Let's get political: Board Member Bernie Wiehle encourages you to act now

Worried about your bees?

With the Polar Vortex creating havoc with our winter weather, many of us are wondering how our bees are faring. "If they were healthy going into winter with plenty of stores as well as covered and protected from the wind, the cold, itself, should not be a worry." said Tech Transfer Lead, Les Eccles, who also reminds folks that condensation can be a bigger problem than cold. That's why TTP recommends an insulating layer under the cover as well as an upper entrance (especially if the lower entrance might become blocked with snow or ice). Some beekeepers will put a tack or popsicle stick under edge of the inner cover on the same side as the lower entrance to provide additional upward ventilation. But don't worry about the snow, it provides insulation and doesn't need to be removed. Winters like this are a good reminder of the importance of fall management - ensuring a low varroa count, a good size cluster, a healthy queen and sufficient stores. Of course if your hives were exposed to neonicotinoid pesticides last summer, you may experience the sub-lethal effects of this contamination regardless of your beekeeping practices. We'll provide you with more information on how to assess this as we get closer to spring. In the meantime, here's something to warm you up: The Thermology of Wintering Honey Bee Colonies