Prairie State Beekeepers meeting on October 7, 2021. Start time is 7 PM.
The meeting location is the Sangamon County Farm Bureau Building.
Attendance limits are back in effect at the Farm Bureau Building, effective August 30, 2021 and until further notice.
In person attendance will be limited to the first 26 persons to arrive.
A Zoom invite will be sent to all Prairie State members via the Google group on October 6, 2021
The meeting location is the Sangamon County Farm Bureau Building.
Attendance limits are back in effect at the Farm Bureau Building, effective August 30, 2021 and until further notice.
In person attendance will be limited to the first 26 persons to arrive.
A Zoom invite will be sent to all Prairie State members via the Google group on October 6, 2021
Tentative Agenda
- Business items to attend to (max time is 15 minutes)
- Discussion of Winter Build Project ideas
- ISBA Annual Fall Meeting - November 13, 2021 - Northfield Inn See ISBA website for details
- Q&A
- Installation of Mouse Guards (discussion of various types)
- Feed colonies if light. (feed from inside an empty box on top of colonies to prevent robbing). Feed a heavy syrup.
- Evaluate the colonies and combine weak colonies with stronger ones.
- Small Hive Beetle (SHB) - keep checking your traps at least once a week, replace as needed. You can clean and reuse the disposable AJ Beetle Blaster traps. Put the traps in a wide mouth jar and fill with 50% water and 50% ammonia, seal with lid and let it sit for a few days.
- November and December are the normal months when colonies go broodless in our area (depending on weather).
- Prepare winter feed methods (sugar brick, candy boards,krabby patty, fondant, commercial winter patties)
- Do not remove burr comb or ladder comb between upper and lower deep brood boxes
- Remove oil based beetle traps once freezing weather sets in (to improve circulation and air flow)
- Oxalic Acid (OA) treatments are ideal for broodless periods in November and December as all the varroa mites are phoretic
- Consider artificial wind breaks to the north and west sides of colonies if colonies are out in open and exposed (we will discuss the various types)
- Thermal Breaks for top of colonies and hive ventilation during the winter months will be discussed
- Start planning now for what equipment you need to replace or additional equipment you need for next year
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Membership dues: $15 yearly, $10 of which includes membership in the Illinois State Beekeepers Association (ISBA).
If you have not yet renewed your membership, your membership has been 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. You can mail in your renewal to Laurie Tappenbeck (membership secretary), her contact information is below so you can email or call her to obtain her mailing address. |
Our thanks to Jefferies Orchard
for support of Prairie State Beekeepers 
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Your membership 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
Rich Ramsey Rochester, IL 217.691.9354 rramsey2@gmail.com |
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State of Illinois Dept. of Agriculture Apiary Inspector
Illinois Bees and Apiaries Program Arvin Pierce Waverly, IL 217.638.6371 rvnpirc51@gmail.com |