Minutes of Meeting for July
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Long Island Beekeepers Club Monthly Meeting Minutes,
July 20, 2008
Suffolk County Farm, Yaphank
• We observed a few moments of silence to remember Clifford Still, who recently passed away.
• The Club will need a new recording secretary.
• Richard Blohm wants to organize a possible beginner’s beekeeping course, to be offered this fall. Details to be announced.
• Dr. Larry J. Connor, from Kalamazoo, Michigan spoke and read passages from his new book, Bee Sex Essentials.
• Dr. Connor discussed queens and drones, their roles and mating process, aging, and tips on what to look for while observing them.
• He also offered tips on success when introducing new queens and minimizing stress on colonies, eg. adequate food supply, robber defense, & pest infestation.
• Wintering ability, gentleness, and honey production are the Big 3 Traits you want to select for, but a large genetic input from multiple fathers introduces wider skills into the colony (like hygienic ability, less disease infestation) helping to ensure success.
• Dr. Connor suggests a common strategy is needed, a “Rational Queen Rearing Program,” where gradual breeding with great queens, while being mindful of adapting to your local conditions may be the way to go.
• We enjoyed snacks and the raffle & chatting with friends bee-fore parting.
Suffolk County Farm, Yaphank
• We observed a few moments of silence to remember Clifford Still, who recently passed away.
• The Club will need a new recording secretary.
• Richard Blohm wants to organize a possible beginner’s beekeeping course, to be offered this fall. Details to be announced.
• Dr. Larry J. Connor, from Kalamazoo, Michigan spoke and read passages from his new book, Bee Sex Essentials.
• Dr. Connor discussed queens and drones, their roles and mating process, aging, and tips on what to look for while observing them.
• He also offered tips on success when introducing new queens and minimizing stress on colonies, eg. adequate food supply, robber defense, & pest infestation.
• Wintering ability, gentleness, and honey production are the Big 3 Traits you want to select for, but a large genetic input from multiple fathers introduces wider skills into the colony (like hygienic ability, less disease infestation) helping to ensure success.
• Dr. Connor suggests a common strategy is needed, a “Rational Queen Rearing Program,” where gradual breeding with great queens, while being mindful of adapting to your local conditions may be the way to go.
• We enjoyed snacks and the raffle & chatting with friends bee-fore parting.