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Just out - Updated
Bee Status!
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The Wardell Report
Bee Status
Click on the Bee
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Just Out!
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The Cummings Report by Dan Cummings
Click on the Almond
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Read the March/April 2014 Issue of The Bee Box Contributing writers
Christi Heintz & Meg Ribotto
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Read about honey bee stock improvements. With funding from Costco, PAm has purchased a cryopreservation unit at WSU. PAm also purchased the Nexcelom Vision System at NCSU to screen queens & drones. Click on the pic to read more!
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UC Apiaries Newsletter
Bee sure to read!
You can read Dr. Eric Mussen's March/April 2014 newsletter, just click here. He has some words of wisdom about when to move bees in and out of almonds and a take-home lesson about pesticides and honey bees. Included is a survey Dr. Mussen conducted on supplemental feed.
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April 1st Pollinator Presentations
To The
CA State Board of
Food & Ag:
Bill Lewis, CSBA
Claire Kremen, UC Berkeley
Neal Williams,UC Davis
Thomas Moore, NRCS
Gordon Wardell, Project Apis m.
Gabriele Ludwig, Almond Board
Duane Schnabel, CDFA
Laurie Adams, Pollinator Partnership
Click here
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The USDA Carl Hayden Bee Research Center is Holding a Webinar on Varroa Mites
Dr. Gloria DeGrandi-Hoffman will discuss Varroa mite population growth in honey bee colonies and provide the latest info on her research. The webinar will be on Tue., May 13th, 9:00 a.m. PST.
To prepare in advance, click here. To connect on the 13th, click here. To connect via phone, 888-844-9904. When prompted, enter the Access Code: 7215210#
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 BUZZ Worthy
Articles & Videos
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Emergency Response Kit
With ERKs, beekeepers gain a better understanding of the factors that contribute to their colony loss and what may be ruled out. To order kits call (301) 405-3799 or [email protected]
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Meg Ribotto has a photo in
Honey Bee Biology and Beekeeping. Authors Dewey Caron and Larry Connor sent Meg an autographed edition signed, "Thanks for use of a GREAT photo!" To order, click on the picture.
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Help Us Help the
Honey Bee
Make Your Contribution
Securely Online with PayPal
or send a check to:
Project Apis m.
6775 Chardonnay Road
Paso Robles, CA 93446
Thank you for your support!
BEE on PAm's
Make a donation today!
PAm is 501 c(5) non-profit organization.
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Bees, Almonds and Politics
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The soaring interest in honey bees is gaining momentum at higher levels, and PAm is involved.
These meetings could bring clout to and greater understanding of the needs of honeybees.
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PAm Invited to the White House
Christi Heintz, PAm Executive Director, receives a lot of emails daily but it's definitely not commonplace to receive an email that says: "You are invited to a conversation with members of the Executive Office of the President and of Federal agencies on improving the status of honey bees and other pollinators across the United States. Since your organization plays a critical role in this space, we would appreciate the opportunity to hear your ideas, learn from your expertise, and work together to solve this very important issue." Topics include:
- Activities, policies, or other initiatives Federal agencies could enact with existing resources to address pollinator health;
- Potential public-private partnerships that could be formed to address these issues; and
- Significant commitments that your organization would be interested in making, which the White House could help raise up to increase attention to these issues.
The meeting takes place Wednesday, April 30th. Look for an update on the PAm website.
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Brent Barkman - New PAm Board Member
 | | Brent Barkman |
Joining the eight-member PAm board is Brent Barkman. Brent and Barkman Honey have enjoyed over 50 years of success as a family owned, multigenerational beekeeping and honey packing business. A supporter of bee research and a leader in the stakeholder community, Brent will no doubt be a great asset to the PAm Board. Congratulations and welcome!
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Dr. Frank Drummond - New Scientific Advisor
 | | Dr. Frank Drummond |
PAm's Scientific Advisors team now includes Dr. Frank Drummond, University of Maine. Dr. Drummond is a professor of insect ecology and insect pest management with interests in research topics including insect quantitative ecology, pest management, population dynamics, simulation modeling, biostatistics and pollination ecology. PAm's panel of five advisors assists the PAm board members in their research funding decisions, and Frank's expertise will be beneficial in funding future honey bee research. Welcome aboard!
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California Growers Provide Bees Forage
 | | Project Apis m. - 'Seeds for Bees' Forage Video |
PAm's "Seeds for Bees" honey bee forage project is in full bloom in California. Growers have provided pictures of flowering mustards, clovers, vetches and wildflowers in their orchards. Treat yourself to a bouquet of bloom by clicking on the 3 minute video above. While the bloom was significantly delayed due to the severe drought the state suffered earlier in the year and flowers weren't available prior to almond bloom, beekeepers that remain in CA have been able to take advantage of the natural floral diversity this spring. Our goal is to continue to identify and provide honey bees nutritional resources, and PAm has been invited to submit a Specialty Crop Block Grant (SCBG) by the CA Dept of Food & Ag. This project will target the 4,600 winegrape growers in CA. One commodity at a time! Stay tuned.
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CDFA Board is Briefed on Pollinators
 The recent CDFA meeting was a very important and welcome review of the critical pollinator issues facing California. The State Board of Food and Agriculture heard experts from a variety of fields including beekeepers, scientists, NGO's and industry detail their perspectives and outline the complexity of the situation. The day-long exploration provided a comprehensive look at ways to directly support both honey bees and native bees and to provide policies that give full consideration and envision strategic initiatives for the needs of pollinators. These included a focus on forage and habitat, research, outreach, monitoring, pesticides, impacts of climate change and drought, and the need for partnerships across the state to bring solutions. "We applaud the CDFA and the State Board for their leadership in convening this session on pollinators. The Board was very engaged and eager to understand the issue. They clearly recognize the importance of pollinators to the State of California and devoted their full efforts to a comprehensive look at what steps can be taken," commented Laurie Davies Adams, Executive Director of the Pollinator Partnership. "We are looking forward to seeing decisive recommendations for solid and supportive honey bee, native bee and other pollinator policy come out of this meeting."
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The Bee Ranchers - Friends of PAm
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Mike Vigo
The Bee Ranchers
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Mike Vigo and his family first started beekeeping 7 years ago when his 3 daughters joined the beekeeping project in 4H. The Vigo's instantly fell in love with honeybees and have had hives ever since. Mike is a Cal Poly, SLO graduate and spent 23 years in the investment management business before doing a complete 180 degree turn.
The Bee Ranchers, LLC was started in 2011 to help families and individuals keep bees in their backyard. The Bee Ranchers sell the equipment, bees and maintain the hives on their customers behalf in and around the SF Bay Area. They also sell honey, manufacture Bee Sturdee bee hive stands, offer almond pollination services and capture swarms when available. The Bee Ranchers enthusiastically support Project Apis m. and are members of the Mt. Diablo Beekeepers Association, Delta Bee Club and CA State Beekeepers Association. Thank you for your support!
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May Bee Husbandry
- Requeen maintaining genetic quality to meet your objectives.
- Select stocks that are productive and disease and pest resistant.
- Encourage high drone densities during mating season to provide well-mated queens and genetically diverse colonies.
- Discourage stocks that are excessively defensive.
- Control swarming by making nucs and/or splits.
- Check hives for pests and diseases. Early detection is key.
- Use diagnostic services for objective colony assessment.
- Follow regional guidelines for action thresholds for Varroa and Nosema control.
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