Association News

  Our next meeting will be Thursday January 25, 2024 at 6:30 p.m. in Smyth Hall room 122.  

 
MEBA 2024 Meeting Schedule:

MEBA meets 6:30-8:30 pm on the fourth Thursday night each month, January through October at WYTHEVILLE COMMUNITY COLLEGE . That meeting and all others will be held in Smyth Hall room 122.  The November meeting is on the third Thursday, and there is no meeting in December. Click here to go to our calendar of events…

Spotted Latternfly flyer: See it – Stomp it!

 

 

 


 

MEBA Membership Application Form for 2024 been posted…
Click Here!
 


2024: Learn the Gentle Art of Beekeeping! Click here for details


The Apiarist

This is a a very informative site from a beekeeper in Scotland. David Evans is Professor of Virology in the School of Biology, University of St. Andrews in Scotland. Not surprising, he has some of the same issues with bees that we have. His articles are well researched and written in an engaging way. His diagrams are easy to understand and his photography is wonderful. I think many of our members would like to subscribe (free) to receive his post. 


 

Honeybee Fondant:

Formula for Late Fall, Winter and Early Spring Feeding on Top of Frames

Ingredients:

  •  10 lbs. Granulated Sugar
  •  2 lbs. White Corn Syrup
  •  1 lb. Honey (owner’s or cheapest to purchase)
  • 1/4 teaspoon Cream of Tartar
  • Pinch of Mineralized Salt (pink granular salt, available at Southern States; aka “rabbit salt”)
  • 1 Tablespoon Vinegar
  • 1 Cup Cold Water
  • 5 to 8 drops Honey-B Healthy (essential oil of lemon grass), or essential oil of peppermint or essential oil of citrus blossom (Use 1 of 3 oils per mix- -not all in same mix) Bees like a variety of food supplements

Tools:

  • Pot/pan, commercial kitchen type or at least 10 quart canner
  • Candy thermometer
  • Large long-handled wooden spoon
  • 1 dozen plastic containers heavy duty (like deli meats) or plastic freezer bags, 1 gallon size

Directions:
(Read complete directions before beginning to mix ingredients)

  1. In 3/4 cup of cold water, add vinegar, salt, and drops of essential oil. (Vinegar converts sucrose sugar to dextrose sugar for bees). Pour into pan.
  2. In 1/4 cup of water (warm), add the 1/4 teaspoon of Cream of Tartar, stir until dissolved, set aside.
  3. Into a large pan, place the 10# sugar, turn on heat at medium; gradually increase heat to almost high as the sugar melts. Stir continuously to control heat-never let fondant get above 230° F.
  4. After sugar melts, add corn syrup, continue stirring; after sugar and syrup melt and mix, add the 1# of honey, and stir until mixture reaches 230° F.
  5. When mixture reaches 230° F, turn off heat and remove from heat; continue to stir until mixture cools to 200°F, then add the Cream of Tartar, continue to stir.
  6. When mixture cools to 190° F, begin spooning mixture into containers; if placed in plastic bags flatten before Fondant cools.
  7. In the hive, place fondant directly onto frames. Wooden spacer will be required on top of wood ware and beneath the inner cover.
The Executive Board of Apimondia voted unanimously this week to cancel the Apimondia Congress planned for September 2022 in Ufa Russia. We condemn the invasion of Ukraine by Russia.

Please know that we heard all your voices during these trying days.

We are looking forward to organizing a great Apimondia Congress in Santiago Chile in 2023, when beekeepers and researchers from every nation will once again be able to meet. We may organize some Symposia prior to the Congress: please follow our website for updates.

We appreciate your continued support of Apimondia.

Sincerely, 

Jeff Pettis
Apimondia President

www.apimondia.org