3/22/2023
First meeting of 2023.
Discussion Topics
-Club President
- proposed meetings and times
- Future topics
- Attendees list
- How did your bees do over winter
- What equipment is needed for a sugar shake to check for mites
- Discussion on requirements for licensing
- Open discussion
Club President
We really need someone to step up to be President or at least lead the meetings.
If we had four meetings a year and had four people step up to offer to set them up , plan them
etc. then it would not fall on one person but four different people would only have to do one
meeting.
Proposed meetings and times
Kaleb will want to speak on overwintering hives at the next meeting.
April meeting – wed April 19 th 6pm
May – Meet at Apiary – Amber volunteered if no one else.
It has been agreed by the members present that we need more in person meetings this year –
speak to Sheila about possibly doing a workshop.
Beginner beekeeper class proposed – Saturday- March is ideal but too late to place an order for
bees. This discussion will be continued at a later date depending on the needs of the club
members.
Attendees list and how did your bees do this winter?
Dan Barret – Started with 3hives, 2 were smaller hives – now has 1- has pollen coming in.
Mike Clark – started with 7 hives and still has all 7- 2 nd winter beekeeping – oxalic acid 3 weeks
in a row in October.
Tom Shweikart – lost all 6 hives, will start over this spring – warm up may have played a role.
Amber Collins- started with 2 hives, lost one in early fall
Joan Bradley- started with 13 hives, lost 9
Jim Randall– lost all- Due to illness
Paige Cook – Will be purchasing hives this spring.
Michael Luciano- started with 7 hives, lost 4 – the 3 are doing well.
Samantha Walker – Will start this year will pick up bees May 5 th Drapers in Millerton
Shannon- Dad of Samantha
Jim McCloskey- 50/50
Kaleb Long- started with 4 hives, lost 2
Tom Hoppe -
With the numbers provided, we have averaged a 44% survival rate this winter.
What equipment is needed for a sugar shake to check for mites
Joan presenting
Mite counting- There are many different methods.
Alcohol count can be more accurate but kills bees.
Powdered sugar does not kill bees and works well enough for most beekeepers –
Benefits:
- Most Processes used to achieve a reliable mite count will result in killing a half cup of bees
- if you accidentally get a queen you will not kill her
Items needed
- basin
- 1/3 cup powdered sugar
- White plate
- Spray bottle with plain water
- Canning jar with ring and screen
Put powdered sugar in canning jar before you begin.
Take brood frame above basin and tap bees into basin, scoop ½ cup of bees from the
basin into the canning jar.
Shake jar well.
Empty sugar over plate
Spray water on sugar to see mites on plate.
Dump bees back into hives
Some people treat hives without doing a mite count to save time.
Another variation used is Varroa easy check with dawn dish soap and water.
Discussion on requirements for licensing
Karen Roccasecca from Pa Dept of Agriculture - Joan spoke to her about licensing – a few rules
changing for limited kitchen and producing and selling honey. Joan will send out the
information provided as it goes into more detail – if you produce and sell from your house you
may not have to be registered, read the info.
If registering for limited kitchen Joan has instructions for renewing online.
Where to register? Pafoodsafety.pa.gov
Water sample Testing –
Tom Hoppy – Coudersport is doing it differently now – borough building – Call to ask day and
time for drop off and you will be billed, may be $50 now but no shipping cost – first year you
must sample for bacteria/ chloroform – borough gives you form so you can choose tests
needed. E first
Bradford – Analytical services – water testing – they will pick up your sample.
Shinglehouse- has water testing $50
Penn state has a good system but it’s more expensive- have to pay for overnight shipping-$70
for chloroform/nitrates plus shipping.
White Oak Laboratory in Ridgeway- will pick up sample cost is $30 chloroform /e coli testing.
Inspector may start only coming to your property every 2 years in Coudersport.
Register bees with state of PA dept of AG every 2 years.
This helps control disease in the bee population in your area.
Open discussion
We have coupons for American Bee Journal for club members.
Swarm Call List – Joan is working on it.
Amber will be verifying and updating the resources page of the club website.
When to put swarm traps up- warm April put up traps in early May- online says the earlier the
better- early June swarms are expected.
Kaleb wants to raise queens this year – grafting- Joan has experience- need drones- use cells
and put them back in hive or in Nuc box to make it easier, need plastic cages to go over the top
of them or they will kill each other.
First meeting of 2023.
Discussion Topics
-Club President
- proposed meetings and times
- Future topics
- Attendees list
- How did your bees do over winter
- What equipment is needed for a sugar shake to check for mites
- Discussion on requirements for licensing
- Open discussion
Club President
We really need someone to step up to be President or at least lead the meetings.
If we had four meetings a year and had four people step up to offer to set them up , plan them
etc. then it would not fall on one person but four different people would only have to do one
meeting.
Proposed meetings and times
Kaleb will want to speak on overwintering hives at the next meeting.
April meeting – wed April 19 th 6pm
May – Meet at Apiary – Amber volunteered if no one else.
It has been agreed by the members present that we need more in person meetings this year –
speak to Sheila about possibly doing a workshop.
Beginner beekeeper class proposed – Saturday- March is ideal but too late to place an order for
bees. This discussion will be continued at a later date depending on the needs of the club
members.
Attendees list and how did your bees do this winter?
Dan Barret – Started with 3hives, 2 were smaller hives – now has 1- has pollen coming in.
Mike Clark – started with 7 hives and still has all 7- 2 nd winter beekeeping – oxalic acid 3 weeks
in a row in October.
Tom Shweikart – lost all 6 hives, will start over this spring – warm up may have played a role.
Amber Collins- started with 2 hives, lost one in early fall
Joan Bradley- started with 13 hives, lost 9
Jim Randall– lost all- Due to illness
Paige Cook – Will be purchasing hives this spring.
Michael Luciano- started with 7 hives, lost 4 – the 3 are doing well.
Samantha Walker – Will start this year will pick up bees May 5 th Drapers in Millerton
Shannon- Dad of Samantha
Jim McCloskey- 50/50
Kaleb Long- started with 4 hives, lost 2
Tom Hoppe -
With the numbers provided, we have averaged a 44% survival rate this winter.
What equipment is needed for a sugar shake to check for mites
Joan presenting
Mite counting- There are many different methods.
Alcohol count can be more accurate but kills bees.
Powdered sugar does not kill bees and works well enough for most beekeepers –
Benefits:
- Most Processes used to achieve a reliable mite count will result in killing a half cup of bees
- if you accidentally get a queen you will not kill her
Items needed
- basin
- 1/3 cup powdered sugar
- White plate
- Spray bottle with plain water
- Canning jar with ring and screen
Put powdered sugar in canning jar before you begin.
Take brood frame above basin and tap bees into basin, scoop ½ cup of bees from the
basin into the canning jar.
Shake jar well.
Empty sugar over plate
Spray water on sugar to see mites on plate.
Dump bees back into hives
Some people treat hives without doing a mite count to save time.
Another variation used is Varroa easy check with dawn dish soap and water.
Discussion on requirements for licensing
Karen Roccasecca from Pa Dept of Agriculture - Joan spoke to her about licensing – a few rules
changing for limited kitchen and producing and selling honey. Joan will send out the
information provided as it goes into more detail – if you produce and sell from your house you
may not have to be registered, read the info.
If registering for limited kitchen Joan has instructions for renewing online.
Where to register? Pafoodsafety.pa.gov
Water sample Testing –
Tom Hoppy – Coudersport is doing it differently now – borough building – Call to ask day and
time for drop off and you will be billed, may be $50 now but no shipping cost – first year you
must sample for bacteria/ chloroform – borough gives you form so you can choose tests
needed. E first
Bradford – Analytical services – water testing – they will pick up your sample.
Shinglehouse- has water testing $50
Penn state has a good system but it’s more expensive- have to pay for overnight shipping-$70
for chloroform/nitrates plus shipping.
White Oak Laboratory in Ridgeway- will pick up sample cost is $30 chloroform /e coli testing.
Inspector may start only coming to your property every 2 years in Coudersport.
Register bees with state of PA dept of AG every 2 years.
This helps control disease in the bee population in your area.
Open discussion
We have coupons for American Bee Journal for club members.
Swarm Call List – Joan is working on it.
Amber will be verifying and updating the resources page of the club website.
When to put swarm traps up- warm April put up traps in early May- online says the earlier the
better- early June swarms are expected.
Kaleb wants to raise queens this year – grafting- Joan has experience- need drones- use cells
and put them back in hive or in Nuc box to make it easier, need plastic cages to go over the top
of them or they will kill each other.