information. As the third year of these surveys approaches, the goal of the partnership is to increase participation and report it so it is more significant and meaningful to beekeepers. This third year of data will enable us to conduct multi-factorial analysis and report results on a more regional basis; especially in states with large participation. Commercial beekeeper data will be separated to highlight this group’s special needs and concerns. The cost for participating is free. It will take less than 20 minutes to take both surveys. In return, you will have access to the compiled data from all aspects of bee management. The information you enter into the survey is completely anonymous deigned to improve everyone’s beekeeping success. Go to Beeinformed.org to see what we have gathered so far and sign up for this year’s survey. More Beekeeper participation means more information and more answers. We want you to BEE INFORMED. The surveys will be available beginning March 29th and will stay open until April 15th. For more information, to sign up to participate or to fill out a survey on March 29th, visit beeinformed.org or email Karen Rennich, BIP Project Manager at usbeesurvey@gmail.com

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April 2013

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Local Beekeeping Associations 1 Beekeepers Association of the Ozarks 4th Tuesday of each month, 7:00 p.m. Darr Ag Center, 2401 S. Kansas Expwy, Springfield Bruce Snavely, President 417-732-5219 www.ozarksbeekeepers.org

2 Boone Regional Beekeepers Association 3rd Sunday of month, 3:00 p.m., Columbia Insurance Group, 2102 Whitegate Dr. (back door), Columbia President Jim Duever 573-254-3373 www.boonebees.org 3 Busy Bee Club 4th Tuesday of each month, 7:00 p.m., Cedar County Health Center, Owens Mill Road, Stockton Neal Lee 417-276-3090, Neil Brunner 314-276-4252 grnthumb@alltel.net 4 Eastern Missouri Beekeepers Association 2nd Wednesday of each month, 7:00 p.m., location changes. Bob Sears, President 314-479-9517 www.easternmobeekeepers.com 5 Golden Valley Beekeepers 2nd Monday of each month, 7:00 p.m. (but varies) Henry County Courthouse, Clinton MO Jamie Perry, Secretary 660-924-3404 jamiebperry711@yahoo.com Tom McCormick, President 417-644-7507 tlmccormick@mccormickcos.com 6 Jackson Area Beekeepers 4th Tuesday of each month, 7:00 p.m. First Pres. of Jackson, 206 E. Washington Contact Grant Gillard 573-243-6568 gillard5@charter.net 7 Jefferson County Beekeepers Association 2nd Tuesday of each month, 7:30 p.m., Hwy B & 21 Jefferson County Extension Center, Hillsboro Contact Scott Moser 636-285-7295 8 Joplin Area Beekeepers Association Last Tue. of each month, 7 pm, SM Bank Community Building (7th and Duquesne Rd), Joplin Steve Davis, President 620-202-0232 9 Mid Missouri Beekeepers 3rd Sunday of each month, 2 pm, Old Train Depot, St. James. Steven Todd, President 573-885-6650 steventdd447@gmail.com 10 Midwestern Beekeepers Association Nov-March, 2nd Sunday of each month, 2:30 p.m. April-Oct, usually 3rd Thursday of month, 7:00 p.m. (Schedule varies; please call first to confirm.) Bass Pro Shop, Independence, Conservation Room Cathy Misko, President 660-656-3485 cathymisko@earthlink.net 11 Mississippi Valley Beekeepers Association Last Tuesday of Month in Quincy, IL Contact Bernie Andrew 217-938-4975

See state map on facing page for approximate geographic locations.

2nd Tuesday 6:30, Moor-View Community Room, Nevada Caroline Phillips, President 417-321-3587 bcphillips81@gmail.com

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April 2013 Bees get a charge out of flowers continued from page 7 The bees can sense these patterns. They can learn to tell the difference between an e-flower with an evenly spread voltage and one with a field like a bullseye with 70 percent accuracy. Bees can also use this electric information to bolster what their other senses are telling them. The team trained bees to discriminate between two e-flowers that came in very slightly different shades of green. They managed it, but it took them 35 visits to reach an accuracy of 80 percent. If the team added differing electric fields to the flowers, the bees hit the same benchmark within just 24 visits. How does the bee actually register electric fields? No one knows, but Robert suspects that the fields produce small forces that move some of the bee’s body parts, perhaps the hairs on its body. In the same way that a rubbed balloon makes you hair stand on end, perhaps a charged flower provides a bee with detectable tugs and shoves. The bees, in turn, change the charge of whatever flower they land upon. Robert’s team showed that the electrical potential in the stem of a petunia goes up by around 25 millivolts when a bee lands upon it. This change starts just before the bee lands, which shows that it’s nothing to do with the insect physically disturbing the flower. And it lasts for just under two minutes, which is longer than the bee typically spends on its visit. This changing field can tell a bee whether a flower has been recently visited, and might be short of nectar. It’s like a sign that says “Closed for business. Be right back.” It’s also a much more dynamic signal than more familiar ones like colour, patterns or smells. All of these are fairly static. Flowers can change them, but it takes minutes or hours to do so. Electric fields, however, change instantaneously whenever a bees lands. They not only provide useful information, but they do it immediately. Robert thinks that these signals could either be honest or dishonest, depending on the flower. Those that carpet a field and require multiple visits from pollinators will evolve to be truthful, because they cannot afford to deceive their pollinators. Bees are good learners and if they repeatedly visit an empty flower, they will quickly avoid an entire patch. Worse still, they’ll communicate with their hive-mates, and the entire colony will seek fresh pastures. “If the flower can signal that it is momentarily empty, then the bee will benefit and the flower will communicate honestly its mitigated attraction,” says Robert. But some flowers, like tulips or poppies, only need one or two visits to pollinate themselves. “These could afford to lie,” says Robert. He expects that they will do everything possible to keep their electric charge constant, even if a bee lands upon them. They should always have their signs flipped to “Open”. Robert’s students will be testing this idea in the summer. Many animals can sense electric fields, including sharks and rays, electric fish, at least one species of dolphin, and the platypus. But this is the first time that anyone has discovered this sense in an insect. And in the humble bumblebee, no less! Bees and flowers have been studied intensely for decades, maybe centuries, and it turns out that they’ve been exchanging secret messages all this time. Now, Robert’s team is going to take their experiments from the lab into the field, to see just how electrically sensitive wild bees can be, and how their senses change according to the weather. “We are probably only seeing the tip of the electrical iceberg here,” he says. Reference: Clarke, Whitney, Sutton & Robert. Detection and Learning of Floral Electric Fields by Bumblebees. Science http:/dx.doi.org/10.1126/ science.1230883

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Directory of Officers President: John Timmons 636-940-8202 2952 Greenleaf Drive, St. Charles MO 6330 president@mostatebeekeepers.org Vice President: Valerie Duever 314-402-4841 2362 County Road 185, Auxvasse MO 65231 vicepresident@mostatebeekeepers.org Secretary: Steve Moeller 573-886-0662 7035 N. Kircher Rd., Columbia MO 65202 secretary@mostatebeekeepers.org Treasurer: Jaime Stevens 573-225-6935 PO Box 214, Dexter MO 63841 treasurer@mostatebeekeepers.org Past-President: Grant Gillard 573 243-6568 3721 North High Street, Jackson MO 63755 pastpresident@mostatebeekeepers.org Northwestern Director: Roger Nichols cell 816-456-6983 northwestdir@mostatebeekeepers.org Northeastern Director: Steve Harris 314-805-6451 1224 Sherbrooke Road, St. Charles MO 63303 northeastdir@mostatebeekeepers.org Southeastern Director: Cory Stevens 573-225-6935 PO Box 214, Dexter MO 63841 southeastdir@mostatebeekeepers.org Southwestern Director: Gary Dowling 620-724-3189 507 N. Ozark St., Girard KS 66743 southwestdir@mostatebeekeepers.org Central Director: Bob Brammer 660-385-2840 31649 Lake St., Macon MO 63552 centraldir@mostatebeekeepers.org Program Chairperson: Open program@mostatebeekeepers.org Newsletter Editor: Eugene Makovec 135 Alex Dr., Foley MO 63347 editor@mostatebeekeepers.org

314-703-7650

573-751-5505

Associate Professor of Entomology: Richard Houseman HousemanR@missouri.edu 573-882-7181 1-87 Agricultural Building, University of MissouriColumbia, Columbia MO 65211

Missouri State Beekeepers Association PO Box 214 Dexter, Missouri 63841 www.mostatebeekeepers.org

Henbit is a common annual, blooming in winter in warmer climates, and early spring in the Midwest. Honeybees are known to work it for both pollen and nectar. It can reportedly result in a slightly minty honey, but in these parts the nectar goes exclusively for population building. If allowed to mature, the plant can achieve a height of 12-15” and produce tiny, nutlike seeds. photo by Eugene Makovec

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Missouri State Beekeepers Association PO Box 214 Dexter, Missouri 63841 www.mostatebeekeepers.org

June 2013 Eugene Makovec Editor editor@mostatebeekeepers.org

Booth help needed!

Join us at the Missouri State Fair, August 8-18 in Sedalia With the slogan, “Chicks dig it!” the Missouri State Fair runs this year from August 8-18 in Sedalia. The 400-acre fairgrounds will present premier livestock shows and competitive exhibits, and first-class professional entertainment. Mark your calendar for the summer’s best family vacation experience! The fair will showcase the best of Missouri agriculture; competitions from bull riding to tractor pulls; professional entertainment from Toby Keith to the Oak Ridge Boys; rural lifestyle experiences; handson science, technology and innovation; family-friendly amenities for everyone from infants to mature adults; and other action-packed activities. The Missouri State Fair is the perfect blend of activities for a memorable family outing. The midway carnival includes games and rides for children and thrill seekers of all ages. The nightlife on the fairgrounds kicks up each evening with free music on the Budweiser Stage and music stars performing on the stage of the Pepsi Grandstand. Admission at the gate: $8; age 60+, $6; ages 6-12, $2; 5 and under free. Tickets can be purchased in advance for a discount. See www. mostatefair.com for schedules and details. Booth volunteers needed: Please consider volunteering at our MSBA Booth at the MO State Fair in Sedalia this year. The booth is in the air-conditioned AG Building on the southeast side of the fairgrounds. (See map on page 6, and at http://www.mostatefair.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/2013off-season-map_revised_4-11-2013.pdf.) If you sign up to help, your admission ticket can be picked up at the RED Caboose located on Hwy 65 (outside the fairgrounds), just North of Gate #11. Go onto the fairgrounds at this entrance and park your vehicle. The days we need to fill are Aug. 8th (first day), Sat. Aug 10, Aug 13, 14, 15 and Aug 18th (last day). We need 5 to 6 people in the booth each day - 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Call Dean Sanders (816-456-4683) or Steve Harris (314-805-6451) and sign up for as many hours/days as you can. Arrangement for overnight accommodations nearby is available for you to reserve dates of your choice. Jobs in the booth include answering questions at our observation hive, selling honey, ice cream, honey sticks and other honey related

INSIDE THIS ISSUE From the President ............ 2 Beekeeping in Afghanistan 4 State Fairgrounds map ...... 6 Honey Queen scholarship ... 7 From the Honey Queen ....... 7 Bee Informed Partnership 8 Survey says ...

Europe bans neonics .......... 9 But will it save the bees? Local associations ............ 10 Twenty-eight and counting ... Membership application .. 12 Join online or by mail Directory of Officers ....... 13

by-products, plus educating the public about the Honeybee. If you’ve never worked at or been to the Fair, try it for a day. You get to meet and work with other beekeepers, and Dean and Steve or other experienced workers will be there to help answer any of your questions. See you at the Fair! Enter your honey and other products: Even if you are unable to help out at our booth, you can still participate in the Honey Competition. A list of products to enter are: Cut comb, bulk comb, light extracted, dark extracted, sealed honey frames, candied (creamed) honey, 3 lb beeswax cake, beeswax art design, beeswax candles and “the queen & her bees”. Judging of honey entries will include degree of density, moisture content, free from crystals, clarity, cleanliness of containers, flavor & aroma, color, appearance of containers, and uniformity of volume. Score Sheet for judging the other additional items and more specific guidelines plus an entry form can be found on the State Fair web site at http://www.mostatefair. com/premium-guide. Under “Agriculture and Home Economics” you will find “Agriculture Rules and Classes” (with Apiculture beginning on page 2) and the “Agriculture Entry Blank”. Start planning now and decide what to enter. Get your jars selected (preferably glass, but not a requirement) and get your creamed honey started by early July. Even if you are just beginning your beekeeping adventure, please consider entering your honey products for judging. You get a score sheet for each item you enter and it’s a great way to see how you’re doing in preparing your honey for sale or even to give to your friends and neighbors. If you are unable to deliver your entries to Sedalia yourself, maybe your local club can help find someone. Let’s fill up the showcase this year and let the public see our beautiful bounty from all over Missouri. Note: We will match your winnings if you are a member of the Missouri State Beekeepers Association.

Page 2 From the President

Missouri State Beekeepers Association by John Timmons

Swarms, swarms, and more swarms! It’s that time of the year again. The ringing of the phone is almost certainly another homeowner, or business owner, in a near panic over an ominous looking, football-size cluster of bees hanging from a limb, a deck, or the underside of their new barbeque grill. The first step, of course, is to ask that ever important question, “Are you certain they’re honey bees?” Satisfied with their first answer, we move on to the next, “How high up are they?” If we’re still satisfied (and trust that the caller knows the difference between six feet and sixty), we then provide comfort by assuring them that they’re not under attack and that this is just another example of Nature’s wonderful way. We assure them that, unless they poke the cluster with a stick, the kids will be safe. And then, rushing to the truck with cell phone in hand, we add, “Please don’t spray them with anything. I’ll be right there!” A source of panic for the non-beekeeper is a source of wonder (and a new hive) for the beekeeper. It’s one of those wonderful times of the year that we’re glad we do what we do. And we continue to be a growing group. Available seating at beginning beekeeping classes continues to be filled to capacity. More and more requests come into the MSBA website and local association websites, wanting information about how to become a beekeeper. Several years ago I speculated that the surge in interest in beekeeping would soon wane. The market would be saturated, I declared. I was wrong … big time! Just in the past month, I’ve attended the first meetings of two new clubs, Quad County Beekeepers in Troy, and North Central Missouri Beekeepers Association in Macon. Both have wonderful meeting facilities. But I’ve got advice for both clubs. You’d better start looking for a bigger meeting hall! Both meeting rooms were close to capacity at their very first meeting! And these weren’t simply existing members from neighboring clubs with nothing better to do than go to a meeting. A large percentage of those in attendance were new faces. So I ask myself, “Why doesn’t the membership list of our state beekeeping association, the Missouri State Beekeepers Association, grow at the same rate as the increasing list of beekeepers in Missouri?” I’ve been asking myself that question a lot over the past couple of years. I’ve been asking other beekeepers the same question. And the answers that I get are interesting. Some of the answers are constructive, some are bewildering, and some are downright insulting, like I just stole their favorite hive tool! In the future, I’m going to be asking that question more often. I may ask you. And I hope your answers will help define solutions leading to the inevitable course corrections required of our state beekeeping association … a new identity, with a compelling message to beekeepers across the state that the MSBA is more than just another “beekeeping club”. That’s what the local associations are for. No, the state beekeeping association is more than a beekeeping club. It’s that organization that represents you by keeping its eye on the big picture. It helps to define beekeeping initiatives and programs to assist the local associations. It makes certain that you’re represented at major events such as the Missouri State Fair. And it makes certain that you’re represented in Jefferson City when the word “beekeeping” one day finds its way into some messy legislative entanglement. And you can take it to the bank that, with the ever-increasing number of urban beekeepers, “beekeeping” will soon find its way onto the desk of a state legislator. Yes, there is no doubt that we have one of the best, if not the best,

state association newsletter in the country. And we have some of the best membership conferences, with some of the best programs around. And every year, in the month of August, dozens and dozens of beekeepers from across the state travel to Sedalia to put on a great beekeeping show at our booth at the Missouri State Fair. But perhaps that isn’t enough. Perhaps we should start putting a little more emphasis on those initiatives and programs that I mentioned earlier. So, you may ask, “Where are all these initiatives and programs that you’re talking about?” Well, you might be surprised to know that there are a lot of MSBA board members and directors working hard to put together a comprehensive agenda for our future; a future that defines our state beekeeping association with a new mandate, a new direction, and new responsibilities. So the next time you’re sitting with a group of beekeepers, turn to the guy or gal on your right, and ask them if they’re a member of the Missouri State Beekeepers Association. If they say yes, then turn to your left and ask the same question. Odds are that in one of those two cases, you’ll find someone that isn’t a member. Then ask them why not, and tell them why our state beekeeping association is so important, and ask them to help lend a hand in our efforts by becoming an active member of the MSBA. I welcome your comments and suggestions. Email me at president@ mostatebeekeepers.org. I promise I’ll read every email. Until next time, John

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Missouri State Beekeepers Association

Beekeeping a growing enterprise in Afghanistan by Manzoor Ahmad Afghanistan is an agricultural country and the majority of its people is busy and involved in agriculture or agri-businesses to feed their families. Beekeeping is one of the agri-businesses that have the potential to provide jobs to hundreds and thousands of people in the country. With the passage of time the number of people entering beekeeping is increasing because of market availability for honey in the region. Beekeeping is one of the traditional and profitable agribusinesses and there are many people involved in this business which generates sufficient income to feed their families. People involved in this business have many challenges including technical deficiency, lack of advanced beekeeping and the unavailability of modern beekeeping equipment in order to extend and develop this business sector. The Eastern region is also known as Ever Green region of Afghanistan; it has good climatic conditions for all agricultural and animal husbandry and production, especially for beekeeping. Eastern Region is covered by snowy mountains and various green valleys, and therefore it has always has flowers in season, in different areas at different times. This is the reason for beekeepersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; attraction in this zone, with almost 700 small and medium sized beekeeper farms located in this region. In 2007, when a beekeeper association was formed in Nangarhar province due to more beekeepers available in this province, the number of beekeepers was less than 100. Now there are more than 700 beekeepers in east zone, which shows the trends and interest of people in beekeeping. The Season Honey Processing and Packaging Company in Nangarhar is the first and only honey processing facility in Afghanistan, and it motivated many people to

start beekeeping businesses. In fact, all the honey produced in the region is purchased, processed and offered to the market in the region, as well as in Kabul and other cities of Afghanistan, by the mentioned facility. Many organizations working in agricultural development established hundreds of orchards in the region as well as in the country, providing favorable conditions for beekeeping and honey production in the country, which also encourages people to start beekeeping as a continued next page

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June 2013

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Afghan beekeepers struggle to bring their craft into modern era continued from page 4

permanent business. While looking to the favorable conditions, market availability for honey and peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s interest in the business, the number of jobs the sector provides will significantly increase. There are 1250 beekeepers in Afghanistan and 212 of them are female, but 700 of them exist in east zone of Afghanistan. Unfortunately the people recently starting beekeeping lack technical skill, knowledge and modern techniques of beekeeping; therefore, they canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get maximum benefit/ profit from the business, which makes them disappointed and thinking of leaving the business. They lack the knowledge about the diseases and their treatment cure, and the skill of how to get bee venom, propolis, pollen and royal jelly. They also lack skill in artificial queen rearing, standard extraction of honey, and what and how to feed during off-seasons due to unavailability of seasonal flowers in the area. Manzoor Ahmad is Manager of the Nangarhar Beekeepers Association, a Beekeeping Trainer, and CEO of Season Honey Processing and Packaging Company. He is also a member of the Missouri State Beekeepers Association. photos by Manzoor Ahmad

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MISSOURI STATE FAIRGROUNDS MAP W 2013 N

S E

Swine Pavilion

State Fair Arena

Maple St.

1 5

Mathewson Exhibition Center

Sheep Pavilion

3 8

Main St.

Public Restrooms xxx Fencing Hospitality Booth Naming rights for Main St., Woods Ave. and Maple St. are auctioned as a fundraiser for the MSF Foundation each year; therefore, street names may appear differently on actual fairgrounds signage.

x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x

6 16

Woods Ave.

3 5

1 1

2 4

1 3 0 7

Main St.

43 1 3

3 6

4 8

7 2 2

xxxxxx

x x x x

4 2

Barns A-G

Playground

Maple St.

R Media

LEGEND 1. a. Administrative Offices b. Assembly Hall c. National Guard Armory 2. Agriculture Building 3. Carpenter Shop 4. Cattle Barns 5. Charolais Barn 6. Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Barnyard 7. Coliseum 8. Commercial Building 9. Conservation Building 10. Donnell Barn 11. Donnelly Arena 12. Family Fun Center 13. Farm Bureau Building 14. Feed and Forage 15. FFA Building 16. Fine Arts Building 17. Fire Station 18. First Aid Station 19. Floriculture Building 20. 4-H Building 21. Frisco Engine Display 22. Gerken Dairy Center 23. Grandstand 24. Hereford Barn 25. Highway Gardens Building 26. Highway Patrol 27. Historic Administration Building & MSF Foundation Office 28. Home Economics Building 29. Horse Barns 30. Kids Stage 31. Log Cabin 32. Maintenance Building 33. Mathewson Exhibition Center 34. MEC Building 35. Missouri Beef House 36. MO-Ag Theatre 37. Mules & Draft Horse Barn 38. Plumbing & Electrical Shop 39. Poultry & Rabbit Building 40. Pork Place 41. Sheep Pavilion 42. Shorthorn Barn 43. Simmental Barn 44. State Fair Arena 45. Swine Pavilion 46. Ticket Office 47. Varied Industries Building 48. Womans Building 49. Youth Building

Green xxxxxxxx

32 Storage and Maintenance

June 2013

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Missouri Honey Queen scholarship by Wanda Johnston, Queen Chair Candidates are needed to have a successful Missouri Honey Queen Program. Please search your local bee clubs for young single ladies between the ages of 18 and 24. Applications are being accepted between now and the deadline of August 31, 2013. All information regarding the scholarship and application process can be found on the web site: http://mostatebeekeepers.org/msba-honey-queen/ The Hy-Vee in Kirksville, Missouri hosted a “Honey of a Party” on Saturday May 11th. Megan Allen, our Missouri Honey Queen, was invited to represent the Missouri State

Beekeepers Association at the event. Request forms for Honey Queen events can be found on the web site: http:// mostatebeekeepers.org/msba-honey-queen/ The MSBA fall conference is October 25th and 26th at the Lodge of the Four Seasons, Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri. There will be a silent auction again this year so please remember to bring your items for the auction benefiting the Honey Queen Program. Thank you and I hope to meet you there.

A note from the Honey Queen by Megan Allen Greetings everyone, I hope everyone’s bees made it through the winter ok, mine are doing well and both hives survived the winter. They are very busy bringing pollen into the hive and hopefully making lots of delicious honey!! I am excited to taste my honey this year and see if it is as good as last year’s. It was in great demand from all my relatives!!! I went to Maryville over the Memorial Day weekend to pick up two more hives of bees that Keith Dugan picked up and started for me. I really appreciate the fact that he started them for me since Nursing school is keeping me so busy. I am almost in my 5th and last term and then I will graduate as an LPN in September. We also went on a swarm call over the holiday weekend at a neighbor down the road’s house. She actually had two swarms, but unfortunately, one was in the grass on the ground and had been badly damaged by her mower. We looked for a Queen to try to save some of the hive, but never found her. The other hive was 15-18 feet in the air on a limb. Dad set the ladder up for me and I suited up. Up I went with a box and a bee brush. I tried several times to brush them into the box, but obviously I didn’t get the queen and they flew right back onto the branch. Dad, down below, did get several stings from this, but wouldn’t let go of the ladder because he was afraid I would fall … that’s taking care of the Queen!!! Well, when in doubt, step back and figure it out. We decided to strap a nuc to the limb they were on, and made a quick run to Hy-vee for Lemongrass paste. We put Lemongrass paste in the Nuc, dad climbed the ladder, strapped it to the limb and the bees immediately started crawling towards the Nuc. Some went in and then came back out and started toward the other bees, while still others were headed towards the Nuc. Dad said, I don’t think it’s working … they’re leaving ... mom and I told him we thought it was working, they were just communicating

with the rest of the bees that they had found a great home. We decided to come back right at dark to lock them in. Dad again climbed the ladder, locked the swarm in, unstrapped the nuc, hauled it down the ladder and home we went. The next day we added a frame of honey and a frame of brood to the nuc, they seem really happy now, and we will leave them there for a week or so and then transfer them to a full sized hive. Success!!! Our first swarm capture…. And best of all….Free Bees!! The only down side is Dad claimed the bees since he says he did all the work and besides, he heard that feral bees work harder and he likes hard workers… As for my queenly activities, we traveled to Kirksville for an event at the Hy-Vee store. It was a beautiful day and a wonderful drive. The store was really decorated very impressively. There were people with bee bowties, bee cupcakes, and the Hollenbecks from Hollenbeck honey farm were there as well selling local honey. I talked to many people about honey bees and beekeeping; several were interested in beekeeping and we steered them towards bee clubs or bee keepers in the area. Many were not aware of how important bees are to the ecosystem. Special thanks to the Hollenbecks and Hy-bee (Hy-vee) for having me out and giving me the opportunity and support to help educate people. Happy Swarm Catching!! Oh, and Dad is now talking about building a bee vac … Megan Allen 2013 Missouri State Honey Queen

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Missouri State Beekeepers Association

Winter Loss Survey 2012 – 2013: Preliminary Results Honey bee colony losses in the United States, Winter 2012-2013 May 1, 2013 Dennis vanEngelsdorp1*, Nathalie Steinhauer1, Karen Rennich1, Jeffery Pettis2, Eugene J. Lengerich3, David Tarpy4, Keith S. Delaplane5, Angela M. Spleen3, James T. Wilkes6, Robyn Rose7, Kathleen Lee8, Michael Wilson9 , John Skinner9 , and Dewey M. Caron 10 for the Bee Informed Partnership. Note: This is a preliminary analysis. A more detailed final report is being prepared for publication at a later date. The Bee Informed Partnership (http://beeinformed.org), in collaboration with the Apiary Inspectors of America (AIA) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), is releasing preliminary results for the seventh annual national survey of honey bee colony losses. For the 2012/2013 winter season, a total of 6,287 U.S. beekeepers provided validated responses. Collectively, responding beekeepers managed 599,610 colonies in October 2012, representing about 22.9%1 of the country’s estimated 2.62 million colonies. Preliminary survey results indicate that 31.1% of managed honey bee colonies in the United States were lost during the 2012/2013 winter. This represents an increase in loss of 9.2 points or 42% over the previous 2011/2012 winter’s total losses that were estimated at 21.9% (Figure 1). This level of loss is on par with the 6 year average total loss of 30.5%2. On average, U.S. beekeepers lost 45.1% of the colonies in their operation during the winter of 2012/2013. This is a 19.8 point or 78.2% increase in the average operational loss compared to the previous winter (2011/2012), which was estimated at 25.3%. The difference between average loss and total loss is explained by the respondent pool: while a majority of the respondents (95%) were backyard beekeepers, they managed a small fraction of the colonies represented in the survey (6%). For this reason total loss (which is more heavily influenced by commercial beekeeper losses) is more representative of national losses. Survey participants indicated that they considered a loss rate of 15% as “acceptable,” but 70% of them suffered losses greater than this. 1 Based on NASS 2012 figures 2 Previous survey results found a total colony loss in the winters of 21.9% in the winter of 2011/2012, 30% in 2010/2011, 34% in 2009/2010, 29% in 2008/2009, 36% in 2007/2008, and 32% in 2006/2007 (see figure attached) The Bee Informed Partnership is funded by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, USDA. 1. University of Maryland; dennis.vanengelsdorp@gmail.com 717-8842147; 2. USDA-ARS Bee Research Laboratory 3. The Pennsylvania State University, 4. North Carolina State University 5. University of Georgia 6. Appalachian State University 7. Robyn Rose, USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, 8. University of Minnesota 9. University of Tennessee 10. Oregon state University *Corresponding author

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European Commission moves to ban neonicotinoids Action imposes two-year moratorium on systemic insecticide class, but will it help bees? by Eugene Makovec The European Union moved on April 29 to impose a twoyear moratorium on a group of systemic pesticides known as neonicotinoids. The action will take effect December 1, and amounts to a virtual ban on clothianidin, imidacloprid and thiamethoxam, though there are some exceptions including use in greenhouses and some post-bloom use in field crops. The action was taken by the European Commission, the executive authority of the EU. It was first proposed in January of this year, but was blocked temporarily in March by nine countries including Britain and Germany. The United Kingdom’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) cited problems with much of the research used to support such an action, saying, “Laboratory-based studies demonstrating sub-lethal effects on bees from neonics did not replicate realistic conditions, but extreme scenarios.… The risk to bee populations from neonicotinoids, as they are currently used, is low.” The issue was revisited on appeal in April, when it again failed to obtain the necessary votes from member states. However, under EU rules, the Commission was able to enforce it without that approval. Bayer and Syngenta react Pesticide companies reacted predictably. “We have two controls for all of this,” said Dr. Julian Little of Bayer in the UK. “One is France; we’ve had massive restrictions on these products for over 10 years, [and] have we seen any improvement in bee health? No. “The other control is Australia where neonicotinoids are used in exactly the same way as in the UK -- same formula, same crops -- and they have the healthiest bees on the planet. The difference there is they don’t have varroa.” A statement from Syngenta said, “No evidence from the field has ever been presented that these pesticides actually damage bee health, with the case against them resting on a few studies which identify some highly theoretical risks. Regardless of the outcome, we will continue our work with anyone who shares our goal of

improving bee health, which is vital for sustainable agriculture as well as the future of our business.” It’s complicated What is actually causing higher-than-normal losses is still open to question, but one thing that most honeybee researchers seem to agree on is that it is much more complex than one pesticide, one virus or any other single cause. According to commercial pollinator and field researcher Randy Oliver, while there may be a lot of factors, the biggest by far are the varroa mite and the viruses it spreads. On his website scientificbeekeeping.com, and in his long-running “Sick Bees” series in the American Bee Journal, Oliver has repeatedly cast doubt on lab-based studies that have fingered neonics as a primary culprit in bee declines. While the authors of such studies report widely on the deleterious effects of purportedly “fieldrelevant” doses, Oliver notes that bee colonies in the actual “field” do not appear to be suffering the same consequences as those poisoned in the lab. As further evidence, Oliver and others point to the huge crop of canola in Canada, which draws some 300,000 beekeepers each year for pollination and later accounts for about 80 percent of all honey produced in that country. In fact, as Oliver pointed out in ABJ in September, Bayer CropScience is the single largest renter of hives in Canada, for pollination of its seed crops. Would beekeepers be flocking to those fields year after year if their colonies were coming home dead? Varroa is still with us It is by no means clear that neonics were the cause of colony collapse disorder. In fact, in early research shortly after CCD became an issue, deadout hives were tested for pesticides. Dozens were found, both farmer- and beekeeper-applied, but neonics were not high on the list. While few colony losses in recent years fit the description of CCD, fewer still appear to be a result of neconics or any other pesticides. University of Maryland entomologist Dennis vanEngelsdorp has been an instrumental member of the CCD working group and the Bee Informed Partnership (BIP) annual colony loss survey. (See page 8.) In an April interview in ABJ, vanEngelsdorp said of this year’s survey results, “Clearly, with the backyard beekeepers the message is YOU NEED TO CONTROL FOR MITES. It’s astonishing to me how many don’t!” continued on page 13

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Local clubs continue to add up by Eugene Makovec Take a look the facing page and you may notice that our list of locals has grown considerably in recent years. In fact, when I edited my first MSBA newsletter in January 2006, we listed only six such clubs. By January ’07 this had doubled to 12, though it is likely that some of these additional had already existed and were just not known to the state organization. But since that time, media publicity surrounding “the great bee die-off” that began in the winter of 2006-07 has resulted in hundreds – possibly thousands - of Missourians giving beekeeping a try. Some of the increased club count can of course be attributed to “swarming”, as existing clubs in populated areas simply outgrew their meeting spaces and/or became utterly incapable of serving all their new members. In the greater St. Louis area, for example, Kirkwood-based Eastern Missouri Beekeepers spawned first the Three Rivers club (#19 on the map below, 2009), and then St. Louis Beekeepers (#24, 2012). Three Rivers, in turn, just last month spun off another new group, Quad County Beekeepers (#27). But we also have several recently-formed clubs in areas of the state where none appear to have existed before, at least not in modern times -- the latest being North Central Beekeepers (#28) in Macon, up in the lonely northern part of the state. I am told that the MSBA at one time had as many as 850 members, more than double the current total. Beekeeping has certainly waned over several decades, in Missouri and elsewhere, But as we now see a resurgence in beekeepers and local clubs to serve them, it would seem to follow that our state organization should grow right along with them. John shares some pointed comments and ideas in this regard in his President’s column on page 2 of this newsletter. Certainly the local club, where you can get together 10 or 20 miles from home, is the best place to go for hands-on learning and personalized mentoring. But we at the state level have a great deal to offer in addition. Our semiannual conferences bring hobbyists together with commercial pollinators, queen breeders and suppliers, to hear from some of the top beekeepers and researchers in the country. Past speakers have included such notables as 28 Marla Spivak, Marion Ellis, Jerry Hayes, Dennis vanEngelsdorp, May Berenbaum, Tom Seeley, Keith Delaplane, Dewey Caron, Eric Mussen, Clarence Collison, Jennifer Berry and Michael Palmer. For over a hundred years, the Missouri State Beekeepers Association has been the glue that binds the ShowMe State’s beekeepers 27 together. I for one am 24 proud to be a part of that fine tradition.

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2 Boone Regional Beekeepers Association 3rd Sunday of month, 3:00 p.m., Columbia Insurance Group, 2102 Whitegate Dr. (back door), Columbia President Jim Duever 573-254-3373 www.boonebees.org

3 Busy Bee Club 4th Tuesday of each month, 7:00 p.m., Cedar County Health Center, Owens Mill Road, Stockton Neal Lee 417-276-3090, Neil Brunner 314-276-4252 grnthumb@alltel.net

4 Eastern Missouri Beekeepers Association 2nd Wednesday of each month, 7:00 p.m., location changes. Bob Sears, President 314-479-9517 www.easternmobeekeepers.com

5 Golden Valley Beekeepers 2nd Monday of each month, 7:00 p.m. (but varies) Henry County Courthouse, Clinton MO Tom McCormick, President 417-644-7507 tlmccormick@mccormickcos.com

6 Jackson Area Beekeepers 4th Tuesday of each month, 7:00 p.m. First Pres. of Jackson, 206 E. Washington Contact Grant Gillard 573-243-6568 gillard5@charter.net

7 Jefferson County Beekeepers Association 2nd Tuesday of each month, 7:30 p.m., Hwy B & 21 Jefferson County Extension Center, Hillsboro Contact Scott Moser 636-285-7295

8 Joplin Area Beekeepers Association Last Tue. of each month, 7 pm, SM Bank Community Building (7th and Duquesne Rd), Joplin Steve Davis, President 620-202-0232

9 Mid Missouri Beekeepers 3rd Sunday of each month, 2 pm, Old Train Depot, St. James. Steven Todd, President 573-885-6650 steventdd447@gmail.com

10 Midwestern Beekeepers Association Nov-March, 2nd Sunday of each month, 2:30 p.m. April-Oct, usually 3rd Thursday of month, 7:00 p.m. (Schedule varies; please call first to confirm.) Bass Pro Shop, Independence, Conservation Room Cathy Misko, President 660-656-3485 cathymisko@earthlink.net

11 Mississippi Valley Beekeepers Association Last Tuesday of Month in Quincy, IL Contact Bernie Andrew

217-938-4975

12 Missouri Valley Beekeepers Association 3rd Monday of each month, 7:00 pm, Union Location varies, contact below if unsure President Calvin Brandt cvbrandt@landolakes.com

13 Parkland Beekeepers 3rd Tuesday of month, 7pm, Ozark Federal Savings President Jim Johnson 573-330-6498 or 573-330-6499

14 Pomme de Terre Beekeepers 2ndThursday of each month, 7 pm Missouri Extension Office, Hermitage Contact Bessi Shryer 417-745-2527

15 SEMO Honey Producers 2nd Thursday of month, Church of Christ, Poplar Bluff Contact Ernie Wells 573-429-0222 wells.ernie@gmail.com

16 South Central Missouri Beekeepers Association 1st Friday of month, Howell Electric Coop, West Plains Monty Wiens, President 417 257-3994

17 Southern MO Beekeepers of Monett â&#x20AC;&#x153;MOBeesâ&#x20AC;?) 3rd Tuesday of each month, 7:00 p.m. United Methodist Church, Hwy 37 NW of Monett Leon Riggs, President 417-235-5053

18 Southwest Missouri Beekeepers Assn. of Neosho 1st Tuesday of month, Neosho High School FFA Bldg President Roger Ross 417-472-3504

19 Three Rivers Beekeepers 3rd Monday of month, University of Missouri Extension, 260 Brown Road, St. Peters, Missouri, 7:00 p.m. For info: 2952 Greenleaf Drive, St. Charles, MO 63303 info@threeriversbeekepers.com

20 Northwest Missouri Bee Busters 1st Monday of odd months, 7:00 p.m. 511 4th Street, Conception Junction, MO 64434 Gerald Auffert, President 660-944-2535

21 Lake of the Ozarks Beekeepers 3rd Saturday of month, 1:00 p.m. UMC Extension Office, 100 E. Newton,Versailles MO Contact Russell Kasnick 573-372-3122

22 Northeast Missouri Beekeepers Association 1st Friday of month, 6:30 pm Running Fox Elementary (3 miles south of Wayland) Acting President Randy Ewart 573-248-5561 rewart@centurytel.net

23 Gasconade Region Bee Keepers 2nd Tuesday 7:00, First State Comm. Bank, Owensville President Rodney Angell 573-259-5811 2224 Nowack, Rosebud MO bee143@fidnet.com

24 St. Louis Beekeepers 4th Tuesday 6:30, Schlafly Bottleworks contact@saintlouisbeekeepers.com www.saintlouisbeekeepers.com

25 Western Missouri Beekeepers 2nd Tuesday 6:30, Moor-View Community Room, Nevada Caroline Phillips, President 417-321-3587 bcphillips81@gmail.com

26 Meramec Valley Beekeepers First Sunday 2:30 pm Bourbon, MO American Legion Hall Contact Sam Elia 573-732-5597 samnora1@gmail.com

27 Quad County Beekeepers

1st Tuesday, 7:00 pm, Missouri Extension Office, Troy Contact Fred Meder (573) 760-2574 quadcountybeekeepers.com

28 North Central Missouri Beekeepers Association

1st Monday, Area Career Center, Macon, 7:00 pm Contact Dan West (660) 651-7582, www.ncmobees.org

See state map on facing page for approximate geographic locations.

$20.00

$38

$56

June 2013 Will banning neonics save bees? continued from page 9

What also appears to be clear is that weather can play a significant role. The winter of 2011-12, for example, was unseasonably warm, with spring arriving very early, and colony losses dropped from the recent average of around 30 percent to about 20. When winter became harsher and longer again in 2012-13, and late snows were followed by heavy spring rains that prevented many beekeepers from getting into their bees, loss levels popped back up to 30 percent, with starvation becoming a major factor. Where do we go from here? Yet we continue to hear the drumbeat against the neonics. Antipesticide groups (Beyond Pesticides, the Center for Food Safety, organic farm groups, etc.) have seized upon the issue of bee losses as proof of the dangers of this pesticide class. But what few seem to realize is that the neonics were adopted so quickly in part because they are systemic, targeted specifically to the pests that feed directly on their leaves and roots, especially early in their growing cycle. The clear advantage to farmers (and regulators) is that there is no need to spray the field later (perhaps multiple times), indiscriminately exposing both good and bad insects, including those downwind of the actual crop being treated. That does not mean that the use of neonics is not without concern. One fear is that, even though the actual amount of pesticide applied to fields is much lower than Given that of older types, the pesticide does not completely break down with the that farmers plant, and some residue remains will always seek in the soil, with a half-life of means of controlling anywhere from a few weeks the pests that ravage to a couple of years depending on soil their crops, perhaps conditions and the product one message to some used. of today’s anti-neonic There are also continuing, activists should be, be spotty reports of bee kills from careful what you planter dust due to improper sowing procedures, a problem that wish for. seed companies reportedly are working to resolve. Another concern shared by environmentalists, beekeepers and farmers is that widespread use of one class of pesticide will speed the development of resistance among its target pests, making them more difficult to control down the line. But for now, neonicotinoids are the pesticides of choice for a variety of reasons, including their relative safety (to both humans and pollinators) compared with some of the nasty chemicals they replaced. And given that farmers will always seek means of controlling the pests that ravage their crops, perhaps one message to some of today’s anti-neonic activists should be, be careful what you wish for. As University of Minnesota entomologist and MacArthur Fellow Marla Spivak said last year, “One of the biggest concerns is that if all neonics are banned, other much more harmful pesticides will be registered.”

Page 13

Directory of Officers President: John Timmons 636-940-8202 2952 Greenleaf Drive, St. Charles MO 63303 president@mostatebeekeepers.org Vice President: Valerie Duever 314-402-4841 2362 County Road 185, Auxvasse MO 65231 vicepresident@mostatebeekeepers.org Secretary: Steve Moeller 573-886-0662 7035 N. Kircher Rd., Columbia MO 65202 secretary@mostatebeekeepers.org Treasurer: Jaime Stevens 573-225-6935 PO Box 214, Dexter MO 63841 treasurer@mostatebeekeepers.org Past-President: Grant Gillard 573 243-6568 3721 North High Street, Jackson MO 63755 pastpresident@mostatebeekeepers.org Northwestern Director: Roger Nichols cell 816-456-6983 northwestdir@mostatebeekeepers.org Northeastern Director: Steve Harris 314-805-6451 1224 Sherbrooke Road, St. Charles MO 63303 northeastdir@mostatebeekeepers.org Southeastern Director: Cory Stevens 573-225-6935 PO Box 214, Dexter MO 63841 southeastdir@mostatebeekeepers.org Southwestern Director: Gary Dowling 620-724-3189 507 N. Ozark St., Girard KS 66743 southwestdir@mostatebeekeepers.org Central Director: Bob Brammer 660-385-2840 31649 Lake St., Macon MO 63552 centraldir@mostatebeekeepers.org Program Chairperson: Open program@mostatebeekeepers.org Newsletter Editor: Eugene Makovec 135 Alex Dr., Foley MO 63347 editor@mostatebeekeepers.org

314-703-7650

573-751-5505

Associate Professor of Entomology: Richard Houseman HousemanR@missouri.edu 573-882-7181 1-87 Agricultural Building, University of MissouriColumbia, Columbia MO 65211

Missouri State Beekeepers Association PO Box 214 Dexter, Missouri 63841 www.mostatebeekeepers.org

Hunker down, ladies! What a difference a year makes. The last week of May brought another round of “April showers” to eastern Missouri. These hives in Foley brace for one of many thunderstorms to cross the area. With farm fields flooded again and Highway 79 temporarily closed two miles away, last year’s drought is officially over.

Business card size Quarter page

$15.00 $35.00

Half page Full page

$50.00 $100.00

Missouri State Beekeepers Association PO Box 214 Dexter, Missouri 63841 www.mostatebeekeepers.org

August 2013 Eugene Makovec Editor editor@mostatebeekeepers.org

Registration now open

MSBA Fall Conference will be October 25-26 at the Lake of the Ozarks Complete information, agenda and registration begin on page 4

Flax (Linum usitatissimum) blooms in a Missouri garden on the 4th of July. High in omega-3 fatty acids and potassium, the seed is used as a nutritional supplement, as well as in commercial oils and paints. Plant fibers were widely used in linen cloth before being largely replaced by cotton. Flax blooms appear in early morning but drop off by noon. They attract a variety of bees and butterflies seeking pollen and/or nectar. However, since the fragile petals often break off under the weight of pollinators (see inset photo), nectar gatherers learn to access the nectar from the flowerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s underside without paying for it with pollination.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE 2 4 6 7 8 9

Fall Conference registration 10

Honey Bee Health Summit 12 Monsanto reaches out Local associations ............ 13 Membership application .. 14 Directory of Officers ....... 15

Eugene Makovec

From the President ............ Fall Conference info ........... Fall Conference agenda ...... Honey Queen needed ....... Afghan Honey Production .. Fall Conference vendors ...

Page 2 From the President

Missouri State Beekeepers Association by John Timmons

Hello once again fellow beekeepers. How about this crazy Midwestern summer weather! A few weeks ago we couldn’t work bees, nor take a walk around the block, without breaking a serious sweat to the point of near dehydration. All of a sudden, we’re donning long sleeves for the morning walk! The bees in the hives outside my window must be as confused as I am. Well, no use worrying about the weather. Let’s talk beekeeping. Honey Bee Health Summit We had an interesting event here in St. Louis back in June. On the 11th, 12th and 13th, Monsanto, at their St. Louis world headquarters, hosted a major gathering of honey bee researchers and beekeepers for what was called the Honey Bee Health Summit. (See related article on page 11.) The Summit was held at their Chesterfield Research Facility, along with Project Apis m. (PAm), and the event was billed as a milestone in the gathering of honey bee professionals and beekeeping’s leadership. Attendees gathered to hear current thinking in the world of honey bee health and to discuss the major issues contributing to the problems we’ve been experiencing with our bees. Probably no one needs an introduction to Monsanto. However Project Apis m. may be a new name to you. They’re an interesting group generally more familiar to the commercial almond pollinators, and they’re doing some interesting research into honey bees. I invite you to visit their website at www.ProjectApism.org for more information. There was a notable group of seventy in the room for the three day event including Randy Oliver, Jeff Pettis from USDA-ARS, Eric Mussen from UC-Davis, George Hansen from ABF, Kim Flottum of Bee Culture magazine, Dewey Caron from Oregon State University, Jamie Ellis from the University of Florida, and Gabe Dadant from, well … Dadant, just to name a few. It was certainly an impressive gathering from the Who’s Who of Beekeeping. The group listened to some extraordinary presentations covering the latest research in honey bee health. There was time in the evenings for wine and discussion, including dinner for all hosted by the St. Louis Zoo. Jerry Hayes, of Monsanto, was kind enough to also invite representatives of the Missouri State Beekeepers Association including Vice-President Valerie Duever, Secretary Steve Moeller, and myself. Although this was a very educational event I’m anxious to see some follow-up, including the formation of working groups to establish some real solutions that we can deliver to our members. Heartland Apicultural Society Conference Not long after the Monsanto event, it was time to pack up and head off to Cookeville, Tennessee, and Tennessee Tech University for the annual Heartland Apicultural Society conference. This is always a popular event and I was again invited to speak on a couple of my favorite subjects: artisan beekeeping marketing and local nuc production. In addition to the beautiful vistas of the Appalachian foothills, it was great to see 140 beekeepers in attendance – I think one of the largest crowds in the history of

HAS. For those who have not attended HAS, I can highly recommend the event. They have wonderful speakers from across the country and provide an interesting meeting format that we might consider for future MSBA membership conferences. MSBA 2013 Fall Membership Conference Which is my sneaky segue into a discussion of our upcoming 2013 Fall Membership Conference! Yep, we’re approaching that time of the year again! And this year’s Fall Conference is developing into a real winner! Be certain to mark your calendars for October 25th and 26th. We’re meeting this fall at the beautiful Lodge of Four Seasons on Lake of the Ozarks. Centrally located for most of the state, it’s a spectacular location with tremendous facilities for our meetings. We have a growing list of vendors that will be in attendance in our vendor room. We’ll hear from an exciting group of speakers on a wide range of subjects from commercial to hobbyist. Our main speakers include Phil Craft, former State Apiarist for the Kentucky Department of Agriculture; Greg Hannaford of Tulsa, Oklahoma; and Blake Shook from Texas. New to most Missouri beekeepers, Greg and Blake will provide some fresh and exciting insights into the world of beekeeping. In addition, we’ll be providing a number of breakout speakers throughout the 1-1/2 day conference who will introduce you to a wide range of fresh beekeeping expertise. Everything you need to get started with registration is included in this issue of the MSBA newsletter. You’ll find an agenda, registration form, vendor list and hotel reservation information. All this and more, including online registration and payment, should be available on the MSBA website by the time you receive this newsletter. As we continue to $20.00/1 year enhance our agenda, we’ll be certain to post $38/2 years updates on the website, so keep a close eye. Have a wonderful rest of the summer and I hope to see everyone at the Lodge of Four Seasons in October. John

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Missouri State Beekeepers Association

Register now for our Fall Conference, October 25-26 in Lake Ozark The Fall Conference honeybee miticide of the Missouri State product line. VétoBeekeepers Association pharma S.A. is a will be held Friday and French veterinary Saturday, October 25pharmaceutical 26 at the Lodge of Four company specializing Seasons at the Lake of in honey bee health. the Ozarks. You can learn more The Lodge is located at about Phil on his 315 Four Seasons Drive, website at www. Lake Ozark, MO 65049. PhilCraftHiveCraft. com. Our MSBA Group Rates are as follows: Blake Shook and his wife, Kathleen, Seasons Bay: $ 89.00 are the owners of Traditional Main Lodge: $ 99.00 Desert Creek Honey Lake View Main Lodge: Company (www. $ 119.00 DesertCreekHoney. Rates do not include com), and operate Lodge of Four Seasons current state taxes 2,000+ hives in Texas, of 7.975% and county California and North lodging tax of 3%. For reservations, call 888-265-5500. You must Dakota. Blake is past president and vice president of a local beekeeping mention that you are with the Missouri State Beekeepers Association. association in Texas, a director for the American Beekeeping You can also register online at www.MOStateBeekeepers.org/ Federation, and President of the Texas Beekeepers Association. reservations When he is not working bees, he has had the privilege of speaking Reservations at the MSBA group rate will be accepted no later than at local, state, national and international beekeeping conventions Thursday, October 10, 2013. All reservations after October 10th will promoting beekeeping. He has also written and contributed content for national beekeeping magazines. Blake began his business in 2004 be available at the hotel’s space and rate availability only. at age 14, and still packages and markets a wide variety of honey and Check-in Time: 4:00 PM Check-out Time: 11:00 AM honey products online and throughout Texas. For more Lodge information, visit http://4seasonsresort.com/ Greg Hannaford is a 20 year beekeeper and retired businessman. Our speakers: Greg and his wife Shelly are the owners of Ozark Bee Supply in Tulsa, Phil Craft served as the Kentucky Dept. of Agriculture’s State OK, and operate around 150 hives. Greg is also one of the largest Apiarist from 1999 through 2011. He is a graduate of Oberlin College nuc producers in Oklahoma. in Ohio (BA in biology), and As a speaker, Greg the University of Kentucky Hannaford has a unique (BS in civil engineering). He way of cutting through is a past president and past the hype and getting down chairman of the Heartland to the basic principles of Apicultural Society, past bees. program chairman of Eastern Apicultural Society, A frequent speaker at and past president of the Serious Sideliner at the the Apiary Inspectors Symposium American Beekeeping of America. A native of the mountains of Eastern Federation, Greg generally Kentucky, he now lives out focuses on marketing in the sticks in the Bluegrass and economics, which is Region of Kentucky near just a fancy way of saying Lexington with his family, “making the most income a very old dog, and some possible”. But by far, most of his work is at the bee hives. local level teaching hobby Phil was recently named beekeepers to be better, to the position of U.S. more intuitive beekeepers. technical advisor for the continued next page Phil Craft Véto-pharma’s Apivar® Blake Shook

August 2013 Register now for Fall Conference continued from previous page

Greg Hannaford

Workshop speakers: We will have numerous other speakers in our breakout sessions (see agenda on pages 6-7). Some topics and speakers are yet to be determined. Vendors: We also have a good crop of vendors confirmed as of this time. They are listed on page 9, though more may be added later. Contests: We will also again hold contests, this time for cooking, candles and beeswax art. For categories and rules see mostatebeekeepers.org

Page 5

COMB HONEY FOR SALE 8 OZ. ROSS ROUNDS Case Lots Of 27 Or 54 8 OZ. - 12 OZ. CUT COMB (in clam shell boxes) Case lots of 16 SECTION HONEY (in basswood boxes) CASE LOTS OF 10 OR 36 COMB HONEY IN THE FRAME 30 # SUPERS LIGHT WAX (various weights)

ANDREW HONEY FARM Loraine, IL (217) 938-4975

Page 6

Missouri State Beekeepers Association

(continued next page)

August 2013

Page 7

Fall Conference agenda (continued from previous page)

Saturday - October 26 8:00 AM

Vendor Hall Opens

8:30 AM

Hospitality Room Opens

9:00 AM

Welcome, Announcements & Door Prizes

9:30 AM

“Making the Jump … from Hobby to Sideline to Fulltime” with Greg Hannaford

10:30 AM

Break - Visit with Vendors

11:00 AM

“Varroa Mites: Biology and Control” with Phil Craft

11:00 AM

Breakout Sessions: Back Yard Queen Rearing, Making Splits & Re-Queening for the Hobbyist, Marketing Products of the Hive, Running a Beekeeping Association, Treatment Free Beekeeping, Preparing Summer Nucs, Artisan Beekeeping 101, Beekeeping Equipment for the Beginner, and much more!

12:00 PM

Lunch (Ticket Required)

1:00 PM

“From 1 to 1,400 Hives in a Few Years” with Blake Shook

2:00 PM

Break - Visit with Vendors Bidding on MSBA Auxiliary Silent Auction Ends

2:30 PM

3:30 PM

Business Meeting and Drawings

Missouri Honey Queen scholarship by Wanda Johnston, Queen Chair Time is running out! The Missouri Honey Queen Scholarship application deadline is rapidly approaching. August 31st is the last day for applications to be received for consideration for the 2014 Missouri Honey Queen position. Eighteen- to 24-year-old unmarried women are encouraged to apply for this rewarding position. We need applications to continue the scholarship program. The tradition of the Missouri Honey Queen continues this year because Megan Allen has agreed to represent MSBA for a second reign.

She is doing a great job! She recently attended FUNDAY where she did a cooking with honey demonstration. She is scheduled to work the Missouri State Beekeepers booth at the Missouri State Fair. Then, on August 25th, Megan is scheduled to attend Meadfest at 7C’s Winery in Walnut Grove, MO. Please search your bee clubs for Missouri Honey Queen applicants. The application, guidelines, and request for a Honey Queen event information can be viewed on the MSBA web site: http://mostatebeekeepers.org

Page 8

Missouri State Beekeepers Association

Beekeeping in Afghanistan

Season honey processing and packaging company: An Afghan institution by Manzoor Ahmad Beekeeping is our family business; my father and grandfather are involved in beekeeping and honey business since 1980 in the eastern region of Afghanistan. At the beginning, I was a beekeeper, keeping bees and exporting honey to neighbour countries for further processing, sealing and packing. (Currently I have 600 full bee hives.) In the year 2007, I participated in International Trade Fair (ITTF) in India and after some time, I got an idea of opening a company of honey processing and packing in Nangarhar Province. Finally, in the year 2009, I purchased the honey processing and packaging machinery plant from Lahoor Pakistan and initiated the business by an initial investment of 47,000 USD and now I do all the processing and packaging activities of honey and avoid do all these in neighbour countries. Now, the business carries all its processing and packing activities on the honey purchased from the farmers and other people in the east and supplies finished product to the national market in Afghanistan (like Nangarhar, Kunar, Laghman, Nooristan, Kabul, Kandahar, Herat, Kundoz, Badakhsah and Balkh provinces), and sells it both to individual businesses or wholesalers. Our honey market demand is in all provinces of Afghanistan and I struggling to supply our products to international market due best quality, natural, mulitiflowers (Spring

Flowers), organic and pure honey. Currently the company has invested 273,840 USD in honey processing and packaging complete plant, packaging machine, vehicles, honey bee hives and unprocessed honey and processed honey. After the assessment of the market I have decided to establish a honey processing and packaging company. Finally in the year 2008 I got the license from Ministry of Commerce and Industry and Afghanistan Investment Manzoor Ahmad Support Agency (AISA), naming Season Honey Processing and Packaging Company under legal license No D02-294. The legal owners of the company are Manzoor Ahmad, CEO of the company, and Ashuqullah, deputy director. Season Honey Processing and Packaging Factory has got almost 20 employees, all of whom are involved in the processing, packaging, sealing, labeling and other activities in the company. Season Honey continued on page 15

August 2013

Page 9

Support our conference vendors and advertisers As of this time, the following vendors have confirmed plans to attend the Fall Conference. You can save on shipping costs by placing orders ahead of time to be picked up during the meeting.

Dadant & Sons*

All beekeeping supplies Gabe Dadant 888-922-1293 www.dadant.com

Walkabout Acres*

All beekeeping supplies Vera and Art Gelder 573-474-8837 FAX 573-474-5830 walkaboutacres@agristar.net

Isabees*

Femme Osage Apiary*

Handcrafted woodenware & bee supplies Ian and Pam Brown 636-398-5014 femmeosage1@aol.com

Honey Hive Farms

All beekeeping supplies Tim and Connie Moore 636-668-6760 honeyhivefarms@gmail.com www.honeyhivefarms.com

Ozark Cedar Hives Cedar Beehives Bob Owen 417-538-0337

bob@ozarkcedarhives.com

Von Der Rosa

Authorized Walter T. Kelley Dealer All beekeeping supplies Jane Sueme 314-504-4424 jane@isabees.com

Hive products Yvonne Von Der Ahe 636-744-1312 yvda@sbcglobal.net

Andrew Honey Farm*

Honey Bee Health Products (Apivar) Phil Craft 859-338-7237 philcraftbeekeeping@windstream.net *See ad in this issue

Used beekeeping equipment Bernie Andrew 217-938-4975 magic@adams.net

WEAVER’S FAMOUS QUEENS And Package Bees

Buckfast & All-American BEEKEEPING SUPPLIES AND BEGINNER’S KITS THE R WEAVER APIARIES, INC. 16495 C.R. 319, NAVASOTA, TX 77868

Phone (936) 825-2333 FAX (936) 825-3642

EMAIL: rweaver@rweaver.com WEBSITE: www.rweaver.com

Véto-pharma

DRAPER’S SUPER BEE Specializing in:

Bee Pollen Beekeeping Supplies Containers (402) 274-3725

Missouri State Beekeepers Association Fall, 2013 Conference Registration

October 25th – 26th, Lodge of Four Seasons, Lake Ozark, Missouri P L E A S E P R I N T C A R E F U L L Y Name (First/Last): _____________________________________________________________________ Spouse/Partner/Children: ______________________________________________________________ Badge Name(s):________________________________________________________________________________________ (As you want printed on your name badge) Address: ______________________________________________________________________________________________ City, State, Zip: _________________________________________________________________________________________ Email: ________________________________________________________ Telephone: ______________________________ Local Association Name: _________________________________________________________________________________ ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ Pre‐Registration Fees (Registration must be postmarked or submitted by September 30th) Individual Membership: ......................................................................................... $ 45.00 X _____ = _______________ Family Membership: ............................................................................................... $ 60.00

_______________

Non‐Member (per person):..................................................................................... $ 75.00 X _____ = _______________ Registrations made after September 30th Individual Membership: ......................................................................................... $ 60.00 X _____ = _______________ Family Membership: ............................................................................................... $ 75.00

_______________

Non‐Member (per person):..................................................................................... $ 75.00 X _____ = _______________ ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ Conference Meals (Please complete the form on the 2nd page of this registration)

Enter Amount from “Conference Meals” on Page 2 of this registration form: ..................................._______________

‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ Membership Dues & Donations MSBA Membership Dues ‐ Individual: .................(Circle One) ‐‐> New / Renewal ...................... $ 15.00 = _______________ MSBA Membership Dues ‐ Family:.......................(Circle One) ‐‐> New / Renewal ...................... $ 20.00 = _______________ Honey Queen Fund Donation: .........................................................................................................................._______________

GRAND TOTAL AMOUNT DUE:

_______________

Please make checks payable to: MO State Beekeepers Association. Mail registration form and check to: Nancy Gillard, 3721 North High Street, Jackson, MO 63755. NOTE: Checks will not be deposited until after the conference. No receipt will be mailed.

Conference Meals

Friday Evening Banquet (See Details at Bottom of Page) Frenched Free‐Range Chicken Breast (per person):......................................... $ 21.00 X _____ = _______________ Roasted Pork Tenderloin (per person): ............................................................ $ 21.00 X _____ = _______________ Vegetarian Meal (per person): ......................................................................... $ 21.00 X _____ = _______________ Saturday Lunch (See Details at Bottom of Page)

Lodge Deli Buffet (per person): ........................................................................ $ 12.00 X _____ = _______________

TOTAL FOR MEALS (Please Enter This Amount on the Previous Page):

_______________

Please provide any special requests or instructions: _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________________

FRIDAY BANQUET All Plated Dinners include a Choice of Dinner Salad, Seasonal Vegetables, Selection of Starch, French Rolls, Butter, Choice of Dessert, Coffee, Decaffeinated Coffee and Ice Tea Frenched Free‐Range Chicken Breast … Pan Seared Free‐Range Chicken Breast with Spaetzle, Cippiolini Onions, Baby Carrots and Chicken Jus Roasted Pork Tenderloin … Served with Braised Red Cabbage and Apple Caraway Pork Jus

SATURDAY LUNCH Lodge Deli Buffet … Soup Tureen, Mixed Field Greens with Assorted Dressings, California Wraps with Grilled Chicken, Roasted Vegetable and Tenderloin with Caramelized Onion, House‐Made Kettle Chips, Assorted Cookies, Coffee, Decaffeinated Coffee, Ice Tea

Page 12

Missouri State Beekeepers Association

Monsanto hosts Honey Bee Health Summit in St. Louis Seeks closer ties to beekeepers, researchers by Steve Moeller Monsanto’s Chesterfield Research Facility was the site of a Honey Bee Health Summit held June 11-13. The event was sponsored by Project Apis m (PAm) and the Honey Bee Advisory Committee along with Monsanto. With approximately 100 in attendance, the room was filled with a who’s who of the beekeeping scientific community. Also represented in addition to the sponsors were commercial beekeepers, the almond industry, pollination brokers, Bayer, Syngenta, bee journal editors as well as local, regional and national press. The list goes on but I’ll stop there except to say that, yes, the MSBA was represented by a handful of folks also. Monsanto streamed the meeting on live video, making it available to all 20,000 of their employees globally. So what’s a Honey Bee Health Summit anyway and what was this all about? According to Jerry Hayes, Commercial Lead for Beeologics, the Israeli company purchased by Monsanto in Tom Hoogheem, tour guide at Monsanto, gives a presentation on plant 2011, it was “to connect the beekeeping industry more closely technology to a group of Missouri beekeepers in March of 2012. to Monsanto and to connect Monsanto more closely to the eventually can determine how dedicated to honey bees the company beekeeping industry.” The complete agenda for this event, as well as actually is by how quickly they complete steps toward getting the bios for the approximately thirty speakers, can be found at beeologics. new Remebee (structured to cover all bee viruses)…on the market. com. It won’t happen overnight. If it does look promising, they might also Day one began with an Overview of Honey Bee Health by Jeff Pettis, target Nosema Ceranae using a similar technique.” then moved on to Sustainability of Commercial Pollination, then an Economic Study of Global Apiculture before wrapping up with a panel discussion. The panel included Randy Verhoek, President of American Honey Producers, George Hansen, President of American Beekeeping Federation, and Dan Cummings, almond grower and beekeeper. Although pollination is critical to the success of the almond industry, Cummings made it clear that the health issues facing honey bees are not theirs to solve. Hansen and Verhoek, both large commercial beekeepers, were asked if they would move away from pollination and focus on honey production if the wholesale price rose to $4.00 per pound. Both answered no, explaining that honey production is too uncertain. Day two focused on Nutrition and Habitat Loss, Pesticides and Tech Transfer, and reports from those working in the field. Afternoon tours of the Monsanto research facility were much the same as those that many MSBA members took last year. One addition was a seed coating demonstration. It’s a fascinating place filled with science and robotics. The conference concluded on day three with Varroa/Virus Complex. Researchers agree that Varroa tops the list of threats to honey bee health, along with agricultural pesticides and poor nutrition from loss of habitat. When Monsanto purchased Beeologics they were in the testing phase of a product (Remebee) to treat bees with Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus (IAPV). Now, under the leadership of Jerry Hayes, the research has broadened to include all honey bee viruses. However, as Beeologics researcher Alex Inberg stated, “We’re really just in the discovery stage”. So what did we learn and where are we headed? Perhaps Dr. Eric Mussen, UC Davis, summed it up best when he said, “I guess we

August 2013

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2 Boone Regional Beekeepers Association 3rd Sunday of month, 3:00 p.m., Columbia Insurance Group, 2102 Whitegate Dr. (back door), Columbia President Jim Duever 573-254-3373 www.boonebees.org

3 Busy Bee Club 4th Tuesday of each month, 7:00 p.m., Cedar County Health Center, Owens Mill Road, Stockton Neal Lee 417-276-3090, Neil Brunner 314-276-4252 grnthumb@alltel.net

4 Eastern Missouri Beekeepers Association 2nd Wednesday of each month, 7:00 p.m., location changes. Bob Sears, President 314-479-9517 www.easternmobeekeepers.com

5 Golden Valley Beekeepers 2nd Monday of each month, 7:00 p.m. (but varies) Henry County Courthouse, Clinton MO Tom McCormick, President 417-644-7507 tlmccormick@mccormickcos.com

6 Jackson Area Beekeepers 4th Tuesday of each month, 7:00 p.m. First Pres. of Jackson, 206 E. Washington Contact Grant Gillard 573-243-6568 gillard5@charter.net

7 Jefferson County Beekeepers Association 2nd Tuesday of each month, 7:30 p.m., Hwy B & 21 Jefferson County Extension Center, Hillsboro Contact Scott Moser 636-285-7295

8 Joplin Area Beekeepers Association Last Tue. of each month, 7 pm, SM Bank Community Building (7th and Duquesne Rd), Joplin Jerry Hendershot, President 620-202-0232

9 Mid Missouri Beekeepers 3rd Sunday of each month, 2 pm, Old Train Depot, St. James. Cindee Herrick, Secretary/Treasurer 573-422-3792 cell graham@wavecomputers.net