Submitted by Terry Dahms - President East Central Iowa Beekeepers internet: [log in to unmask] ----------------------------------------------------------------- THE BUZZ DECEMBER, 1993 ----------------------------------------------------------------- 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 FORM ON PAGE 9: Membership dues in the Iowa Honey Producers Assn. are $5.00/year. Send to Gordon Powell, IHPA Treasurer. ----------------------------------------------------------------- PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE Thank you for the opportunity to serve as your president again this year. After a rough year, it's time to rebuild. Be sure to fill out the attached membership form if you did not attend the Annual meeting last month. Membership in the Iowa Honey Producers Association runs from the beginning of one annual meeting to the beginning of the next annual meeting. The following is a list of the "Benefits of an Iowa Honey Producers Membership": Information - Discount on beekeeping journal subscriptions - Automatically receive the monthly BUZZ newsletter - Update you on all state beekeeping activities - Keeps you in touch with the State Apiarist's work - Informs on state legislative and educational programs - THE BUZZ provides dates & times for meetings, equipment auctions and classified ads - Who to contact for what Activities - Local area Directors represent you in your part of the state - IHPA lobbying efforts which provides input into the State and Federal governments - State Annual Meeting featuring beekeeping's best in guest speakers, forums and workshops - State Fair competition and displays - Annual series of local beekeeping workshops - Annual Field Day - Apiary Registration Program And ... a chance to make a difference in the greatest hobby, side business or career there is...beekeeping! - Leroy Kellogg, IHPA President FOR SALE: Moving, must sell! 40 colonies (7 with bees) with extra boxes, frames, feeders, comb cutters, uncapping spinner, 24 or 48 frame extractor, honey warmer, strainer, heater and bottler, etc. $1200 or reasonable offer. CONTACT: George Kern in Van Meter (515) 996-2645. STATE APIARISTS REPORT Those of you that missed the Annual Meeting in Ames November 5 & 6 missed good fellowship and an interesting program. I believe we beekeepers are a little discouraged because of the disappointing honey crop this year and the last several years. The thing to do when you're discouraged is to get together with others rather than staying away from beekeepers meetings. Highlights of the Annual meeting included a talk on the mechanics of bee pollination by Dr. Hoffman. Most orchardists and beekeepers do not realize that cross pollination between varieties of apples is dependent on the transfer of different varieties of pollen between bees inside the colony. All the movies and books say that pollen is transferred from a flower of one variety to the flower of another variety by the same bee. The problem with this theory is that an individual bee only forages on one variety of flower at a time. The only way pollen can get from one variety to another is for pollen to be transferred from bees visiting one variety of flower to bees visiting another variety of flower inside the beehive. What is the implication for this discovery? Interplanting of varieties of apples does not enhance cross-pollination. Additionally, the highly social honey bees have much more potential for cross pollination than the wild solitary bees. No insect pollinates as many different crops as the honey bee. As Dr. Hoffman put it "Honey bees are the backbone of agriculture". Colonies should be prepared for winter by now. However, you still have time to put an insulation board or sugar board on top and wrap with tarpaper or insulation. It is also important to put in an entrance reducer block to keep mice and cold out. The bees will generally not take liquid sugar this late in the season. Below is a map indicating the counties where Africanized bees have been detected in Texas and Arizona. SAINT AMBROSE FEAST DAY - DECEMBER 7TH (Cover picture) Saint Ambrose is the Patron of Beekeepers and candlemakers. He was the Bishop of Milan who lived from A.D. 340-397. St. Ambrose is one of the four Latin Fathers of the Church. He was the son of a Roman prefect. St. Ambrose is painted in the dress of a bishop carrying a crosier, the pastoral staff of his office. He is also shown holding a beehive, a reference to the legend that, when he was an infant, a swarm of bees alighted on his mouth, thus foretelling his future eloquence, as is suggested by the expression "honeyed words". St. Ambrose compared the Church to a beehive, and the Christian to the bee, working ardently and forever true to the hive. (To get the original greeting card--in color--contact: Adele Gabrielle Morris, 9309 Montpelier Drive, Laurel, Maryland 20708, Tel. (301) 725-6185.) FOR SALE: Pack-King stainless, water-jacketed 25-gallon honey packing tank. Six 5-gallon pails of feed honey $5 each. Contact M. Fackler, 5903 SW 13th Pl., Des Moines, IA (515) 285-3917. ROBERT MELOY PASSES AWAY Longtime beekeeper and Sioux Bee member, Dr. Robert Meloy died Sunday, November 7, 1993 in Sioux City after a brief illness reports his wife of almost 49 years, Pauline Meloy. Dr. Meloy was a World War II veteran and graduate of Morningside College, University of South Dakota and University of Minnesota. As a chemist, he was a faculty member at Morningside College until 1969. In 1969 he became director of research and development for the Sioux Honey Association, retiring in 1985. A musician, he performed with many bands and orchestras, including the original Lawrence Welk Group, the Sioux City Municipal Band and the Siouxland All American Band. Until last Spring, he was a professional beekeeper and a member of the Sioux Honey Association Cooperative. A memorial has been established in his name for St. Luke's School of Nursing Scholarship Fund in Sioux City, Iowa. CALENDAR OF EVENTS December 2-4 1st Upper Midwest Regional Beekeepers Meeting and Minnesota Honey Producers Meeting, Comfort Inn-Airport Hotel in Bloomington, Minnesota 13 East Central Iowa Beekeepers Meeting 7:00 p.m. in Montgomery Hall, Johnson County Fairgrounds, Iowa City 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. 18-23 The American Beekeepers Federation Meeting at the Sheraton World Resort Hotel in Orlando, Florida. ANNUAL MEETING "COOKING WITH HONEY" CONTEST RECIPES Honey Muffins 2 cups all-purpose flour 1/4 cup sugar 2 tsp baking powder 1 tsp baking soda 1/2 tsp salt 2 eggs 1/2 cup honey 1/2 cup orange juice 1/3 cup butter, melted 1 tsp vanilla extract In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt; set aside. In a mixing bowl, beat eggs. Add honey, orange juice, butter and vanilla; mix well. Stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Fill 12 greased muffin cups 2/3 full. Bake at 375 F for 15-20 minutes or until golden. Yield: 1 dozen Golden Honey Carrot Cookies - Patty Stewart, South Amana 1/4 cup shortening 1/2 tsp lemon extract 1/4 cup butter 1 1/4 cup grated carrots 1/2 cup sugar 2 cup flour 1/4 honey 2 tsp baking powder 1 egg 1/2 tsp salt 1 tsp vanilla Beat shortening, butter and sugar until fluffy. Add honey, egg and flavorings. Stir in carrots. Add dry ingredients. Spoon dough onto greased cookie sheets. Bake at 350 F for 10 minutes. Honey Oatmeal Bread 1-1/2 cups rolled oats 1-1/2 cups water 1-1/2 tsp salt 1 pkg active dry yeast 1/3 cup honey 1/4 cup water, 105-115 F 1 Tbsp corn oil 2-1/2 to 3 cups bread flour In saucepan, combine oats, water and salt. Heat to boiling; remove from heat and cool to lukewarm. Add honey and oil . In mixing bowl, dissolve yeast in the warm water. Add the cooled oat mixture. Stir in flour to make a stiff dough. Knead 10 minutes until smooth. Turn into a clean, oiled bowl. Let rise until doubled, 1-1/2 hours. Punch down and shape into a loaf, either round or oblong. Place into a greased pan. Let rise until almost doubled. Bake at 375 F for 40 to 45 minutes. Yield: 1 loaf BEE PATIENT Therefore be patient, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer (beekeeper?) waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. (James 5:7) Susan's Potica Bread 2 pkg active dry yeast 1/2 cup water, 105-115 F 1-1/2 tsp salt Honey Nut Filling: 1/2 cup sugar 1 lb ground walnuts 3/4 cup milk 1 cup sugar 3 eggs, lightly beaten 1 cup evaporated milk 2/3 cup butter, melted 1/2 cup honey 5-1/4 cup all-purpose flour 1 tsp vanilla In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in water. Add remaining ingredients in order; beat to make a smooth, satiny dough. Let rise in greased bowl until doubled. Boil filling ingredients together for five minutes until thick; cool. Cover large table with a smooth, clean plastic cloth; oil lightly. Invert bowl onto center of cloth (dough will flop out.) Pat dough out flat. Gently stretch, until paper-thin, into a 20-30" x 60-80" rectangle. Spread with filling; trim edges. Starting from narrow end, lift cloth to roll up potica, enclosing the filling. Cut into three equal pieces. Place into three well-greased 9x5" loaf pans. Let rise one hour until puffy. Bake at 350 F until golden. Turn out of pans; cool. Slice thin. Yield: 3 loaves. Concord Grape Pie 5-1/2 cups ripe Concord grapes 2/3 cup light honey 4 Tbsp cornstarch 3 Tbsp water 1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice 1 Tbsp grated orange rind 1-1/2 Tbsp unsalted butter 1 egg, beaten Pastry for 9-10" pie pan and lattice top Pinch grape pulp out of skins and set skins aside. Put pulp in saucepan (with no water) and bring to rolling boil. While pulp is still hot, rub it through a fine food mill to remove seeds. Combine strained pulp, skins and honey; stir well. In a small bowl, combine cornstarch, water and lemon juice; stir until smooth. Add cornstarch mixture and orange rind to grape mixture. Spoon into pastry shell. Dot with butter or margarine. Roll out remaining pastry into long strip. Brush lightly with beaten egg and cut into strips 1/2" wide. Arrange in lattice pattern on top of pie. Place pie on baking sheet and bake at 375 F 40-50 minutes; let cool. Garnish with ice cream or cool whip, if desired. Nicki's Chocolate-Honey Apple-Butter 3/4 cup honey 1 tsp cocoa powder 1 quart canned apples 1/4 tsp nutmeg 1/2 cup brown sugar 1/4 tsp cinnamon 1 cup milk 1/4 tsp ginger Combine all ingredients in large sauce pan. Bring to a boil and remove from heat. Blend in electric blender until smooth. Chill and serve on any pastry or bread. 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