Sangamon County Farm Bureau Agstravaganza - Open to public on 7/28/24 1 to 3 PM. 7/29/24 all day reserved for 15 minute sessions with all day care students (from 9 AM to 4 PM). More details on Summary of Events page and at meeting. Contact Steve Petrilli or Rich Ramsey if you are interested in volunteering some time on 7/29/24
Prairie State Beekeepers - August 1, 2024
The August 1, 2024, Prairie State Beekeepers meeting will be at the Sangamon County Farm Bureau Building. Start time is 7 PM.
A map to the location of the Farm Bureau Building can be found on the Summary of Events Page.
A zoom link for the meeting will be sent to all members via the Google Group forum for those who cannot attend the meeting in person.
The August 1, 2024, Prairie State Beekeepers meeting will be at the Sangamon County Farm Bureau Building. Start time is 7 PM.
A map to the location of the Farm Bureau Building can be found on the Summary of Events Page.
A zoom link for the meeting will be sent to all members via the Google Group forum for those who cannot attend the meeting in person.
Tentative Agenda
- Business items to attend to (max time is 15 minutes).
- Availability of queen cells and queens
- Topics of interest such as the discussion and Q&A in the meeting indicate.
Items to check in July/August
- Check for signs of robbing. Usually occurs during nectar dearth
- A 1 to 1 sugar to water ratio for sugar syrup. The 1 to 1 ratio is by by weight, not volume. Can be a tad thinner such as 1.5 parts of water to 1 part sugar. Do not feed your honey bees hummingbird syrup (4 parts water to 1 part sugar).
- HFCS-55 (not corn syrup from store) can also be fed to bees. Mix it with 30% to 50% water).
- Check for signs of Small Hive Beetle (SHB), have your hive tool at the ready to smash any SHB the bees have run to the topside of the inner cover
- If providing a protein supplement to the bees (i.e. commercial or homemade protein patties), start with very small amounts (a few strips 1 inch wide laid across the frame top bars). Do not put in more than what the bees can consume in a day or so). SHB are attracted to protein and will lay eggs in the patty so do not put a large amount on the colony at any one time. If you see SHB larva wiggling in the protein - you gave the colony too much - remove it.
- Check for signs of supersedure or swarm in each colony.
- Prepare to add honey supers as needed.
- Consider re-queening colonies in July. (Introduce a new queen or make your own)
- Use caution when treating colonies for varroa mites with Formic Acid or Formic Acid Pro if your queens are 2+ years in age. Follow label directions regarding the applicable temperature range
- Prairie State has extractors to loan to members who do not have one. Contact Rich Ramsey to schedule use of extractor.
- Wondering where the bees are finding the pollen they are bringing in? Check the pollen sources by time of year on the documents page of our website
2024 PSBA Membership dues:
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 Treasurer. The Treasurer will notify the Membership Secretary to renew the member for Prairie State and to advise the ISBA of the renewal. New member applications will be reviewed by the officers before the membership is approved. You can mail in your renewal to Kathy Kaesebier (Treasurer). Her contact information is below so you can email or call her to obtain her mailing address. The mailing address is also posted on the Prairie State Google Group. |
Our thanks to Jefferies Orchard
for their continued support of Prairie State Beekeepers |
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:
Prairie State
Beekeeping Presentation Committee Chairperson & Apparel Committee Chairperson Melissa Gerard Athens, IL 217.691.2223 [email protected] |
ISBA Vice President
Steve Petrilli Mechanicsburg, IL 217.638.7891 [email protected] |
ISBA Legislative Liaison
Rich Ramsey Rochester, IL 217.691.9354 [email protected] |
State of Illinois Dept. of Agriculture Apiary Inspector
Illinois Bees and Apiaries Program Arvin Pierce Waverly, IL 217.638.6371 [email protected] |
Vertical Divider
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Local Commercial Beekeeper - Honey & Queen Producer
Andy O'Connell Springfield, IL 217.299.4892 [email protected] |