In this Issue:

Timely Supering Will Bolster Profits

State Fair Offers Varied Opportunities for Nebraska Beekeepers

Glenvil Girl Second in National Bee Essay Contest

Midwest Master Beekeeper Workshop

Subscription Information

Timely Supering Will Bolster Profits

Honey prices are at an all time high, timely rains have replenished soil moisture, and the prospects for a good honey crop and favorable market prices are looking good for Midwestern beekeepers. With such favorable conditions, beekeepers will want to optimize their management practices. With $1 per pound and above market prices for bulk honey, a few pounds per colony can add up to a substantially greater return than in previous years.

One simple practice, often overlooked, that greatly influences production is timely supering. Frequently, intense periods of nectar production called honey flows occur, providing a lot of the crop for Midwestern beekeepers. During a good honey flow, colonies can store ten or more pounds of honey in a single day (some studies show considerably higher daily gains). Simply put, supering bees a week too late or providing bees with fewer supers than needed can result in a dramatic loss in production. Beekeepers who only add supers as needed can easily miss production in an intense honey flow.

Based on studies done at Beaverlodge, Alberta, Dr. Tibor Szabo recommends that beekeepers provide their colonies with enough supers of drawn comb to store 100 pounds of honey at the beginning of the honey flow. The beginning of the honey flow varies for different areas and from year to year. However, it typically occurs around June 10 in the Lincoln area. In a good honey production year, full supers can be harvested in July and replaced with empty combs. The early harvest will be premium quality light honey. Dr. Szabo's studies demonstrated that frequent colony disturbance during the honey flow to add or remove supers resulted in a production loss of 8.5 pounds per colony. His advise is to pile on the supers before the honey flow and go fishing. A notable exception to this rule is comb honey production. Frequent inspection and prompt removal of capped supers are necessary to produce premium comb honey product.

State Fair Offers Varied Opportunities for Nebraska Beekeepers

The Nebraska State Fair Bee Culture Exhibit provides an excellent opportunity to exhibit your products, to meet other beekeepers, and to meet people who want to buy your products. A list of classes, judging standards and premiums are included to help you plan your entries. The fair is also a great time to help a young beekeeper prepare an entry. If you would like to assist with exhibits and honey ice cream sales, contact Warren Nelson, Nebraska Beekeepers Association president, at: 402-466-8173.

The 1995 Special award Best of Show winners were: Sweepstakes, Lesa Becker; Liquid honey, Warren Nelson; Comb honey, Lesa Becker; Wax exhibit, Ken Chelton; Gift basket, Phyllis Oliver; creamed honey, Mitch Neeman; Beekeeping photograph, Lesa Becker; and youth exhibit, Daniel Becker.

Entry details

Bee Culture Exhibits are located in Agricultural Hall, State Fair Park. Superintendent is Marion D. Ellis, Extension Apiculture Specialist, University of Nebraska, Department of Entomology, Box 830816, Lincoln NE 68583-0816 or 402-472-2123.

Bee culture fair entries will be accepted until 7 pm, Thursday, Aug. 22. Judging will begin at 9 am Friday, Aug. 23 in the Bee Culture Exhibit area at Agricultural Hall, State Fair Park.

To ship entires, address packages to: Nebraska State Fair Administration Building, Bee Culture, 1800 State Fair Park Drive, Lincoln NE 68508. Entries must be received no later than Thursday, Aug. 22, to be ready for judging at 9 am that Friday. Entries received later than Thursday, will be considered "For Display Only."

Please pack exhibits for shipping with care so glass jars will not be broken or damaged during transit.

Association Exhibits must be in place by 8 am Friday, Aug. 23. Associations wishing to place exhibits in the Educational Area should contact the Superintendent to make arrangements.

When filling out an entry form, note that there are no lot numbers in the Bee Culture Department. Class numbers are listed under Entry Requirements.

Discount admission tickets are available to all exhibitors and their immediate family for $2 per person per day if purchased on their entry form. Parking passes are also available at $15 each, and are good for the duration of the Fair or pay the $3 daily fee for parking. Checks or money orders for the tickets must accompany the entry form. Exhibitors sending forms without payment, will not receive tickets.

Entry deadline

Exhibitors wishing to order gate tickets must submit their entry form to the State Fair office by Wednesday, Aug. 7. Time is required to process the entries, receipt money and prepare tickets for mailing. Tickets will be mailed as soon as possible after receipt of the entry form.

Rules

1. Only one entry allowed per exhibitor, in any one class.
2. All entries must have been produced in Nebraska by the exhibitor or an authorized agent.
3. Entries shall bear no labels or markings. Exhibitors wishing to identify their entries may send labels in a separate envelope to be attached after judging.
4. Exhibits must remain in place until 8 pm, Monday, Sept. 2. At 8 pm, all entries will be released to the exhibitor or an authorized agent. Entries may be picked up until 10 pm, Monday, Sept. 2. Remaining exhibits will be given to charity.
5. Judges will use score cards. Points will be deducted for entries less than the specified amounts.

Awards

Total premiums and awards available: $825

Cash awards: 1st-$10, 2nd-$5, 3rd-$3 offered by the Nebraska Beekeepers Association in conjunction with the Nebraska State Fair.

Ribbons will be awarded for the first four places. Sweepstakes awards will be given in the open class and youth categories and a trophy will be presented by the Nebraska State Fair to the person accumulating the most points in all bee culture classes. Best of Show awards will be given in the following categories:

Entry requirements

Liquid honey:

Entries shall consist of four 1-pound queenline glass jars.

100 -- Extra-Light Extracted Honey

101 -- Light Extracted Honey

102 -- Light Amber Extracted Honey

103 -- Amber Extracted Honey

104 -- Dark Extracted Honey

Creamed and chunk comb honey:

Entries shall consist of four 1-pound glass jars, cylindrical jars preferred.

201 -- Creamed Honey

202 -- Chunk Comb Honey

Cut comb honey in plastic boxes:

Entries shall consist of four 12-ounce combs in plastic boxes.

301 -- Cut Comb Honey

Section comb honey (wood or round):

Entries shall consist of four wood sections packaged in cardboard-cellophane window cartons, or four round sections with clear covers and labels.

401 -- Section Comb Honey

Beekeeping photograph:

Entries shall consist of one 5x7 or 8x10 photograph depicting some aspect of beekeeping. Photograph must be mounted in a frame for display.

501 -- Beekeeping Photograph

Beekeeping drawing or painting:

Entries shall consist of one 5x7 or 8x10 picture depicting some aspect of beekeeping. Entries must be mounted in a frame for display.

601 -- Beekeeping Drawing or Painting

Frame of honey for extracting:

Entries shall consist of one frame of honey for extracting, displayed on a stand that can be placed on a shelf.

801 -- Frame of Honey for extracting

Block of beeswax:

Entries shall consist of one block of beeswax weighing 5-10 pounds.

901 -- Block of Beeswax

Art design in beeswax, molded items:

Entries shall consist of one or more items of molded beeswax.

1001 -- Art Designs in Beeswax, molded

Art design in beeswax, sculpted items:

Entries shall consist of one or more items of sculpted beeswax.

1101 -- Art Designs in Beeswax, sculpted

Beeswax candles:

Entries shall consist of a pair of beeswax candles that are either molded or dipped.

1201 -- Beeswax Candles

Gift basket:

Entries shall consist of a gift basket of honey and products made from, or with, products of the hive.

1301 -- Gift Basket

Judging standards

Glenvil Girl Second in National Bee Essay Contest

Rita Wallace, the 14-year-old daughter of Mike and Fran Wallace of Glenvil, has taken second place in the national 4-H essay contest sponsored by the American Beekeeping Federation. The designated topic of the essay was "How Honey Bees Ensure Our Food Supply." Rita's effort was rewarded with a $100 cash prize. She had earlier received a $50 prize from the Nebraska Honey Producers Association for having the best essay in the state.

Rita is a freshman at Blue Hill Senior High School where she is active in band, choir, basketball and track. She has been in 4-H for seven years. This is the fourth consecutive year she submitted an essay to the contest, which demonstrates that persistent hard work does pay off.

Congratulations, Rita!

Midwest Master Beekeeper Workshop

When: August 1-3

Where: New Apiculture Laboratory at the Agricultural Research and Development Center near Mead.

Cost: $60 per person, includes three lunches, refreshments, training manual, and Mid-West Master Beekeeper Cap. Preregistration is required by July 20.

Lodging: Lodging is available in Lincoln and Wahoo. A list of facilities and their rates is included. A van will leave Lincoln at 7:30 am daily for participants staying in Lincoln who need transportation.

Program: The program will begin daily at 8:30 a.m. at the ARDC Headquarters Building located on Highway 63. The schedule includes classroom training in the mornings followed by hands-on training in the afternoons. All hands-on sessions will be in small groups with opportunities for active participation and questions. Participants should bring their own protective gear.

Master beekeeper certificates and pins will be sent to participants who complete the training and subsequently complete six service units (service units may be be met by speaking to schools, civic groups, bee clubs, about bees, beekeeping, pollination, or hive products).

Presenters:

Dr. Marion Ellis, University of Nebraska Department of Entomology, Apiculture Specialist

Dr. Ackland Jones, University of Nebraska Department of Entomology, Teaching and Extension Specialist

Dr. David Keith, University of Nebraska, Department of Entomology, Urban Entomology Specialist

Mr. Robert Cox, Iowa State Apiarist

Ms. Sharon Gibbons, Beekeeper and Honey Packer, Baldwin, MO

Mr. Wendell Ohmes, Beekeeper, Kansas City, MO

Mr. Robert Reiners, South Dakota State Apiarist

Mr. Gary Ross, Kansas State Apiarist

Mr. Charles Simonds, Nebraska State Apiary Inspector

Mr. Cecil Sweeney, Mid-Con, Spring Hill Kansas

Ms. Joli Winer, Mid-Con, Spring Hill, Kansas

Ms. Susan Cooper, Apiculture Program Student Apprentice

Mr. Robert Roselle, Apiculture Program Technician

Directions to ARDC Headquarters:

From Lincoln, take Highway 77 north to Highway 63. Turn east (right) on Highway 63 and go 6.5 miles. The headquarters building is on the south (right) side of the road. There is a sign at the entrance directing visitors to the parking lot. For a printed map or additional directions, call ARDC Headquarters at 402-624-8000.

Motels in the Lincoln and Wahoo Areas:

University of Nebraska Master Beekeeper Certificate Requirements

1. Attend master beekeeper training program.
2. Complete six service units by participating in any six of the activities listed below. You can participate in the same activity more than once and obtain service credits each time.
   Activities for service credits:
   1. Speak to a civic group about bees, pollination, or hive products.
   2. Speak to a school, 4-H, or other youth group about bees, beekeeping, or pollination.
   3. Participate in an interview for a radio, T.V., or newspaper story about beekeeping.
   4. Enter your hive products in a state or county fair.
   5. Assist a young person in preparing a state or county fair exhibit.
   6. Speak to a bee club about some aspect of beekeeping.
   7. Attend a state or national beekeeping meeting.
   8. Serve as an officer in a beekeeping club or association.
   9. Spend a day working at an educational beekeeping display (such as a state fair exhibit).
   10. Teach a beginning beekeeping class in your community.
   11. Help a new beekeeper start his/her first hive.
   12. Organize a new bee club or association.
3. Mail in your service units credit sheet (available at the workshop) along with a list of service units you have completed and the date you completed them.
4. Certificates will be mailed when the service unit requirements have been met. Service units performed prior to participating in a master beekeeper workshop cannot be claimed.
5. This certificate will serve as evidence that you are a knowledgeable beekeeper who is willing to share your time and talents to help others and to promote the beekeeping industry.

Send registrations to:

Dr. Marion Ellis

University of Nebraska

Dept. of Entomology

210 Plant Industries Building

Lincoln, NE 68583-0816

Phone: 402-472-8696

Fax: 402-472-4687

e-mail: mellis@unlinfo.unl.edu

Name:

Address:

City/State/Zip:

Phone:

Subscription Information

To subscribe to Bee Tidings, send a $10 check made out to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln along with your name, address, and phone number to:

Bee Tidings

Box 830918

108 Ag Comm Bldg.

University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Lincoln, NE 68583-0918

This newsletter was respectfully written by:

Marion D. Ellis

209 Plant Industry, Box 830816

University of Nebraska

Lincoln, NE 68583-0816

Phone: 402-472-8696

Fax: 402-472-4687

Internet address: mellis@unlinfo.unl.edu

Your comments and suggestions about the newsletter are always welcome.