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I hope your bees are doing better this year
than mine have been. Mine were building up nicely in June and it
seemed that by the time they got to a decent size the heat had fizzled
much of the nectar crop so it looks to be a pretty lean year for me.
I was able to extract two supers last weekend so I'd have some honey for
the fair and that may be all I get at this rate. I hope to hear
reports from the rest of you on better results!
Dates to Remember
Aug 12-16: Western Apiculture Society Conf
Aug 15-16: Fair entries accepted
Oct 25: Regional Beekeepers Meeting, 5:30PM
Nov 6-8: Hood River, Oregon Tri-state Convention.
July Meeting
At our July meeting Ron Babcock gave a
demonstration on techniques for lighting smokers. One key item is
to make sure to use lots of dead wood or burlap. If you don't put
in enough your smoker will go out. He also demonstrated a use for
WD40 to help get your smoker started. Just spray on a bit and
watch out when you bring on the flame!
NWDBA
Picnic
The NWDBA
Picnic was held Sunday July 13 at the Flowing Lake County Park. I
wasn't able to attend but reports indicate everyone had a great time!
There must have been five associations represented! Lot of
deserts, hamburgers and food were had by all. The auction went
well with some really nice auction items including an extractor,
candles, glassware, etc.
Evergreen State Fair
 Have
you signed up for the fair yet?
If not, call Rick
Jamsgard to reserve your spot - 425-334-5527.
Something for everyone?
WHEN PIGS FLY!
At the
August NWDBA meeting we will be talking about the fair and how to
prepare entries. Entries are accepted Friday 8/15 5-8PM and
Saturday 10-5.
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August Beekeeping
In mid-August remove and store any surplus honey that is at
least two thirds capped over in a warm bee-proof, ant-proof place. To do so,
take off the honey supers early in the morning or in the evening so as to
prevent robbing of the hive by other colonies of bees. Treat all hives for 45
days with Apistan strips and treated with medicated patties and Fumidil-B as
needed.
September Beekeeping
You may re-queen your colonies now if you did
not do so in the spring. Unite weak colonies. To winter successfully, each
colony must have the equivalent of ten fully capped frames of honey in the
second hive body plus honey arches in the lower hive body, and two or more deep
brood combs of pollen. If stores are insufficient, colonies should be fed a 2:1
sugar syrup mixture. Use top feeders to prevent robbing. Start feeding early
in the month, because the bees will not store the syrup and cap the cells when
the weather turns cool. Feed one gallon for each deep comb of needed stores.
The last gallon should contain Fumidil-B. Feed pollen supplement as needed.
Extract honey now and give the wet combs back to the bees to lick clean.
Regional Beekeepers Meeting
This year's regional beekeeping meeting is hosted
by NWDBA this year. The meeting has been
scheduled for October 25th
at the
Cottontree Inn/Best Western in Mt Vernon. A no host bar will be
open at 5:30 for the social hour with dinner following at 6:30 or 7:00
PM. More detailed location instructions will be in a future
newsletter. Auction items and door prize items are also requested. Reports from last years meeting indicated that
everyone involved had a great time. See you there!
See you at the Meeting!
Glenn |
