The Prairie State Beekeepers Meeting on February 4, 2021 will be a virtual (Zoom) meeting. We do not know yet if in person attendance will be allowed at the Farm Bureau Building. Additional details and the Zoom invite will be issued on February 3, 2021.
Additional items for the tentative agenda will be published in the near future.
Additional items for the tentative agenda will be published in the near future.
Tentative Agenda
- Business items to attend to (max time is 15 minutes)
- Dues Renewal Reminder
- Status of Package Orders
- Supplemental Food Stores (winter feeding) - check and refresh with additional sugar brick, candy board, krabby patty, mountain camp method (dry sugar), winter patties, etc
- You can start adding small amounts of protein, either mixed in with your food source or as a separate patty/strip. You do not need to worry about Small Hive Beetle propagation at this time of year and at these temperatures.
- Some races of queens should be laying on an increased basis in February as each day is getting longer.
- Moisture control and proper ventilation are key.
- Thermal break at top cover
- Keep lower hive entrances (your mouse guards) clear of ice, snow and debris.
- Clear snow in front of each hive down to the ground if flying weather temps are expected to help prevent vertigo of bees taking cleansing flights. The sun reflection off the snow on a bright day is brighter than the sun itself and can cause the bees to nose dive into the ground just outside the hive. If snow or ice cannot be cleared, then put an old piece of carpet, board, old shingles, floor mat, etc on the ground in front of the hive to minimize or eliminate the reflection of the sun.
- Remember to at a minimum to veil up before opening a live colony. Some of the bees in the cluster will be warm enough to take flight and "greet" you even if it is 20F or 0F.
- Seal off any dead out hives - yes even seemingly strong colonies a month or so ago, may end up dying.
- If you disassemble dead outs, take pictures for forensic purposes before you do the cleanup. The state of each frame (honey/pollen) and where the bees (clustered or not) are or are not in the hive, on the frames, bottom board, etc is useful in a post diagnosis.
The Summary of Events page has information on the 2021 Introduction to Beekeeping Course!
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Membership dues: $15 yearly, $10 of which includes membership in the Illinois State Beekeepers Association (ISBA).
You will have until the close of the March 4, 2021 meeting to renew your membership for the 2021 calendar year. If you do not renew your membership by the close of the March Meeting, you will be inactivated on the Prairie State and the Illinois State Beekeepers membership rosters. You can reactivate your membership by submitting a renewal. The membership application/renewal form can be found on the Documents page tab of the website. Bring it to the next meeting you can attend. Give your membership renewal or new membership form and payment to the Membership Secretary. The Membership Secretary will record your membership payment and then forward the payment to the Treasurer for deposit. New member applications will be reviewed by the officers before the membership is approved. Due to the COVID-19 situation, you can mail in your renewal to Mary Hayden (the membership secretary), her contact information is below. Her mailing address has been sent to members via a google group post. |
Our thanks to Jefferies Orchard
for support of Prairie State Beekeepers 
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Your membership also entitles you to a discounted subscription rate for the American Bee Journal magazine. Bee Culture is also an excellent publication, but it does not offer a discounted subscription.
Contact Information & Officers:
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ISBA Membership Director
Steve Petrilli Mechanicsburg, IL 217.638.7891 spetrilli45@gmail.com |
ISBA Legislative Liaison
BEE PACKAGES Rich Ramsey Rochester, IL 217.691.9354 rramsey2@gmail.com |
State of Illinois Dept. of Agriculture Apiary Inspector
Illinois Bees and Apiaries Program
Arvin Pierce
Waverly, IL
217.638.6371
rvnpirc51@gmail.com
Illinois Bees and Apiaries Program
Arvin Pierce
Waverly, IL
217.638.6371
rvnpirc51@gmail.com