Washington State Beekeepers Association
Keeping the Bee in Business
Are you ready to survey? Attention Washington State Beekeepers, in past years your State Beekeeping Association conducted its own winter loss survey along with Oregon State Beekeepers. To better gather the data needed to actually help, we now support the Bee Informed Partnership. Please participate in this years survey of all beekeepers. The Bee Informed Partnership (BIP) is a USDA/NIFA … [Read more...]
From CATCH THE BUZZ AND THE THIEF…WATCH FOR STOLEN BEES From the Modesto Bee A $10,000 reward has been offered in the theft of about 80 bee colonies from an almond farm northeast of Waterford, CA, with a value of about $16,000. Grower Gil Silbernagel said entire pallets of bee boxes were taken in mid-February after having been delivered by Utah-based beekeeper Darren Cox. Other growers … [Read more...]
This ezine is also available online at http://home.ezezine.com/1636/1636-2013.03.04.09.15.archive.html This article is from CATCH THE BUZZ Colonies with IBDS, a new-found disease, are likely to die even with low mite levels. These finding support the growing consensus that the causes of colony mortality are multiple and interrelated. By Matt Shipman A new long-term study of honey bee … [Read more...]
Today, Washington State Beekeepers are exposed to nuisance lawsuits over behavior of honey bees. SB5696 addresses this by limiting a beekeeper’s civil liability as long as they have used best practices. This bill is beneficial to all beekeepers so I encourage you to support the bill and bring it to your senator’s attention. An apiarist or broker who is registered under RCW 15.60.021, and … [Read more...]
Dear fellow members, As some of you know already the Association has been spending some quality time in Olympia. We gave testimony on house bill #HB 1558. Originally a bill to give some tax relief to beekeepers in the state of Washington. As it ends up, we walked away with a request of “how can we do more for beekeepers” and the home work began. With basically 48 hours to rework, and … [Read more...]
Senate Bill 5659 limiting civil liability for beekeepers has an addition regarding rights of people with allergy to bees. Here is the senate substitute bill: SSB - 5696 The new language starts at line 18, page 1 and continues to lines 1-3, page 2, and reads: The rules (to be developed by the apiary advisory committee) shall provide for specific setbacks that must be made upon the written … [Read more...]
The senate version of the B&O tax exemption bill for beekeepers, 5453, will be heard at 1:30 pm, Monday, Feb 25 by the Senate Ways and Means Committee. Here is the link to that page on the legislature website: Senate Bill 5453 Summary page Be sure to Contact your Representative … [Read more...]
Revised miticide regulations have been released. Here is the latest on HopGuard and Apivar: Section 18 directions for HopGuard (PDF) Section 18 directions for Apivar (PDF) … [Read more...]
Join us and your fellow beekeepers for our biennial beekeeping short course in Pullman at Washington State University. This course provides a wonderful opportunity to learn and experience a wide array of beekeeping topics. Friday, June 14th we will have a wine and cheese social with honey exchange and presentations by university graduate students and others. For those interested in the honey … [Read more...]
The Art of Queen Rearing Workshops offered by Washington State University Honey Bee Program Steve Sheppard, Susan Cobey & honey bee laboratory graduate students WSU, Pullman – Wed-Thurs, June 12 & 13, 2013 Mt Vernon Agricultural Station – Fri, July 19, 2013 These workshops will provide an understanding of what it takes to rear high quality queens. Basic biology and methods … [Read more...]
