We are pleased to announce that Dr. James Tew will be our featured speaker for our annual spring seminar!
Dr. James E. Tew is an Emeritus faculty member of The Ohio State University Entomology Department where he was the Extension Beekeeping Specialist for 33 years. He also contracted with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, Auburn University for twenty-five years as their beekeeping specialist. Jim has taught classes, provided extension services, and conducted applied research on honey bees and honey bee behavior - specifically pollination behavior. He received the first EAS Roger A. Morse Teaching/Extension/Regulatory Award. He contributes monthly articles to national beekeeping publications and has written: Beekeeping Principles, Wisdom for Beekeepers, The Beekeeper’s Problem Solver, and Backyard Beekeeping. He is a frequent speaker at state and national meetings and has traveled extensively to observe beekeeping techniques.
Topics Will Include:
1. Healthy Colonies – As measured by what standard?
All beekeepers strive for healthy wholesome colonies. Interestingly, this goal is a moving target. A strong, healthy colony in early spring is not the same healthy colony that would be desired during mid-winter. This presentation discusses some of the characteristics that describe a healthy colony and how that colony should naturally evolve to remain healthy throughout the entire season.
2. Swarms and Swarm Management - An Overview
Swarms and swarming are a fundamental aspect of colony management. This is a powerful stimulus that is impossible for beekeepers to completely prevent. Yet, the lost swarm is a disappointing matter for the typical beekeeper. What is the behavioral back story to swarming behavior? Why is the average colony so persistent in its swarming behavior? Can this behavior be restricted? What is the typical future of the swarm that escaped the parent colony? Life is harsh out there for a newly issued swarm. Why take on this dangerous mission?
3. The seasonal orbit of the honey bees’ society
Everything the bee colony does contributes to all aspects of the seasonal cycle. No part of the cycle can be omitted. Normally, a single aspect of the annual cycle is chosen for specific discussion by beekeeping lecturers. Examples would be swarming or wintering. But all of these cycles interrelate and affect one another. If all cycles are successfully completed, the cycle continues without beginning or ending. This discussion presents an overview of this perpetual cycle.
4. Queen Problems – some discussion, solutions and best guesses.
Good queens are for the moment. They never last very long – even many years ago when colonies were not plagued by the many pests we have today, beekeepers were not always wild about their queen stock.
The queen is frequently blamed for everything in the colony – both good and bad. Basic recommendations abound, but the challenge is in the details. When to replace, how to replace, how much to pay for what kind of queen are some questions that all beekeepers must answer. It’s not easy. This presentation discusses some of these issues that need to be addressed before deciding to perform the task – colony surgery – or replacing a queen. It is a major event for the colony and things can go wrong.