October 2020 Newsletter

ABA FNC Beekeepers Presidents Report

Well the bees are certainly buzzing. Ive had reports of swarms from over on the coast. Ive carried out several inspections of the girls over the last few months and boy, have they been packing it away. Its coming in so fast they are not capping the honey, so every hive is bursting with honey.

Checking the brood boxes reveals that most boxes have 6 out of 8 frames, some all 8, are packed with brood. Ive been experimenting with a double brood box, with one super on the top (10 frame) and when I looked it had nearly 20 frames full of brood. I did 3 splits from that 1 hive, taking 9 frames and when I checked again a month later the foundation as fully drawn and had eggs in it.

Will we have a wet summer with all this activity?

Has anyone else noticed that equipment and bee supplies are getting harder to obtain including foundation, pine for supers. Even Bunnings had a shortage of screws. You must think at least 6 months ahead. A few spare boxes and foundation isn’t a waste as you will eventually need it.

A reminder to all new beekeepers, you must register your hives with DPI even if you have only 1 hive. You have a responsibility to inspect for pests and diseases at least 3 times a year and report any findings notifiable pest or disease.

Have you given thought to the keepers of the sentinel hives around our major ports? Thet play a vital role in protecting our industry from exotic pests such as verroa mite and African ‘killer bees’.

Peter Laughton

From the Secretary

Another full month that started with the field day at Robert Stone’s apiary. It was good to see a good roll up, just managed to keep the number down to the legal limit. The feed back was that most enjoyed looking at the bees in the company of other beekeepers.

The next meeting will be a’ Christmas’ morning with the bees at Shirley and Merv McDonald 536 Wardell Road Alstonville. Do not expect to see father Christmas, because he has not been invited. A comment from the grandkids, can I eat my peas with honey, why , it makes them taste funny

Yes but they don’t fall off the knife.

This month’s skills test is rather useful as we are coming into salad season.

Honey Salad Dressing

• ½ cup macadamia oil

• ¼ cup of fresh lime juice and some seeds from the finger limes

• 2 teaspoons of honey to taste

• 2 cloves crushed garlic

• Season with salt and cracked pepper

Mix all ingredients. And pour over a fresh garden salad.

It’s even heathy.

 Some useless facts:

• in one day up to one thousand worker bees from one colony will die, only to be replaced by the eggs laid by the Queen on that day.

•  A good working hive will consume 125Kg of honey and 32kg of pollen for its own needs in a year.

• Last one… For worker bees to build out full depth sheet of foundation into comb they will need 1.5 kilos of Honey.  

If anyone has an article you think is interesting then PLEASE send it to me at  farnorthcoast.secretary@beekeeper.asn.au  

Next Field Day on 15  November 2020.will be our Christmas meeting.

At Shirley & Merv McDonald.

536 Wardell Road Alstonville. You will need your Bee gear please.

Tea Coffee and nibbles will be provided.

Handy Hints

Queen Rearing Calendar. Just to let you know when to graft and what should be happen after grafting.

Standard  Hygiene Procedures

All Gear used for each inspection should be clean before you start that includes hive tool, smoker, bee brush or air blower, and your own protective gear including gloves.

Honey Supers are best placed on the lid or hive stand not on the ground where they will come into contact with the soil. A spare bucket to put the burr comb or wax removed from the hive, not left on the ground outside the hive for other bees to rob. What comes out of each hive should go back in the same hive, be it boxes frames or stickies do not feed honey back to the bees if they are starving use sugar water.

President. Peter Laughton   farnorthcoast.president@beekeepers.asn.au

Secretary. Stephen Fowler farnorthcoast.secretary@beekeepers.asn.au

Treasurer. Robert Stone.     farnothcoast.treasurer@beekeepers.asn.au

Membership. Robert Butler farnorthcoast.membership@beekeepers.asn.au