CSBA NewsletterJune 2014
CSBA Officers
President
William Lewis
Lake View Terrace
1st Vice President
Brad Pankratz
Orland
2nd Vice President
Dion Ashurst 
El Centro
Secretary/Treasurer
Carlen Jupe
Salida
Past President
John Miller
Newcastle
Executive Committee
Brent Ashurst
Brawley
Steve Godlin
Visalia
Russell Heitkam
Orland
Buzz Landon
Richvale
Larry Lima
Dos Palos
ABF Delegates
Mike Harrel
Concord
Orin Johnson
Hughson
Bob Miller
Watsonville
New Committee Chairs
Nominating: John Miller
Newcastle
Public Lands: Mike Harrel
Concord
Publicity: Amy Cripps 
Costa Mesa
Research: Alan Henninger
San Jose
Ladies Auxiliary

President

Melinda Nelson
Vice President 

Amanda Wooten
Secretary/Treasurer
Ila Hohman
Historian

 Nora Slater
Parliamentarian
Sandy Tabako 

 
Ladies Auxiliary Update
Hi Ladies!
Summer is upon us and I am busy preparing for the CSBA Convention and especially the Ladies Auxiliary Luncheon. I am looking for a speaker if anyone has an idea email me. We also have ordered the centerpieces for the dinner and hopefully you will be able to order one if interested when you register for the convention. I am looking for a venue for the luncheon. We may have it at the hotel but I am not sure if there is a nice place. Last year was beautiful and we had a good time learning to make lotion too! So the plans are in the making and I will keep you updated as we make final arrangements. Have a great summer! Stay well and have fun!

Melinda Nelson, President, CSBA Ladies Auxiliary 
Research Committee Update
The CSBA Research Committee continues to focus on research projects that have immediate 
practical hive management application.
 
For the 2013-14 year, CSBA funded four research projects totaling $100,000

The projects are:
 

1. The Suitability of Pollen Substitutes for the Growth of Core Hive Bacteria - Kirk
Anderson

2. The Effects of "Bee-Safe" Insecticides Alone and in Combination with Fungicides on Queen and Larval Development - Reed Johnson

3. Understanding Poor Sperm Viability in Queens - Jeff Pettis

4. Sperm Viability in Queens and Factors of Diminished Drone and Queen Reproductive
Quality - David Tarpy
 
NOTE:
Dr. Reed Johnson would like input from beekeepers on pesticides, fungicides and their
various combinations that may have caused problems for beekeepers.
 
Please send any such info to me so that I may forward it to Dr. Johnson.

In addition, CSBA will receive the outcomes from two previously funded projects dealing
with the effect of land use on beekeeping and the sustainability of VHS based resistance.

Alan Henninger, Research Chair
Article Updates

Bees are one focus of the newest project from the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC). This project will document the benefits of cover crops as habitat and nutritional sources for pollinators 

People with questions about using pesticides correctly now can get answers on their smartphones and tablets thanks to expanded online services offered by the National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC) at Oregon State University. The efforts are funded by a five-year, $5 million grant from the EPA.
A nationally known beekeeping authority and author has been hired as Kentucky's new state apiarist. State Ag Commissioner James Comer says Tammy Horn of Lexington joined the Agriculture Department on June 1st. Horn currently serves as senior researcher and apiculturist in the Center for Economic Development, Entrepreneurship and Technology at Eastern Kentucky University in Richmond. She is also director of Coal Country Beeworks, a project affiliated with the EKU that develops pollinator habitat on surface mine sites. Tammy is also the President of the Eastern Apiculture Society this year, leading the activities for the annual conference in July at Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond, Kentucky.
Additional Links
Pollinator Stewardship Council
 
To help support their project to provide bee kill evidence kits and lab analysis for pesticide exposure, click here.
2013-2014 Colony Loss Survey
 
"Winter bee losses decline, but much work to be done", said Jeff Pettis, co-author of the 2013/14 Colony Loss Report viewable at the Bee Informed Partnership.
The USDA is planning a "Bee Nutrition and Forage Summit" this October 20-21 in Washington, D.C. to discuss research and identify solutions in conjunction with NAPPC.
Mapping Large Area Landscapes for Honey Bees
 
The Northern Great Plains carries great importance for U.S. honey production and pollination services. Commercial beekeepers from states as far away as coastal areas transport honey bees to the prairies each summer to produce honey, a crop valued at more than $256.5M nationally in 2011, with about 50% of the contribution coming from the Northern Great Plains. Read more in PLOS One.
From the Almond Board of CA
 
The Almond Board of California has had an active presence at events related to honey bee health, reflecting increased interest by consumers and regulators in the decline of honey bees. To read more click above.
CSBA Sponsors








 

 









CSBA Affiliated Clubs
 
Santa Maria Valley Beekeepers Association
Shasta Beekeepers Association
 
Click on a beekeeping club to visit their homepage
Note: If you are interested in advertising in the Bee Times, please contact Carlen Jupe

Bill Lewis, CSBA President
The President's Word
 
Fellow Beekeepers,
 

Near the end of June will mark the culmination of Dr. Eric Mussen's 38 year career as UC Davis Extension Apiculturist. I was very happy to hear Eric say "I'm not going anywhere" at our May board meeting. I would like to continue to celebrate Eric's career and bring him back into the fold as often as possible. I expect he will spend a lot more time with grandkids and family and explore the next phase of his music career and "Doo Wop". Congratulations Eric!

 

Congratulations to those that participated in the high level bee health discussion in Washington, D.C. recently. I expect something positive, constructive and good for the honey bee industry will come out of it, hopefully, sooner than later.

 

Seems I will have to add "juggler" to the job description of a Bee Keeper. For an example, there are people like Gene Brandi that bounce around the country representing the National Honey Board and the beekeeping industry and is also serving as Vice President of the ABF, all the while keeping the bees taken care of and everything else that it takes to be a successful beekeeper. We must do what we can to share the load, but there are many individuals that just stand out.

 

Joe MacIlvaine, President, Paramount Farming told me last December at the Almond Board Convention that he didn't understand why more of their beekeepers didn't take advantage of Paramount's offer to match contributions to Project Apis m. I heard it again at our May board meeting from Dr. Gordy Wardell, bee biologist at Paramount Farming. I was happy to read somewhere, I think it was PAm's newsletter, that a Paramount beekeeper from Florida finally took advantage of this offer and turned a $5,000 contribution to PAm into $10,000.

 

On the home front, due to lack of rain, I was not expecting much of a harvest from our local mountains this season. I am happy to report that we actually made some honey. I will call it "Yellow" Sage since the bees were working the black sage but there was also a lot of mustard blooming too. Those 7 inches of rain we got at the end of February in our local mountains (what didn't run off) saved us so far this season. Maybe the buckwheat will do something too. I am really hopeful that the El Niño predictions pan out this coming winter and there will be lots more rain in the forecast.

 

I am most excited about the support I am getting from my local bee club in helping with the planning of the upcoming CSBA Convention in November. I expect it to be an event to remember. Mark your calendars and reserve the week of Nov. 17-21st.

 

Sincerely,


Bill Lewis, CSBA President

California's "Go To" Bee Expert Retires
 by Gene Brandi (originally printed in Bee Culture magazine 6/2014)

Dr. Eric Mussen began his career as the University of California Extension Apiculturist in 1976.  Those of us in the bee industry who have been privileged to know and work with Eric appreciate his vast knowledge of honey bees as well as his great communication skills.  Whether he was engaging with scientists, beekeepers, growers, government officials, the media, or anyone else, Eric has been the "go to" person for bee related expertise in California and beyond since 1976.

Eric's involvement with a number of industry and professional groups has enabled him to stay abreast of the current issues facing the bee industry. The fact that he is in demand as a featured speaker throughout the USA, as well as internationally, is evidence that others appreciate his great knowledge as well.  Here in California, the California State Beekeepers Association, the California Bee Breeders, many local and regional beekeeping and agricultural organizations, and others rely on Eric to be the source for the latest honey bee related information. His newsletter: "From the UC Apiaries" is read throughout the beekeeping world and is a source for the latest news of interest to the bee industry.

Dr. Mussen's service as a member of the California State Beekeepers Association is legendary.  He has been an active member of the CSBA Board of Directors for 38 years.  Eric's expert advice in many areas has been of great benefit to the CSBA, especially as coordinator of projects for the CSBA research committee, as he sends out the requests for proposals every year and then assists the committee in analyzing the merits of each proposal.  Any time the industry has needed Eric's expertise at a meeting, an industry or government hearing, to compile industry data, to write an article for publication, or for any reason whatsoever, he has always been ready, willing, and more than able to accomplish the task.  

The California State Beekeepers Association has honored Eric with the Distinguished Service Award and, even though he does not own a beehive, honored him as 2006 Beekeeper of the Year!

Eric works with the National Honey Board and the Almond Board of California as he solicits research proposals and assists in their analysis for their respective Research Committees.  He also serves as a scientific advisor to Project Apis m, a non-profit industry funded bee research organization.

Dr. Mussen has been involved with a number of bee research projects while at UC Davis.  In addition to his research on fungicides, antibiotics, mite treatments, etc., he is one of the foremost experts on Nosema disease of honey bees in the country.

In summary, Dr. Eric Mussen has been an extremely valuable asset to the beekeeping and agricultural industries of California, the United States and beyond throughout his distinguished career. 
                    125th Anniversary Celebration!
                                        
The California State Beekeepers Association marks its 125th year!  You can now pre-register for the 2014 Convention to be held November 18-20th, in Valencia, CA.  Click here for a convention pre-registration form. Book your room at the Hyatt by following this link. Mark your calendar.
Weather Really Matters to Bees

As a commercial beekeeper, Dave Hackenberg watches the weather closely for warnings of the falling temperatures that can endanger his bees. He trucks thousands of hives from place to place to pollinate crops. Listen and watch Dave talk about bees, beekeeping and the weather on this 2 minute video promo for The Weather Channel.
Weather Matters when You're Traveling with Thousands of Bees
Project Apis m. Update

Attention Beekeepers - We need your almond growers! PAm is currently enrolling landowners in the 'Seeds for Bees' honey bee forage project. The funding we have is specifically to develop diversity in honey bee habitat in and around almond orchards. We have a mustard mix for pre-almond bloom and a clover mix designed for post-almond bloom. If your almond grower is concerned about bloom competition, read here about the Advantages of Cover Crop. Most of the nation's commercial colonies come to California for almond pollination, so let's have more natural food available for them! Have your grower contact Meg Ribotto. Now is the time to put in their seed order so it is ready to go and sow post-harvest. Do your part to help us provide more food resources for honey bees!

Speaking of honey bee habitat, have you seen this 2:51 minute video, filmed at Capay Ranch in Hamilton City, CA? It features PAm's  'Seeds for Bees' honey bee forage mix of mustards, clovers and vetch. The video captures a drone's or 'bee's eye' view of a bee pasture. PAm scientists use high-powered microscopes to artificially inseminate queens, detect pesticides with mass spectrometry, employ deep-sequencing to unravel the genetic codes, assess reproductive viability with a Nexcelom Visioning System and analyze for pathogens with a micro-array chip. If we can use technology in the lab, why not use high tech to fly like a bee?

The California State Fair is pleased to announce our newly expanded and enhanced program, "The Kitchen." The success of this annual culinary program (formerly known as Foodstyle) has afforded the fair the opportunity to relocate it into the California Counties Building, where it will be centrally located among The Farm, Save Mart Supermarkets Wine Garden, and the Craft Brew Pub. The Kitchen will give us more room to expand the program and allow us to continue to showcase California's Agriculture and the bounty our great state produces.

 

The new "Kitchen Theatre" will continue to offer our traditional food judging events, cooking demonstrations, and chef challenges while the programming will showcase the "Farm to Fork" philosophy. Along with the three main cooking stations in the Kitchen Theatre, The Kitchen will also have a new "Do-It-Yourself" space that will offer programs such as "Make Your Own Pickles," "5-Minute Marinades," and many other topics of interest.

 

We are planning some very exciting exhibits that will not only educate our fair guests, but will entertain as well. We are especially excited to be working again with Sacramento Area Beekeepers Association's very own Kate Morton. Kate has been instrumental in helping us to educate the public about beekeepers and in staffing the wonderful volunteers that come out to help every year. Thank you to all! We are looking forward to seeing you at the 2014 State Fair.

 

Please contact Debbie Hardesty at (916)  274-5882 or DSHardesty@calexpo.com 

 

California Exposition & State Fair

P.O. Box 15649, Sacramento, CA 95815 (916) 263-FAIR