Master Beekeeper Workshop Schedule for 2009

This year, Dyce Lab is offering six different workshops with classes being held at Dyce Lab, Betterbee and in Western NY as part of the Eastern Apicultural Society’s 2009 Annual Summer Meeting.

Apprentice Level Spring Class: $140.00 for both days
The Apprentice Level Workshop is designed to build basic beekeeping skills. The Spring Course focuses on starting with bees; beekeeping equipment and construction; spring and summer management; identification and management of bee pests; and basic bee biology. Participants receive a manual to complement the lectures.
Classes run from 9:00 am until 6:00 pm each day.
Total: 12 hours lecture/discussion and 4 hours of field activities.
o May 2-3 at Betterbee
o May 16-17 at Dyce Lab

Apprentice Level Fall Class: $75.00
The Fall Course focuses on preparation for the fall flow; removing and extracting/processing honey; bottling and labeling; wax processing; identification and management of honey bee pests; and preparing the colony for winter. Participants receive a manual to complement the lecture.
Class runs from 9:00 am until 6:00 pm
Total: 5 hours lecture/discussion and 3 hours of field activities
o August 15 at Dyce Lab
o August 22 at Betterbee

Journey Level Integrated Pest Management (IPM): $75.00
This workshop provides participants with an overview of the theory and principles of Integrated Pest Management ; the identification and life histories of honey bee pests; and IPM strategies for managing honey bee pests while minimizing the use of pesticides. Participants receive a manual to complement the lectures.
Class from 9:00 am until 6:00 pm
6 hours of lecture/discussion, and 2 hours of hands-on demonstrations
NOT FOR THOSE WHO HAVE TAKEN THE APPRENTICE LEVEL WORKSHOPS
o August 16 at Dyce Lab
o August 23 at Betterbee

Journey Level IPM Lab Identification
This workshop provides training in the use of laboratory equipment for the diagnosis of American foulbrood, tracheal mites and nosema. You will learn the thoracic disc assay for identification of tracheal mites; the modified hanging-drop technique for identifying American foulbrood spores; the antibiotic resistance test; and methods for identifying and counting nosema spores. Participants receive a manual to complement the lectures.
Class from 9:00 am until 6:00 pm
4 hours of lecture/discussion, and 4 hours of hands-on demonstrations
o This year, enrollment is only through the Eastern Apicultural Society
o The workshop will be given as part of the EAS Short Course Level 2
o EAS 2009 will be held August 3-7, 2009 at Holiday Valley Resort in Ellicottville, NY
o Go to http://www.easternapiculture.org/ for more information

Journey Level Queen Rearing: $240.00 for both days
This workshop provides an intensive overview of the essentials of practical queen rearing for hobbyists and sideline beekeepers. Emphasis is placed on hands-on experience, including setting up the starter box and cell builder; grafting; graftless grafting; handling queens and queen cells; establishing mating nucs; and drone production. Participants receive a manual and basic queen rearing equipment.
Classes from 9:00 am until 6:00 pm each day
8 hours of lecture/discussion, and 8 hours of hands-on demonstrations
o June 27-28 at Dyce Lab
o Part of this workshop will also be given with the EAS 2009 Short Course Level 2

Journey Level Bee Breeding: $90.00
This workshop provides instruction in both theoretical and practical aspects of bee breeding. The theory of bee breeding is discussed. Students also gain experience with assays for estimating honey production, hygienic behavior and varroa specific hygienic behavior. Participants receive a manual to complement the lectures.
Class runs from 9:00 am until 6:00 pm
4 hours of lecture/discussion, and 4 hours of hands-on demonstrations
o June 29 at Dyce Lab

Registration at masterbeekeeper.org starting January 15th, 2009