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Keeping Honey Bees

Keeping Honey Bees. Industrial Ag – Industrial Beekeeping. Scientific America Aug 20, 2013 By Ferris Jabr. 5 P Stressors. Pesticides (On the plants like neonics , fungicides, … and in the hive like antibiotics, mite treatments…) Pests ( Varroa , tracheal mites, …)

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Keeping Honey Bees

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  1. Keeping Honey Bees

  2. Industrial Ag – Industrial Beekeeping

  3. Scientific America Aug 20, 2013 By Ferris Jabr

  4. 5 P Stressors • Pesticides (On the plants like neonics, fungicides, … and in the hive like antibiotics, mite treatments…) • Pests (Varroa, tracheal mites, …) • Pathogens (Foul Brood, viruses, …) • Poor Nutrition (Sugar syrup, pollen patties, monoculture flowers…) • Pedigree

  5. Honey bee US history • Introduced to N. America in 1600 with early colonists • Feral populations noted in 1622 and expanded populations in advance of settlers • 1852 Langstroth bee hive – movable frames • Migratory hives increasing as monoculture increasing since 1900 • Feral colonies once flourished with genetic composition different than managed colonies • 1980s Varroa mites decimated feral populations but some evidence feral populations may be recovering • 1990s Neonics introduced making up 80% seed treatment market by mid-2000s. 2008 neonics 24% of global market for insecticides. • 2006 Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) noted. Managed colonies have declined nationwide.

  6. Why keep honey bees? • Honey • Interested in social insects • Apitherapy, bee products • Enhance pollination in farm and gardens

  7. But … are honey bees competing with native bees for floral resources? • Maybe during seasonal scarcity • Perhaps competition makes everyone work harder so more visits to flowers and more pollination • Coastal California studies • Re-establishment of native plant restoration areas in California

  8. Start Up Costs • Beginner kits range from about $170-$250 but need to add some additional medium supers and shipping. Bare minimum about $350. • Bees (local nucleus colony) about $160.

  9. Other Major Considerations • Ensure ecology of area can ‘handle’ colonies • Time –need to spend time with them and learn about them • Location – easily accessible and safe • Ability to lift deeps and supers • Don’t mind getting stung

  10. Honey Flow (at The Farm Between)

  11. Resources for Vermont • Vermontbeekeepers.org • Ross Conrad’s book Natural Beekeeping • Mike Palmer (St. Albans) Youtube videos (Franklin County Beekeepers Club) • Kirk Webster (Champlain Valley) Youtube videos

  12. Know your beekeeper, know your honey, know your bees

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