SPRING MEETING
The Spring Meeting will be held on April 4, 2012, 2012 starting at 7:00 p.m. at the Ottawa Citizen Newspaper Building.
AGENDA
Pegi Holtz will chair this meeting
7:00-7:15 Welcome and introduction of new members.
7:15-8:00 Melanie – Guelph Tech Transfer Team
Managing Farm Pesticides
Small Hive Beetle
Winter Loss
MAQ
8:00-8:30 Phil Laflamme - Highlands Honey, Lanark (unwrapping hives in the spring, assessing hive strength, recommended treatments, avoiding swarming etc.)
8:30-8:45 Coffee Break
8:45-9:15 Joanne and Mark Lauterbach - Levac Honey
Honey Regulations and Packing Solutions
AND
Dominion and Grimms product lines
9:15-9:30 Jurg Zurcher (Zurcher Honey bee keeping equipment supplies)
AND
Paul Lasalle (a new store called Propolis-etc Beekeeping supplies)
9:30 Close of meeting
POLLINATION WEEK is June 18-24, 2012
International Pollinator week is the final week in June marking a necessary step toward addressing the urgent issue of declining pollinator populations. It is a celebration of the valuable ecosystem services provided by bees, birds, butterflies, bats and beetles. The growing concern for pollinators is a sign of progress, but it is vital that we continue to maximize our collective effort.
from University of Guelph link: http://www.pollinator.ca/guelph/index.php?n=Events+%26+Major+Meetings
Plants for Attracting Bees
Aster Aster sp.
BasilOcimum
Beggar TicksBidens ferulifolia
Black-eyed SusanRudbeckia
Blanket flowerGaillardia grandiflora
Carpet geraniumGeranium incanum
CaryopterisCaryopteris
CosmosCosmos binnatus
CotoneasterCotoneaster
English lavenderLavandula
EryngoEryngium
Giant hyssopAgastache
Globe thistleEchinops
GoldenrodSolidago
HebeHebe
HuckleberryVaccinium
HyssopHyssopus
Joe-pye weedEupatorium
LupineLupinus
MarjoramOriganum
Oregon grapeMahonia aquifolium
Penstemon/BeardtonguePenstemon
Purple coneflowerEchinacea
RosemaryRosmarinus
SageSalvia
SnowberrySymphoricarpos
StonecropSedum
SunflowerHelianthus
TickseedCoreopsis
ToadflaxLinaria purpurea
WallflowerErysimum
Wild buckwheatEriogonum
ZinniaZinnia Trees and shrubs
AlmondPrunus
AppleMalus
BarberryBerberis
BasswoodTilia
Black locustRobinia pseudoacacia
BlackberryRubus allegheniensis
BlueberriesVaccinium
CherryPrunus
CurrantRibes
ElderberrySambucus
Honey locustGleditsia tricanthos
Horse chestnutAesculus hippocastanum
MaplesAcer
PlumPrunus
RaspberryRubus
RedbudCercis canadensis
RhododendronRhododendron
SassafrasSassafras albidum
ServiceberryAmelanchier
SpireaSpiraea
SumacRhus
WillowSalix
CORN AND HONEY BEES: THE PERENNIAL PROBLEM OF PESTICIDES
By Peter G. Kevan & Thomas S. Woodscock , Canadian Pollination Initiative (NSERC-CANPOLIN), School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph.
Executive Summary
- Pesticide use for protection of sweet corn crop can be a problem for the beekeeping industry because honeybees sometimes forage on sweet corn for pollen when sweet corn is in bloom.
- Corn has flowers of two types, male that shed pollen (tassels) and female that have stigmas (silks) and eventually produce kernels and ears.
- The period of bloom of corn can be closely predicted on the basis of Corn Heat Units (CHU). The timing of bloom varies depending on cultivar, according to each developmental rate and temperature requirements. The bloom for any given cultivar lasts about ten days.
- Once corn is in bloom, the pollen is shed mostly in the morning which is also the period when honeybees forage in corn fields for pollen.
- Bees foraging in corn fields are subject to pesticides exposure through a number of routes, including sprays, seed treatments, and expression of insecticidal proteins in genetically modified plants. Research is required to identify and quantify the lethal and sub-lethal threats by these modes of intoxication.
- Beekeepers find it costly, and often impractical, to be on the alert to cover or move bees on very short notice, especially when managing colonies dispersed through the countryside for pollination services of crops other than corn. Covering and moving bees detracts from pollination and honey production.
- Given that the corn bloom can be predicted with some degree of accuracy, pest management personnel (scouts) could visit corn fields just prior to predicted bloom to determine if a pest problem is likely to erupt during bloom. If the scouts indicate that it would be safe to refrain from insecticide sprays for ten days or so of bloom, then spraying could be curtailed. If the scout determines that it is likely that a pest problem could erupt during the bloom period on a particular field, then spray applications should be restricted to the evening hours whenever possible and beekeepers in the area alerted as to the location of the likelihood of insecticide application being needed.
For a full copy of the report, visit http://www.the grower.org/readnews
TOP 10 REASONS TO JOIN YOUR BEEKEEPERS ASSOCIATION
Ten reasons why it simply makes sense for any beekeeper (or would-be beekeeper) to belong to a beekeeping club:
1. Inside info on what is going on in our area. Our local beekeeping club isn't only for experts. But they are there, and they like to share: well-informed, experienced, generous beekeepers who happen to live near you. They've been through similar problems to what you're grappling with now. Knowing what works (and what won't) can save you time, money and a lot of dead bees.
2. Bulk bonanzas. The club members might band together to get group discounts on things like honey containers. (Remember Dominion and Grimm donates money to our club!)
3. Voyeurism. Those who like to peep over the garden fence to see how other beekeepers do things, will get the opportunity to go to field days where there are hands-on demonstrations, talks, food and fun. These are great value.
4. Ribbons! Every year there are opportunities to enter your honey in competitions; local Fairs, the Royal and also the Ontario Beekeepers Association general meetings all have categories such different grades of honey; wax; candles etc. Who knows? You might go home with a ribbon.
5. Surfing the Net. See what other groups and individuals do – and report back to your club.
6. Winter therapy. When things look their bleakest outdoors, in January or February, it's a treat to get together one night in late winter to think golden honey thoughts. A speaker, often with an inspiring visual presentation and a wealth of knowledge, feeds your beekeeping optimism.
7. Bee porn and other things of interest. Many clubs have great lending libraries to share. A wide selection of glossy magazines, books and videos are just waiting for you to sign them out. If no library exists, then just mention that you would like to borrow some reading material about bees and you will be deluged with quite an assortment from other members. Or better yet, volunteer to organize a lending library for the group.
8. Community. That's a good thing to have in any area. The people you meet at a beekeeping club come from all kinds of backgrounds and have all kinds of other interests. They just happen to like beekeeping ... as you do. Sharing is good.
9. Special Guests. In addition to promoting healthy beekeeping in our area, beekeeping clubs are visited by the provincial apiarist on a regular basis and kept up to date on beekeeping and honey events in our province and beyond.
10. BEEcause its fun!
ATTENTION
NOD Apiary Products is pleased to announce that they have received notification from the PMRA that Mite Away Quick Strips (MAQS) has been granted registration. Canadian beekeepers will have access to this powerful new tool for flexible, sustainable, mite control starting in Spring 2012. MAQS is effective against both varroa and tracheal mites. MAQS is a single application 7-day treatment that can be used almost anytime during the active beekeeping season. For details and a demonstration application visit www.miteawy.com.
Online Map Here