Submitted by: Terry Dahms - President
East Central Iowa Beekeepers Assoc.
internet: [log in to unmask]
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THE BUZZ JANUARY, 1994
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A newsletter published monthly as a cooperative effort by The Iowa
Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and The Iowa Honey
Producers Association (IHPA), an affiliate member of the Iowa
Horticultural Society. Copy deadline is the 20th of each month.
Your ideas, comments and letters are welcomed and encouraged.
EDITOR: Bob Cox, State Apiarist, Iowa Dept. of Agriculture,
Wallace Building, Des Monies, IA. 50319
phone: (515) 281-5736. IHPA MEMBERSHIP: Membership dues in the
Iowa Honey Producers Assn. are $5.00/year. Send to Gordon Powell,
IHPA Treasurer.
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PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
Another year has come and gone. Time sure does slip by fast
anymore. It never seems there is enough time in the year to get
everything done you want or have to do. Our colonies went into the
winter looking pretty good as far as having enough feed (i.e. most
were pretty heavy). However, we had to feed a few colonies, but
nothing like we had to feed last year. Now we will have to wait
and hope they make it through the winter.
This is the time of year to busy yourselves with repairing and
painting equipment and rendering wax out of old combs. After
rendering the wax we boil the frames in lye water. This leaves
them looking like almost new and makes it much easier to put in new
foundation.
If you have not joined the Iowa Honey Producers Association
yet, January is the time to do it. A membership form was included
in the December BUZZ. You won't find another bargain like this
($5.00/year) for membership in a state-wide organization.
I wish to extend my best wishes to you and your family during
this joyous holiday season. We are hoping for a better year again
in '94! Happy New Year!! -- Leroy Kellogg, IHPA president
IOWA HONEY PRODUCERS ASSN. COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS
IHPA President, Leroy Kellogg, made the following committee
assignments (Chairman *) at the December 11th board meeting:
1. Membership: Gordon Powell* , Marvin Voyles and Boyd Palmer.
2. Legislative: John Johnson*, Manley Bigalk, Leo Stattelman, Bob
Cox.
3. Cookbook: Manley Bigalk* & Paul Goossen.
4. Honey Queen: Paul Goossen*, Arvin Foell, John & Elaine
Johnson, Bev Powell and Bob Cox.
5. Educational: Bob Cox*, Gordon Powell, Margaret Hala, Ellsworth
Gustafson.
6. Annual Meeting: Tom Schuster*, John Johnson, and Bob Cox.
7. State Fair Sales: John Johnson*, Arvin Foell and Ray Tull.
8. Promotion: Tom Schuster*, Ray Tull, Gordon Powell and Bob Cox.
9. State Fair Apiary Exhibit: Bob Cox*, Margaret Hala, Lynette
Kellogg, Tim Laughlin and David Tull.
AFRICANIZED BEES FOUND IN THIRD STATE
The presence of Africanized honey bees (AHB) was confirmed in
southwestern New Mexico on November 9, 1993 by USDA. New Mexico
became the third state in which AHBs were detected. The AHB swarm
was found on a farm near Cotton City, 25 miles south of Lordsburg.
The bees were destroyed and sampled for laboratory analysis. USDA
Agricultural Research Service (ARS) made the official
identification at its Bee Research Laboratory in Beltsville,
Maryland. ARS has an on-going scientific investigation with ways
to manage AHBs at four laboratories which are located in Texas,
Arizona, Louisiana, and Maryland. USDA officials are working with
New Mexico officials to monitor the spread of AHBs into the state
and to minimize their impact on agriculture and people. (NASDA news
12/3/93)
FLORIDA BEEKEEPERS FACE UNCERTAIN FUTURE
Florida's beekeeping industry faces a future clouded by
dwindling populations, increasing demands and the arrival of
African bees. Bees, vital to Florida's $6 billion agriculture
industry, have been "taken for granted," says Florida Agriculture
Commissioner Bob Crawford. Beekeeping is becoming more difficult
and more competitive today, and a number of beekeepers have dropped
out of the business. Beekeepers face uncertain times, complicated
by scourges of mites, the expected arrival in Florida of African
bees, and new citrus varieties which require greater numbers of
bees for pollination. As a result, a bee shortage may be on the
horizon. Chief state apiary inspector Laurence Cutts says the
number of colonies in Florida has declined significantly in the
past ten years while demand is increasing. Some citrus growers are
also starting to pay more for pollination services. Florida's
commercial beekeepers currently manage approximately 225,000
colonies of bees. (NASDA news 12/3/93)
1994 4-H ESSAY CONTEST
The time is right to be penning an entry for the American
Beekeeping Federation's 4-H Essay Contest. The prizes for this
year's event include cash prizes to the three top national winners:
1st Place $250, 2nd Place $100, 3rd Place $50. Each State Winner
also receives an appropriate book about honey bees, beekeeping, or
honey.
The topic is "Products of the Hive and Their Uses." Essayists
should research the subject thoroughly and cite uses of not only
honey, but beeswax and other hive products: royal jelly, venom,
propolis, honeydew, bee brood and live bees.
To get started, look for how hive products have been used in a
wide variety of ways in the past. Some of these are highly
unusual, even humorous, when viewed from today's perspective. Then
answer the questions, "what roles do hive products play in the
world today?" and "what uses do you imagine for them in the
future?". Contact your county 4-H office for more information.
NOTE: Honey bee pollination of plants is not considered a product
of the beehive. Contest is open to active 4-H Club members only.
1993 STATE APIARISTS ANNUAL REPORT
DISASTER describes Iowa beekeeping in 1993. Iowa beekeepers
experienced a disastrous winter loss, disastrous flooding, a
disastrous honey crop and a flood of Varroa mites in their
apiaries. Many "old timers" claim that this was the worst winter
loss, flooding and honey crop they can remember. Add to these
troubles the loss of the Federal honey buy-back program (price
subsidy) and we are seeing a number of commercial beekeepers
selling out and hobbyists abandoning failed apiaries. I'd like to
give a more positive report, with my natural tendency toward
optimism, but that would not be the truth.
Bob Wells, the former assistant state apiarist, retired in
June after 18 years with the Apiary Bureau and 41 total years of
public service. He is really missed here in the Department. Jean
Van Houweling, secretary for the Apiary Bureau for the last four
years, transferred this spring to the district State Highway Patrol
office. It looks as though neither position will be filled.
Undoubtedly, we won't be able to offer all the services that we
provided in the past.
Educational/Promotional Activities
We had a great year providing information and promoting honey
and beekeeping. Most of this work was done in cooperation with the
Iowa Honey Producers Association (IHPA), local associations or
individual beekeepers. Approximately one-third of the State
Apiarist's time was devoted to these activities.
The most important tool for promotion and education is the
monthly BUZZ newsletter. The newsletter was sent to about 800
interested persons each month during 1993. The BUZZ covered IHPA
business, inspection and regulatory information, bee research,
seasonal tasks in the beeyard, state fair news, a calendar of
events, National Honey Board news, honey recipes, commercial and
classified ads, necessary forms, and even, a Honey of a Verse.
Twenty-seven presentations were given to school classes,
mostly in the Des Moines area. In cooperation with ISU extension
service beekeeping workshops were held on eight different evenings
around Iowa. Topics included: Keeping bees in the city, races of
bees, bee diseases and pests and basic beekeeping. Presentations
were made at eleven local beekeeper association meetings, as well
as at the Midwest Beekeeping Seminar in Crystal Lake, Illinois,
Wisconsin State Honey Producers Meeting in Stephens Point, and the
Upper Midwest Regional Beekeepers Meeting in Bloomington,
Minnesota.
We set up booths to promote honey and beekeeping at seven
fairs, conventions and other events. At these booths we passed out
the following: recipe folders, other literature, honey and honey
product samples, displayed live bees and information about
beekeeping, and talked with a large number of people about our
industry.
We filled many requests for information that came in the mail
and over the telephone. Eleven interviews were given with radio
stations and newspapers in Iowa and surrounding states. In
addition, several news releases were sent out to about 400 media
outlets in Iowa.
Inspection/Regulatory Activities
The samples of bees collected in 1992 were examined
microscopically for tracheal mites. The following results were
printed in the February 1993 issue of the BUZZ.
Number of Percent of Loss the following
Year samples apiaries infested winter
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1989 208 31% 15%
1990 258 29% 25%
1991 113 33% 20%
1992 60 75% 50%
As you can see, we saw a large increase in the percent of
apiaries that were infested with tracheal mites in 1992, followed
by a very large winter kill that we saw this spring. Unless we get
resistant stocks of bees or better chemical control of the tracheal
mite, the number of bees will continue to decrease.
Because of the heavy winter loss, more beekeepers imported
bees into Iowa from southern states and California. With these
bees, in the form of queens, packages, nucs and full size colonies,
came many Varroa mites. In particular, some of the nucleus
colonies were heavily infested with Varroa. Packages that came
with an Apistan (TM) package-strip had low or undetectable levels
of Varroa mites. This spring we issued 27 entry permits for 13,401
colonies of bees plus various used beekeeping equipment. These
bees and equipment came from Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana,
Nebraska, Minnesota and Arizona. This fall we issued 14
Certificates of Inspection for 4951 colonies so that these bees
could be transported back south again.
In addition to Bob Wells, Tom Schuster (Dubuque), Bill
Eickholt (Cherokee), Mike O'Hearn (near Shenandoah) and Louis
Rickers (Boone) inspected bees for the Department of Agriculture in
1993. This year 1008 apiaries containing 17,258 colonies belonging
to 350 beekeepers in all but five counties were inspected.
Only 157 colonies located in 65 apiaries were infected with
American foulbrood disease. This represents 1.6% of the colonies
and 6% of the apiaries inspected. Thirty-two beekeepers in 35
counties had AFB-infected colonies.
A whopping 833 out of 2608 Varroa mite tests were positive.
This means about 32% of the colonies we tested for Varroa were
indeed infested. Varroa mites were detected in apiaries belonging
to 105 or 30% of the beekeepers inspected.
The map in Figure 1 shows the 65 counties where
Varroa-infested apiaries were located. Figure 2 shows how the
Varroa mites have spread across the state in the last 4 years. In
1993 our inspectors noted a 5 to 30 fold increase in mite levels as
the season progressed, where reinspections were made. The average
for all Varroa-infested apiaries was 7 mites per 300 bees, varying
from 1 to more than 200 mites per 300 bees.
Figure 2 - Varroa-infested counties in Iowa 1990-1993.
Chalkbrood disease was noted in 11% of the colonies inspected.
Seven percent of the colonies remaining in the beeyard when
inspected were dead. Where there was some doubt as to the cause of
death or weak colonies a sample of bees or comb was sent to the
Beltsville, Maryland Bee Lab for positive identification of the
disease. Additionally samples of bees were collected in alcohol to
examine for the tracheal mite in our laboratory. Most of these
samples have not yet been processed or examined microscopically.
1994 APIARY REGISTRATION
Be sure to register your apiary locations this year. A copy
of the form is enclosed in this newsletter on page 11. Please fill
out separate forms for apiaries located in different counties. You
must send in a registration form each year to be registered in that
year. We get calls every year from beekeepers who need proof that
they have a certain number of colonies located at a certain
location. They say "I thought I registered this year or last", "I
was inspected last year" or "I've had those bees in the same
location for years". I just cannot fabricate you a current
registration for the year. So whether you need to be contacted in
case of a toxic pesticide being sprayed near your apiary or proof
of the number of colonies for filing for Federal disaster relief,
you must register your apiaries if you want the benefit this
affords you.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
My wife and I arrived home from the recent annual meeting in
Ames, Iowa and, as it often times happens to me, I regretted that I
had not stood up at the meeting to express my thoughts. The
session on mite control which occurred just before noon break (on
Saturday) is what I'm concerned about.
The main purpose of this letter is to express my concerns
about the total lack of any discussion by anyone at the Ames
meeting with regards to seeking a natural (organic) solution to the
mite problem other than chemicals.
At a recent meeting of our State Line Beekeepers (Iowa,
Illinois and Wisconsin), an 80-year old member expressed his
feelings about other possible alternatives other than chemicals.
The person is a beekeeper and also has dog kennels. At the meeting
this man told us that he found that by crushing walnut leaves and
then bedding the dogs with the leaves, there were no more flea
problems with the dogs. He wondered if this technique could
possibly work to control mites by placing a layer of crushed leaves
on the bottom boards of hives. He did not make any claims that
this technique would work and I'm not convinced that it will work
for mite control. Besides, we don't always have a steady supply of
walnut leaves year round and there may be other difficulties
associated with the proper application of this technique.
The point I want to emphasize here is that I believe that we
as beekeepers have an obligation to realize that a natural solution
may exist that should not be overlooked. We must also encourage
the exploration of non-chemical solutions to mite control. I am
fearful of the use of chemicals because, sooner or later, the
positive reputation of our product will become irreparably damaged.
It will be a long road back to prove to the consumers that our
product is beautiful, pure and uncontaminated.
- John Pedley, Benton, Wisc.
EDITORS NOTE: Marion Ellis at the University of Nebraska and the
USDA Beltsville Lab are investigating the use of natural essential
oils in controlling tracheal mites. Menthol would fall in this
category. Vegetable oil and heat as a control is also being
investigated at the University of Minnesota by Dr. Marla Spivak.
BEEKEEPING CLASS TO BE OFFERED IN DES MOINES
Starting on Thursday, March 10, 1994 a beekeeping class will
be offered by the Iowa Department of Agriculture in cooperation
with Polk county ISU Extension service. It will be held every
Thursday night for 8 weeks at the Des Moines Botanical Center.
This will be an in-depth class covering a variety of topics on
beekeeping for fun and profit. Each class session will last from
7:00 - 8:30 p.m.
The class will include some hands-on experience in beekeeping
in the classroom and during field trips. Those interested in
starting with bees, novice beekeepers and seasoned beekeepers are
all welcome to participate.
Pre-registration is required by February 28th and a
registration fee will be charged. For more information contact Bob
Cox, State Apiarist, Iowa Department of Agriculture, Wallace
Building, Des Moines, Iowa 50319 telephone (515) 281-5736 or
Mohamad Kahn, ISU Extension, (515) 270-8114.
BEEHIVE IN FURNACE CHIMNEY NEARLY KILLS FAMIY OF 7
Belgrade, Minn.--A beehive in a liquid propane furnace chimney
caused a house to fill with carbon monoxide and nearly cost a
family of seven their lives, a fire official said.
They were saved when a visitor came to the door about 12:30
p.m. Saturday to pick up the family's daughter for a lunch date.
"He didn't get any response at the door, and he heard somebody
inside," said Jim Lemmer, fire chief for Belgrade, a town of about
700 located 45 miles west of St. Cloud. "He went inside and he
smelled the air wasn't right, and he found everbody was down and
out, basically." (Minnesota Beekeepers Newsletter-Winter issue.)
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
January, 1994
12-15 The 25th Annual Convention of the American Honey
Producers Association at Holiday Inn Palo Verde in
Tuscon, Arizona. National Honey Board Mtg. following.
Contact: Larry Conners at (203) 250-7575.
18-23 The American Beekeepers Federation Meeting at the
Sheraton World Resort Hotel in Orlando, Florida.
Contact: Troy Fore at (912) 427-8447.
25-29 Apiary Inspectors of America Annual Conference at the
Holiday Inn on the Lane, in Columbus, Ohio.
Contact: Gordon Rudloff at (614) 866-6361.
A HONEY OF A VERSE
Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his
Immanuel. Butter and HONEY shall he eat, that he may know to
refuse the evil and choose the good.
- Isaiah 7:15
FOR SALE: 3 drums of light amber honey. Call John or Frank in Des
Moines at (515) 244-3951 or (515) 961-3786.
FOR SALE: 1500 supers (6 5/8 inches). White comb, boxes in good
condition. Contact: Leroy Kellogg in Cambridge at (515) 383-4606.
FOR SALE: 80 barrels of white, filtered honey. Will fill smaller
containers. Ross round comb honey. Contact: Al Baldwin in
Southwestern Wisconsin at (608) 776-3700.
WANTED: 100 pounds of light-colored beeswax. Will pay market
price. Call Herman Bickle in Newton at (515) 792-7480.
WANTED: Bees on my land. Contact Anthony and Renate Olhava, ph.
(712) 644-2693 Alrio Enterprises, Rt 1, Box 40, Logan, Iowa 51546.
WANTED: Sponsors for Russian farmers interested in beekeeping. I
am arranging for several Russian farmers to come over to the United
States next summer (1994) for seven months. They will be staying
with American host families and working on their farms. Many of
the Russian farmers are interested in beekeeping. Contact:
Bridget Disney, Russian Farmer Exchange, P.O. Box 540662, Omaha, NE
68154. telephone (402) 449-8600.
LOST: A baby, also known as Jesus. Perhaps in the tinsel of
holdiay decorations, or in Santa's little red house on the court
lawn. The Babe was last seen before the outbreak of feasting and
merrymaking at parties. Search under mountains of coats in
restaurants, clubs and homes. Consider whether he was misplaced
under heaps of crumpled wrapping paper and ribbons; forgotten in
the flurry of practicing the pageant or stuffing the stockings.
Lost: an adorable, glowing baby, fill with Life and Peace and
Truth.
Reward: Above all monetary measure, if returned immediately. The
child was a priceless gift from a loving Father, and without him,
all else is lost.
SPENCER APIARY
Cambridge, IA or Ionia, IA
(515) 383-4606 (515) 394-2658
Order your packages bees or nucs now! Place orders by April 1st.
Two-pound package with Queen $25.00
Three-pound package with Queen 32.00
Four-frame nucleus with Queen 32.00
(in your boxes)
Apistan strips installed in all packages and nucs.
Honey Wheat Muffins
1 cup flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 tsp. grated lemon peel
2 tsp. baking powder
1 egg, beaten
1/2 cup raisins (optional)
1/4 cup cooking oil
1 tsp. salt
1 cup HONEY
1/2 cup milk
Mix dry ingredients together. Warm HONEY in microwave. Mix moist
ingredients together. Combine dry and moist ingredients. Bake in
greased muffin cups at 375 F for 18 - 22 minutes.
HONEY Chicken
1 fryer chicken 3/4 cup HONEY
1/4 cup prepared mustard 1/2 tsp. curry powder
1/2 tsp. salt Dash of soy sauce
Cut up fryer. Mix ingredients and pour over chicken. Bake
uncovered for one hour at 325 F. Baste every 1/2 hour.
IOWA HONEY PRODUCERS ASSOCIATION
1994 MEMBERSHIP DUES:
Iowa Honey Producers Association $ 5.00 $_________
American Honey Producers 1-50 colonies $20.00 $_________
51-500 colonies $75.00 $_________
First time [] Renewal [] (Check one)
American Beekeeping Federation 1-50 colonies $20.00 $_________
51-500 colonies $50.00 $_________
First time [] Renewal [] (Check one)
SUBSCRIPTIONS:
American Bee Journal One Year $16.20* $12.15 $_________
Two Years $30.12* $22.59 $_________
(Check one) First time [] Renewal [] Exp.date_________
Bee Culture magazine One Year $16.50* $12.25 $_________
(formerly Gleanings..) Two Years $30.00* $22.50 $_________
(Check one) First time [] Renewal [] Exp.date_________
QTY. BOOKS 1-9 10 or more
____ Large Honey Recipe Book $2.00 Same $_________
____ Small Honey Recipe Book $ .75 $ 0.65 $_________
____ Honey Pamphlet $0.03 Same $_________
=================
TOTAL $_________
*PRICE YOU WOULD PAY FOR MAGAZINE IF YOU DID NOT BELONG TO IHPA
CHECK PAYABLE TO: IOWA HONEY PRODUCERS ASSN.
SEND CHECK AND FORM TO: Gordon Powell
4012 - 54th St.
Des Moines, IA 50310
(515) 278-1762
NAME_______________________________________________________________
ADDRESS:___________________________________________________________
CITY:____________________STATE_________________ZIP_________________
PHONE(____)________________________________________________________
NO. OF COLONIES_______________
11/23/93
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