GOT MITES?
In order to encourage regular mite testing, we will post a link to the RIBA Mite Survey at monthly intervals starting in May and ending in the fall. Regular mite testing and treatment (when indicated) is arguably the most important factor in overall honey bee health and winter survival. Another goal is to provide members with an idea of the mite concentrations in bee yards near them. This may provide an early warning of rising mite populations nearby indicating the need for more frequent testing.
The survey is short and sweet! Choose the option that includes your highest mite count in a bee yard. If you have colonies in more than one location, complete the survey for each location. Next, you will write in the exact address of the bee yard you are reporting. The locations will appear as dots on the map, but the exact address will remain confidential and cannot be seen on the map as the dots disappear as you zoom in. Providing the location is important to allow beekeepers nearby to see what the mite numbers are near them. You can zoom in to see street names in order to locate your apiary location. The scale on the map will allow you to see the mite numbers within an approximate 3 mile radius of your location.
There is also a small text box in the survey. Use this to provide any feedback or suggestions regarding the survey. Future mite surveys may include an additional question or two about testing method and treatment use.
Survey link: https://arcg.is/144qqb0 (Survey for May will be open until May 14!)
April General Membership Meeting
(In-person and broadcast on zoom)
April 24, 2022
New Beekeeper Meeting 1-2pm
General Membership Meeting 2-4pm
Coventry Rec Center
1277 Main St.
Coventry, RI 02816
Integrated Pest Management techniques offer different ways for us to help our bees keep Varroa levels low, and thus help us reduce our dependence on miticides while allowing our bees to concentrate on raising brood and making honey most efficiently. Some of these techniques are tried and true, but there is new research that shows some of what we have been taught does not work, and even makes Varroa reproduce more effectively. This talk pulls a lot of information together to help you bee a better beekeeper.
Tina keeps bees in top bar, Langstroth, and long Langstroth hives. She learned beekeeping from wonderful mentors, “old guys”, as well as through mentoring others as the founder of the Four Corners Beekeepers Assoc. She runs about 30 colonies right now, and depending on the year, produces queens, nucs, or honey. She is past vice president of the Colorado State Beekeepers Assoc. and is the coordinator of the Colorado Master Beekeeper Program. She is a frequent contributor for the American Bee Journal and Bee Culture magazines (along with some bee journals from abroad) from her farm in SW Colorado, and speaks about bees everywhere she gets the chance.
The General Membership Meeting will be broadcast on zoom. See your membership email for the zoom link.
RIBA February meeting Sunday night, 2/27, 7:00 PM
Stephanie Bruneau – Common Sense Natural Beekeeping
Stephanie Bruneau is a beekeeper, environmental educator, artist,
writer and mama to two junior beekeepers in training. She is passionate
about bees, natural living, and raising healthy, creative and curious
kids. Stephanie is the author of The Benevolent Bee (Quarry Press, 2017)
and Common Sense Natural Beekeeping, with co-author Kim Flottum (Quarry
Press, 2021).
Managed honey bee colonies face unprecedented challenges, including a
growing loss rate with every passing year. Outside of human management,
however, wild honey bee colonies are not only surviving, they’re
thriving. In her talk, Common Sense Natural Beekeeping, author and
naturalist Stephanie Bruneau will discuss how we can learn from the way
honey bees live in the wild, and use this knowledge to inform our
decision making in our managed colonies. She will talk about hive
management strategies that respect the natural intelligence of the bee,
leading to better outcomes for bees and beekeepers alike. Beekeepers
today have myriad choices to make that affect their bees’ health and
productivity. From housing to nutrition, pest management and more,
Stephanie will discuss Common Sense Natural Beekeeping as a sustainable
alternative for natural hive management.
RIBA is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Membership Meeting
Time: Feb 27, 2022 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
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Meeting ID: 831 8323 4602
Passcode: 358932
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Meeting ID: 831 8323 4602
Passcode: 358932
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/k9wHkXnBv
We will have our first ever Virtual Vendor Fair with vendors Cindy Holt,
Sara Michaud/Sherri Matheu, Skip DelVaglio, and Ed Szymanski presenting
their bee-related business for your holiday gift shopping.
Then we will have a trivia contest with a few great prizes and a few
other things.
RIBA is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: RIBA December Meeting
Time: Dec 12, 2021 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
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Meeting ID: 852 1611 2348
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Meeting ID: 852 1611 2348
Passcode: 250568
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kbnUd6vyQY
| Fall Management / Winter Prep with Landi Simone |
| RIBA is inviting you to a zoom meeting – Sunday Sept 19, 7 p.m. Landi Simone is a small-scale commercial beekeeper in northern New Jersey, owner of Gooserock Farm LLC. She manages about 100 colonies, raises queens and nucs, and produces premium varietal honeys, artisan honey spreads, beeswax cosmetics and handmade beeswax soaps. Landi has been an EAS Master Beekeeper since 2004, and serves as Chair of the Master Beekeeper Certification Committee for EAS. She is committed to beekeeping education, and has taught a local short course in beekeeping for 20 years, as well as being a frequent presenter at both EAS and various bee clubs. Landi’s practical approach to beekeeping stems in part from her background; she is a retired consulting civil engineer with degrees from Columbia University and Rutgers. She finds her second career in apiculture every bit as challenging as engineering and a lot more fun.
Summer/Early Fall Management focuses on what we beekeepers need to do to get our colonies heavy, healthy, and strong so they can survive the most brutal of our northeast winters. The talk discusses the impact of mites on winter survival, how to minimize that impact, best feeding methods to use as the season progresses, evaluating and fixing problems and the final “tucking in” before the snow flies.
RIBA is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting. Topic: RIBA September Meeting: Landi Simone Time: Sep 19, 2021 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84366281455?pwd=NktqQVR5SXhOcnk2WWxvclhMaS9Edz09 Meeting ID: 843 6628 1455 Passcode: 382417 One tap mobile +19292056099,,84366281455#,,,,*382417# US (New York) +13017158592,,84366281455#,,,,*382417# US (Washington DC) Dial by your location +1 929 205 6099 US (New York) +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC) +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose) +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) Meeting ID: 843 6628 1455 Passcode: 382417 Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kbiqxDOcCZ |
Join us Sunday July 11 at 7pm for a discussion of American Foulbrood disease with MA’s Chief Apiary Inspector, Dr Kim Skyrm. A recent confirmed case of AFB in Pawtucket has generated a lot of questions and anxiety. Kim will discuss the signs, tips for prevention, and how to deal with the disease when needed.
Topic: RIBA July Meeting: American Foulbrood Disease
Time: Jul 11, 2021 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/
87289322768?pwd=
QUUzbkxHbWIvdzNGWnV3QnMzQlRBQT09
Meeting ID: 872 8932 2768
Passcode: 548085
June 10 (Thursday): RIBA Presents: Dr Samuel Ramsey “Varroa Management: How Mites Should Be Treated”
One of the most exciting young voices in bee research joins RIBA to discuss a critical aspect of bee health: varroa management. Dr Sammy’s research on varroa feeding habits led to the revolutionary discovery that varroa feeds on fat bodies, not hemolymph as previously thought. This promises to be one of our best meetings yet. Please note this is a THURSDAY meeting, not our usual Sunday night!https://www.drsammy.online/https://www.ramseyresearchfoundation.org/
Zoom Info:
Time: Jun 10, 2021 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84713226121...
Meeting ID: 847 1322 6121
Passcode: 174735
REMINDER:All Rhode Island beekeepers are required by law to register their hives EACH year with RI DEM. There is no charge or tax involved with registration. The form must be printed out and mailed in, there is currently no online mechanism for registering hives. If you haven’t received your packages yet you can still register now based on the amount of hives you intend to maintain through the end of 2021.
Form below:
https://ribeekeeper.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/2021-RI-DEM-Apiary-Registration.pdf
RIBA April meeting, this Sunday April 18 at 7:00 PM.
We’ll have 3 short presentations by RIBA members on topics near and dear
to their hearts:
1. Cindy Holt – Native bees of RI
2. Sara Michaud- Brood Assessment
3. Ed Szymanski – Mite monitoring and control
Zoom info:
RIBA President is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: RIBA April Meeting
Time: Apr 18, 2021 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
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Meeting ID: 867 0589 6821
Passcode: 488125
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Sunday, March 14 at 7pm: RIBA General Membership Meeting featuring Erin MacGregor-Forbes
RIBA is proud to welcome back Erin MacGregor-Forbes.
Erin is Chairman Emeritus of the Eastern Apiculture Society as well as an EAS Master Beekeeper. She runs Overland Honey, which is based out of Jefferson and Portland, ME. We last had her as a guest speaker about 5 years ago and we’ve had many requests to bring her back since then. She is a great entertaining speaker and an absolute wealth of information regarding practical beekeeping. The title of her presentation is “A Sustainable Northeast Apiary Management Plan.”
http://www.overlandhoney.com/
Zoom Info:
Topic: RIBA Presents: Erin MacGregor-Forbes
Time: Mar 14, 2021 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86729327022?pwd=Q20yR0pEeDl4S1ZtSmRJOE9HbVk5Zz09
Meeting ID: 867 2932 7022
Passcode: 468187
Time: Feb 14, 2021 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
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Meeting ID: 853 8199 0310
Passcode: 758660
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Meeting ID: 853 8199 0310
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Bee School is coming back. Click here to sign up today!
RIBA is proud to welcome back Dan Conlon as the featured speaker for our January general membership meeting. Dan is a full-time beekeeper and co-owner of Warm Colors Apiary in South Deerfield, Massachusetts. Along with Bonita Conlon, they produce varieties of local and regional honeys, beeswax products, and provide pollination to Pioneer Valley farms and orchards. Dan’s beekeeping experience includes forty-five years of apiary management, honey production and crop pollination.
Dan is the president of the Russian Honey Bee Breeders Association and has served as President of the Massachusetts Beekeepers Association, Franklin County Beekeepers Association, and as the Massachusetts representative to the Eastern Apicultural Society’s Board of Directors. Dan was recognized as 2004 Beekeeper of the Year by the Eastern Apicultural Society and awarded the Divelbiss Award for beekeeping education and public outreach. Dan was voted Massachusetts Beekeeper of the Year in 2005. These are just a few of the many accolades earned by Dan and Warm Colors Apiary over the years.
https://www.warmcolorsapiary.
RIBA is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: RIBA Presents: Dan Conlon (Warm Colors Apiary)
Time: Jan 17, 2021 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting:
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Meeting ID: 860 5910 2032
Passcode: 011971
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Meeting ID: 860 5910 2032
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November 8, 2pm: Dr Howard Ginsberg, URI
Time: Nov 8, 2020 02:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
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Meeting ID: 871 0897 7897
Passcode: 266774
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Meeting ID: 871 0897 7897
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RIBA is proud to welcome back Erin MacGregor-Forbes.
Erin is Chairman Emeritus of the Eastern Apiculture Society as well as an EAS Master Beekeeper. She runs Overland Honey, which is based out of Jefferson and Portland, ME. We last had her as a guest speaker about 5 years ago and we’ve had many requests to bring her back since then. She is a great entertaining speaker and an absolute wealth of information regarding practical beekeeping. The title of her presentation is “A Sustainable Northeast Apiary Management Plan.”
Time: Oct 18, 2020 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87573153437…
Passcode: 028146
Please take 5 minutes to fill out our first ever honey pricing survey. This is 15 questions about how much (if any) honey you extracted this year, how you price your honey, and where you sell it. It is anonymous and you don’t need to be a RIBA member to participate, but this is intended for Rhode Island beekeepers only, please. Please click the link to take the survey after you’re done with your fall honey extractions:
September Newletter:
Murder Hornets, She Wrote
July/August Tasks for RI Beekeepers
I generally plan on extracting honey around the 4th of July. That’s not set in stone, but it’s easy for me to remember. Frames that are 80-100% capped can be assumed to be ready to extract. Uncapped frames MAY also be ready to extract, but without a refractometer to test, there’s no good way to be certain. 18.6% moisture or below is what you are aiming for.
Wet supers can be placed back on the hives to refill or clean, depending on flow/dearth conditions in your area. Wet supers should not be left out in your yard or a field for bees to rob out. This is essentially open feeding and can attract pests, cause fighting between bees at the food source, lead to robbing of hives, and contribute to the spread of disease/viruses/mites. Open feeding should never be used by backyard/small scale beekeepers, it’s completely unnecessary. Even for commercial beekeepers with 1000s of hives to deal with, open feeding was cited as one of the top 5 WORST management practices in a recent BIP study:
https://anchor.fm/ufhbrel/
https://www.ctbees.org/post/
https://
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 7pm Live Via Zoom
Dr. Meghan Milbrath began working bees over 25 years ago, and now owns and manages The Sand Hill Apiary, a small livestock and queen rearing operation in Munith, Michigan. She is currently an assistant professor in the Department of Entomology at MSU, where she does honey bee and pollinator research and extension and is the coordinator of the Michigan Pollinator Initiative. Meghan is active in multiple beekeeping organizations, writes for multiple beekeeping journals, and speaks about bees all over the country. She currently runs the Northern Bee Network, a directory and resource site dedicated to supporting queen producers, and she is passionate about keeping and promoting healthy bees.
A link with the Zoom login info will be emailed to all RIBA members in good standing approximately 1 week prior to the talk. Please make sure your dues are up to date and that your email allows mail from ribeekeeper.org to prevent missing out.
RIBA 2020 Spring/Summer Update
Spring Banquet (April 25) – The actual banquet has, of course, been postponed, but our speaker, Gary Reuter (University of Minnesota), will be addressing us via Zoom at 1pm. You should have already received the meeting login information via email. Zoom if free, easy to use, and takes just a few moments to set up the first time.
- 2020 RI DEM Apiary Registration Form
- Keep up with latest events and happenings on the Calendar
- Want to become a member? Click Here
- Please add ribeekeeper@ribeekeeper.org to your address book to ensure our emails arrive in your inbox, not your spam box.
