It looks like the early spring and early build-up of colonies has lead to higher-than-average mite loads for the time of year in 2017. As I travel around the state and inspect colonies for WVDA, all the hives I have checked so far (using the alcohol wash method) have...
Folks have been asking about my mite-wash cups and how to make them. I’m glad of this because this is key to breeding queens, preparing for winter, pinpointing reasons for losses and a lot more. All this and a ton more is in the Basic Course (click here to find...
Yes, we did have winter, just not as much of one as usual, and it feels strange to have spring happening in February – the middle of February! On February 6 I saw a bee here and there entering a hive with whitish “pollen” pellets on its legs. So I...
It is important for a beekeeper to know his plants. Honey bee colony health depends on the quality of what the bees obtain from foraging and everything that happens in a colony is directly related to what happens in the plant community. So a beekeeper’s...
Click on the image below to view the West Virginia Pollen Project’s results. The Northeast SARE Final Report will be available from the NE SARE web site in the near future. WV Pollen Project 2015 Final Outreach Report This report covers the pollen bees...
