North Central PA Beekeepers Assoc Meeting
June 15, 2022
6 people attended in person and 8 via zoom
The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, July 13th at 6 PM at the extension and on zoom.
General discussions
Swarms – how people are doing with swarms this year.
Several have swarm boxes up and collecting their own swarms.
Seems there are more swarms this year and they started swarming early.
In general, how hives are doing
Bee Loss - Several reported that they had a smaller bee loss this winter and had done less to protect their bees
One member has had a hive for five years. He does not treat for mites
Mite Treatment - Another member mentioned a treatment to us – 5 drops of thyme oil and ¼ cup of coconut oil. Saturate a cheese cloth and lay on top of the frames. He does this in the fall.
Several members use drone frames and remove them and freeze them
We discussed other insects that bother the bees, yellow jackets, wasps, ants.
Several members have had success with the yellow jacket traps. Also, with cinnamon to keep ants away.
What is in bloom – we had a great discussion on what is in bloom now and the changes in the last few years of the honey due to Japanese knotweed. Multi floral rose has just started blooming in the area. Basswood comes in July and Japanese Knotweed after that. We had several that had noticed a change in the color of their honey being darker, which seems to be in correlation with the growth of the Japanese knotweed in the area. We discussed how Buckwheat can affect the taste and color of honey also. Because members come from all different areas, we also discussed flowering trees and how they were affected this year by frost, winds and rain, from Apple trees to Black Locust.
Pollen scale on the App store. – One member mentioned you can have access to the colors of pollen using an app on a cell phone.
We had been discussing the color of pollen and how the red maple trees often provide a reddish color pollen for the bees.
We brought up the two registrations that beekeepers need to be aware of in PA –
1. ALL beekeepers must register their hives, even if you only have one hive. This benefits the beekeeper as the inspectors that come to inspect the hives are often very knowledgeable and you can ask all sorts of questions
If you have a neighbor or someone close to you that has American Foul Brood, the inspector with notify you and check your hives.
The Fee is only $10 every other year.
Look under “PA Plants” to register
2. Registering your Honey extracting and bottling – If you are going to sell any honey at all you must be registered with the Dept of Ag under “limited Food Establishment”
The fee is $35 per year but if you do not require the certificate then there is no fee.
You must have your water sample checked every year.
If you have someone else extract and bottle your honey who is registered, you still have to register and fill out all the required information.
You will be inspected once a year.
To register https://www.pafoodsafety.pa.gov/Web/Login.aspx
Or call 717-787-4315
We want to thank everyone who attended in person and on zoom. We covered quite a lot of topics and appreciate all the comments, suggestions and knowledge of all the beekeepers.
Respectfully Submitted
Joan Bradley
June 15, 2022
6 people attended in person and 8 via zoom
The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, July 13th at 6 PM at the extension and on zoom.
General discussions
Swarms – how people are doing with swarms this year.
Several have swarm boxes up and collecting their own swarms.
Seems there are more swarms this year and they started swarming early.
In general, how hives are doing
Bee Loss - Several reported that they had a smaller bee loss this winter and had done less to protect their bees
One member has had a hive for five years. He does not treat for mites
Mite Treatment - Another member mentioned a treatment to us – 5 drops of thyme oil and ¼ cup of coconut oil. Saturate a cheese cloth and lay on top of the frames. He does this in the fall.
Several members use drone frames and remove them and freeze them
We discussed other insects that bother the bees, yellow jackets, wasps, ants.
Several members have had success with the yellow jacket traps. Also, with cinnamon to keep ants away.
What is in bloom – we had a great discussion on what is in bloom now and the changes in the last few years of the honey due to Japanese knotweed. Multi floral rose has just started blooming in the area. Basswood comes in July and Japanese Knotweed after that. We had several that had noticed a change in the color of their honey being darker, which seems to be in correlation with the growth of the Japanese knotweed in the area. We discussed how Buckwheat can affect the taste and color of honey also. Because members come from all different areas, we also discussed flowering trees and how they were affected this year by frost, winds and rain, from Apple trees to Black Locust.
Pollen scale on the App store. – One member mentioned you can have access to the colors of pollen using an app on a cell phone.
We had been discussing the color of pollen and how the red maple trees often provide a reddish color pollen for the bees.
We brought up the two registrations that beekeepers need to be aware of in PA –
1. ALL beekeepers must register their hives, even if you only have one hive. This benefits the beekeeper as the inspectors that come to inspect the hives are often very knowledgeable and you can ask all sorts of questions
If you have a neighbor or someone close to you that has American Foul Brood, the inspector with notify you and check your hives.
The Fee is only $10 every other year.
Look under “PA Plants” to register
2. Registering your Honey extracting and bottling – If you are going to sell any honey at all you must be registered with the Dept of Ag under “limited Food Establishment”
The fee is $35 per year but if you do not require the certificate then there is no fee.
You must have your water sample checked every year.
If you have someone else extract and bottle your honey who is registered, you still have to register and fill out all the required information.
You will be inspected once a year.
To register https://www.pafoodsafety.pa.gov/Web/Login.aspx
Or call 717-787-4315
We want to thank everyone who attended in person and on zoom. We covered quite a lot of topics and appreciate all the comments, suggestions and knowledge of all the beekeepers.
Respectfully Submitted
Joan Bradley