formed at summer meeting new ksba marketing …

BeeLines ● July 2017 ● 1

July 2017State Apiarist Dr. Tammy Horn Potter ● Kentucky Department of Agriculture, Ryan F. Quarles, Commissioner

BeeLines

Interdependence DayJuan Moreno, a rising sixth grader at Cardinal Valley Elementary School in Lexington, worked bees into his Independence Day decorating scheme. He drew this patriotic drawing for Michelle Newby Armstrong’s fifth-grade class.

The Kentucky State Beekeepers Association, during their summer meeting, formed a Honey Subcommittee to prioritize issues in honey marketing, analysis, and related issues.

The subcommittee’s first meeting will be July 17 at 1 p.m. at a Hardin County location to be determined.

The Clarkson summer meeting was attended by representatives of several beekeeping associations, including Allen County, Bluegrass Beekeepers, Capital City, Garrard County, Kentuckiana, Lake Barkley, Mammoth Cave, Owensboro, South East Kentucky, and Warren County.

Honey Subcommittee members are:

• Ross McFadyen, (270) 526-6990;• Jose Olivencia, Hardin County,

(270) 877-5715, [email protected];• Jake Osborne, KSBA Vice President,

Owensboro, (270) 993-0146;• Betsy Ramey, president, Kentuckiana Bee

Association, Louisville, (502) 767-7177, [email protected];

• Chris Sanders, Laurel County Beekeepers Association, London, (606) 260-7939;

• Rick Sutton, KSBA President, Lancaster, (859) 304-3103;

• Shannon Trimboli, KSBA webmaster, Bowling Green, (270) 202-7677.

Formed at summer meeting

New KSBA marketingsubcommitteemeets July 17

USDA LABRESUMES BEEDIAGNOSTICS

. . . see page 4

Clever mimicryDr. Clare Rittschof at the University of Kentucky brought to our attention that the photos we printed last month, taken by Emily Milam, were not honey bees, but bee mimics. Among other differences, honey bees have four wings, have smaller eyes than mimics, and will spend more time with flowering plants. Emily Milam photo File photo


Kentucky Pollinator Plan stakeholders meet

Commissioner Quarles uses a smoker to calm the bees while State Apiarist Dr. Tammy Horn Potter lifts a frame.

Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles welcomed Kentucky Pollinator Protection Plan stakeholders to the Kentucky Department of Agriculture offices in Frankfort in June. Keith Rogers, the KDA’s chief of staff, read a proclamation from Governor Matt Bevin declaring the week of June 19-25 as Kentucky Pollinator Week.

(L-r) Nikiya McGeachy, an intern at the University of Kentucky Department of Agricultural Economics; Dr. Ric Bessin, extension professor, UK Department of Entomology; Ricky Yeargan, senior extension associate, UK Agricultural Programs; and J. Brent Harrel, private lands coordinator for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, take in presentations from other stakeholders.

Joe Cain of Kentucky Farm Bureau, left, speaks as Robert Hoffman of Roundstone Seed Company listens in. The Kentucky Pollinator Protection Plan, which continues to undergo revisions and additions, is available for download at kyagr.com/statevet/honeybees.html.Commissioner Quarles takes a closer look.

(Kentucky Department of Agriculture photos)


Kentucky State Fair * August 17-27, 2017KSBA Kentucky State Fair Honey Booth schedule Here are the addresses and dates for each association working the Kentucky State Beekeepers Association (KSBA) Honey Booth at the 2017 Kentucky State Fair.

Betsy Ramey of the Kentuckiana Beekeepers Association will be picking up tickets for each group. Her email is [email protected], and her phone is (502) 767-7177.

If you are the listed coordinator for yout association, please let Betsy know the number of tickets you need.

Thursday-Friday 17-18: Bluegrass B.A. Jed Davis, (502) 857-2272. [email protected]. 371 Caney Church Road, Stamping Ground 40379.

Saturday 19: Oldham County B.A. Claude Nutt, (502) 523-7151. [email protected]. P.O. Box 165, Smithfield 40068.

Sunday 20: Shelby County B.A. Doug Steck, (502) 738-5397. 3591 Back Creek Road, Waddy 40076.

Monday 21: Allen County B.A. Michele Boling, (270) 792-9015. 1843 Cedar Ridge Road, Bowling Green 42101.

Tuesday 22: Capitol City B.A. Ken Daniels. (502) 682-3144. 1015 Lucas Lane, Frankfort 40601.

Kentuckiana B.A. Betsy Ramey, Louisville, (502) 767-7177. [email protected].

Wednesday 23: Mammoth Cave B.A. Barry Cowles, (270) 799-5106. 2455 Chalybeate Road, Smiths Grove 42171.

Thursday 24: Grayson County B.A. Joe Taylor. (270) 897-8654. P.O. 234, Leitchfield 42755.

Friday 25: Audubon B.A. Larry Stone, (270) 249-9431. 3625 Balls Hill Road, Nebo 42441.

Saturday 26: Green River B.A. Ted Caldwell, (606) 787-4001. 1983 Sanders Ridge Road, Columbia 42728.

Sunday 27: Oldham County B.A. Claude Nutt, (502) 523-7151. [email protected]. P.O. Box 165, Smithfield 40068.

Type

Price To Bee- Keeper

Sale Price

TOTAL SALE

EXTRACTED HONEY8 oz jar 4.90 7.00 1811 lb jar 7.00 10.00 710Pint jar 9.10 13.00 2751.5 lb. jar 9.10 13.00 1582 lb. jar 12.80 18.00 1562.5 lb. jar 14.00 20.00Quart jar 16.80 24.00 3693 lb. jug 16.80 24.005 lb. jug 23.10 33.00 7812 lb. jug n/a13 oz. glass jar 1388 oz. bear 4.90 7.0012 oz. bear 6.30 9.00 26012 oz. sqz. bottle 6.20 9.0016 oz. skep 7.00 10.00 482 oz. bear 2.45 3.50

COMB HONEY1 lb. jar 8.40 12.00 1322 lb. jar 14.00 20.00Pint jar 11.20 16.002.5 lb. jar 15.40 22.00Quart jar 16.80 24.00 241 lb. box 7.70 11.00Ross Rounds 7.70 11.00

CREAMED HONEY 4808 oz. jar 6.30 9.001 lb. jar 8.40 12.00

BULK WAXlbs. 8.40 12.00 26

LIP BALM 1.50 3.00 133

POLLEN8 oz. 7.00 10.0016 oz. 11.90 17.00

STATE FAIR 2016 HONEY SALES & PRICES

KSBA members sold over $54,000 of honey, candles, lip balm, beeswax, and honey straws at the 2016 Kentucky State Fair. KSBA members are welcome to sell honey at the fair, while emphasizing to the public the importance of honey bees.


A joint collaboration between the Bee Informed Partnership, the USDA-ARS Bee Research Laboratory, and USDA-APHIS has been established in the short term primarily to provide for the diagnostics of honey bee brood for American foulbrood (and other brood) disease.

The lab will also offer other pest and disease diagnostics for a nominal fee.

As before, diagnostic reports will be transmitted to the individual submitting the samples and to the appropriate apiary inspectors.

The lab has resumed these services as they await full staffing of the USDA-ARS Disease Diagnostic Service.

Additional details, including costs and shipping:

CURRENT SERVICESAmerican Foulbrood. Given the need to process honey bee brood samples for the highly contagious agent causing American foulbrood disease, this TEMPORARY service will be conducted free of charge, restricted to brood samples.

Brood samples suspected of having bacterial disease should be sent as described at the website at above right.

Samples will be visually inspected, and those suspected of having bacterial disease will be examined by microscopy and, where ambiguous, by antibody-based diagnostic kits.

All samples positive for AFB will be held in storage should additional testing (e.g., for antibiotic resistance) be warranted in the future. Antibiotic resistance will not be tested routinely.

Nosema. Send a minimum of 100 bees for processing. If positive, spore counts are reported in millions of spores per bee.

Varroa. Send a minimum of 300 worker bees. If positive, mites are reported in mites per 100 bees.

If both Varroa and Nosema diagnostics are requested, only 300 bees TOTAL are required.

USDA resumes honey bee diagnostic services

Tracheal Mites: Send a minimum of 100 bees for examination (16 are dissected). If positive, the percentage of bees positive for mites will be reported.

PREPARING THE SAMPLE(S)Bees sampled for testing for foulbrood, Varroa or

tracheal mites should be sent in 70 percent ethyl, methyl, or isopropyl alcohol as soon as possible after collection and packed in leak-proof containers using the shipping instructions.

COSTS AND SHIPPINGIf you are sending samples, please use the BIP

Diagnostic Packing Slip downloadable at beeinformed.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/BIP-Diagnostic-Packing-slip-May17.pdf, and also included as page 8 of this issue of BeeLines. Fill out the packing slip with the required information and follow the instructions listed on the web page at top right.

Please note, currently the United States Postal Service delivers to USDA only on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. If this is an emergency, we suggest you send via FedEx or UPS.

A check for all applicable fees is required at the time of shipping. Make checks payable to the Bee Informed Partnership Inc. when sending samples.

Information website:ars.usda.gov/northeast-area/

beltsville-md/beltsville-agricultural- research-center/bee-research-

laboratory/docs/how-to-submit-samples/

Packing slip, page 8

Price list:

AFB (and other brood disease) diagnostics: no charge

Nosema: $10/sample

Varroa: $10/sample

Tracheal mites: $32/sample

Larval bee attacked by

Varroa mites.


Varroa fight goes on; experts gather at PurdueIn 2016, Dr. Greg Hunt and Dr. Krispn Given submitted to USDA the CARE (Critical Agricultural Research and Extension) grant, including Kentucky and five other states: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia. Each state received funds dedicated to distributing information on battling Varroa mites.

Kentucky formed the Kentucky Queen Bee Breeders Association (KQBBA) to work more closely with Purdue University’s “mite biter” stock.

On June 4, Dr. Tammy Horn Potter (KDA), who wrote Kentucky’s portion of the grant, and Dorothey Morgan (at right), KQBBA president, traveled to Purdue University to present Kentucky’s 2017 activities and discuss the remainder of the year. Potter and Morgan also caught drones for queen bee insemination, and Dorothey helped inseminate queen bees in the Purdue Bee Lab.

KQBBA Facebook page: facebook.com/kyqueenbeebreeders/


State Apiarist’s schedule● July 10-11: Taking USDA samples.

● July 12-15: Heartland Apiculture Society, Evansville, Indiana.

● July 17: Taking USDA samples.

● July 18: Kenton County Public Library.

● July 20: Laurel County Beekeepers.

● July 24-25: Taking USDA samples.

● July 30-Aug. 4: Newark, Delaware, speaking at Eastern Apicultural Society.

Bee Education events● July 1: Entries to the Kentucky State Fair are due.

You may enter online at the website below. If your local cooperative extension agent or your bee association president are bringing other entries to the State Fair, they are welcome to bring yours. As long as the individual entries have their tags and they arrive by 6 p.m. EDT Aug. 14. they will be accepted. Please notice the deadline time is EDT. Entries that do not meet the drop-off deadline will not be accepted and will not be judged, no exceptions.

kystatefair.org/Images/documents/Premium%20Book/2017/Bees%20and%20Honey.pdf

● July 13-15: Heartland Apicultural Society Conference. The University of Southern Indiana (USI), Evansville, hosts this 16th annual event. Partial registrations and dorm accommodations available.

Online registration: heartlandbees.org/product/2017-early-registration, or download the registration form at heartlandbees.org/

wp-content/uploads/2017/02/2017-HAS-Registration-Form.pdf

● July 21-23: Queen Grafting Workshop. 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Ohio County Corporate Extension Office, 1337 Clay Street, Hartford. Sustainable beekeeping and queen grafting class, featuring grafting from Purdue University mite biting queen. Class will include all tools needed to graft. Instructor Chris Renfrow. Sponsored by the Kentucky Queen Bee Breeders Association.

Registration $150 per person. Seating limited to 15 participants.

Check or money order c/o Kristi Willoughby, P. O. Box 547, Hartford, KY 42347. More information: Chris Renfrow, (270) 556-0853,

or Kristi Willoughby, (270) 775-2446.

● July 30-Aug. 4: Eastern Apiculture Society, Newark, Delaware. $250 member registration fee for entire conference; shorter-term registrations available.

EAS members, register at easternapiculture.org/conferences/ eas-2017/2017-registration.html. Become a member at

easternapiculturesociety.wildapricot.org/page-1861117.

Sweet retirement!

Dr. Greg Hunt andhis wife, Christy,

recently celebrated

his retirement.The cake reads“Thank you for

your work onthe Indiana

Leg Chewers.”

Dr. Greg Hunt, an entomologist whose research has helped develop queen honey bees with the ability to fight Varroa mites by biting off their legs, is celebrating his retirement.

Dr. Hunt worked with Dr. Krispn Given in the Purdue University Bee Lab for 20 years to research and develop the “Indiana Leg Chewer” queen honey bee.

Purdue’s Dr. Hunt retires; co-developed “Leg Chewer” Varroa fighter

July 15 is the deadline to file reports of colony inventory (FSA-578) for all producers

except those participating in NAP. (Example: 7/15/17 for 2017 honey “crop” year).

This reminder is from Lindsey New of the Farm Service Agency.

Lindsey New, FSA Somerset Service Center, 45 Eagle Creek Drive, Ste. 101, Somerset, KY 42503.

(606) 678-4842, Ext. 125 Fax: (855) 784-0872.

“Dr. Hunt has provided immeasurable service to Kentucky beekeepers with his leadership in starting Heartland Apiculture Society along with Dr. Tom Webster of Kentucky State University, and including Kentucky in the Purdue University Critical Agricultural Research and Extension grant,” said Dr. Tammy Horn Potter, Kentucky state apiarist.


American Beekeeping Federation (ABF) president Gene Brandi and vice president Tim May attended the unveiling by Second Lady Karen Pence of a new beehive on the grounds of the Vice Presidential Residence.

Mrs. Pence mentioned CCD, nutrition, and pests, but not pesticides, as main challenges to bee populations.

U. S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue proclaimed June 19-25 “National Pollinator Week” at the early-June gathering.

Second Lady Pence and Secretary Perdue urged every American to do his or her part to reverse the declining honey bee population trend.

The hive was set up and will be maintained by ECO Honeybees, a beehive sales, service, and maintenance company serving the District of Columbia and adjacent parts of Virginia and Maryland.

Though it’s only early summer, ABF members are already planning for next winter. ABF’s Annual Conference and Trade Show Jan. 9-13, 2018 at the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno, Nevada, will mark ABF’s 75th anniversary. The ABF group also attended Capitol Hill and federal agency meetings during their late June visit, discussing ABF’s 2017 legislative

The hive at the Vice President’s Residence is a triple-deep “Langstroth” beehive, containing almost 20,000 bees currently, and continuing to grow.

ABF, officials praise honey bees at VP hive launch

priorities. “We have much to do, as the 2018 Farm Bill is right around the corner,” said president Brandi.

Perdue noted the U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Environmental Protection Agency are leading efforts to create a national pollinator health strategy.

Honey bees are the nation’s primary pollinators, adding at least $15 billion a year in value to about 90 crops, including nuts, fruits, berries and vegetables, by increasing yields and boosting the quality of harvests.

—ABF press release

2017 Hive Count SurveyThe Kentucky Department of Agriculture collects information on beekeepers and hives within the Commonwealth, in accordance with state law. The KDA needs an inventory of beekeepers and hive counts by county to accomplish this. Your voluntary help is greatly appreciated. Please email, fax, or mail this form as below. Thank you for your assistance.

Name of club ____________________________________________________________

Beekeeper name _________________________________________________________

Type of beekeeper queen producer_____ hobbyist _____ sideliner_____ honey producer _____ pollination _____ top bar hive _____ nuc producer_____ General definitions: Hobbyist = 1-30 hives; Sideliner = 30-99; Commercial = over 100 hives

County __________________________________________________________________

Number of losses from 2017 winter months, Jan. - March _________________________

Total colonies as of June 1, 2017 _____________________________________________Tammy Horn Potter, Kentucky State Apiarist, Kentucky Department of Agriculture109 Corporate Drive Complex, Frankfort, KY 40601 (502) 229-2950 • Fax (502) 564-7852 • tammy .potter@ky .gov


Beekeepers submitting samples to the USDA-ARS Bee Research Laboratory should include this packing slip with their shipment of bees and the payment of applicable fees. (See story, page 4.)

formed at summer meeting new ksba marketing …

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