In this months Newsletter

We have had a more conventional winter this year – at least with reference to the weather. My Ballarat hives have been quiet on the whole, though taking advantage of the few warm spells with some ‘clearing flights.’ Soon the weather will be warming, the days lengthening, and the bees stirring. Be prepared! We hope to schedule open hives in Spring, but last year many of these were postponed due to cold weekends.

Our July Zoom meeting featured an interview with commercial beekeeper, Naomi Forbes-Wilson from Billabong Honey. Naomi resides in the north of the state, running around 500 hives. She spoke about her passion for bees and her pathway to become a commercial beekeeper. The focus of the interview was on queens: the importance of having a quality queen and how Naomi breeds her own. Naomi also shared lots of tips about beekeeping, such as ‘don’t open your hive unless you know you will do more good than harm’ as well as how she manages records for each hive. The video is available on the BRB You Tube channel and thirty minutes of your time will be well-spent. The rest of the meeting, including ‘Ask a Beekeeper,’ is also available for your viewing pleasure. 

The committee continues to be very busy over winter working on a range of projects.including: 

• producing films for our remote Zoom meetings (huge job), 

• planning content for future meetings with themes of selling honey, hive splitting, swarm prevention and re-queening,

• developing an area strategy to service our increase in membership,

• putting the finishing touches on a Strategic Plan which will be released to members soon for comment,

• developing a list of reputable beekeeping suppliers of goods and services to be published for members, 

• upgrading the computer and purchasing a PA system,

• purchasing a range of BRB-logoed items, and

• beginning to prepare for the spring season of open hives, educational opportunities and gathering of swarms. 

Undertaking these projects, as well as monitoring our finances and membership, has resulted in a large monthly agenda. We trust, however, that these efforts will continue to improve the quality of beekeeping in the Ballarat region. 

As a response to the COVID pandemic, we have extended the membership period by six months to alleviate the financial burden you may be facing. We have also prepared a two-minute survey about our Zoom meetings – please take the time to respond and provide the committee with some feedback. 

Finally, Chris Browning has resigned from the committee due to changing circumstances. I would like to thank Chris for his significant input over the past year. Chris was instrumental in BRB adopting the Club2ic membership software, which has been a huge time saver. Chris also spent many hours last season as a swarm coordinator. Thanks for your services Chris. We will be looking for committee members to take up various roles soon – please consider nominating. Contact me for more details. 

Next Club Meeting

We have changed so much, how are we doing?

The committee has been working very hard during the COVID pandemic to provide online meetings via Zoom. We have had quite a few members participate in the meetings but we would also like to know if there are members who are either unaware or unable to access our meetings. 

Could you please take a couple of minutes to answer this survey to give the committee some feedback. 

Much appreciated, 

Calvin Tromp

August:

Are we over winter yet?

Some of us are as busy as the proverbial at the moment. August is almond pollination month and we have been working our bees for months now getting them ready for this event. Believe me when I say "event" as there will be around 130,000 hives taken to North-West Victoria. That is BILLIONS of bees! It is such a fun thing to be involved with.

Most of the BRB beekeepers are waiting and monitoring our hives for when warmer conditions come. There is so much going on in your hives at the moment that you can’t see. The brood nest will be expanding in the promise of better conditions coming. All that honey you left with them is being mixed with the fresh pollen coming in for making bee bread and feeding lots of larvae who will grow into those strong wonder worker bees we all love. So don’t open those boxes yet: the cold air will chill the brood and you could lose your hive. 

This is the last chance we have to ensure we have everything ready for September. The swarming season is coming and we will all be flat-out during that peak period. 

It can place a lot of pressure on you when the phone rings and you are told of a swarm just waiting to be collected.  Sometimes, if you are not ready, decisions about what you put the bees into may not be the best. If you are prepared, it is much easier to make the right decisions. 

Using old boxes or NUCs is fine, as long as you know they are biologically clean. Picking up a box that was not made ready, but you need it now, can have detrimental effects on bees in the long run. Ensuring all our old material is clean and ready is vitally important, and a crucial part of biosecurity. There is still time to get this material radiated or wax dipped: ask around. Get frames ready with new, clean, wax foundation (undrawn), or have your plastics cleaned off and re-coated with fresh wax.

September is the first chance we will have to inspect hives for any disease. The main focus should be on AFB (American Foul Brood), and everyone should watch this great video from  Dr Doug Somerville on the disease.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2Aa56jut7Y

There is also really good information on the Agriculture Victoria website that all beekeepers should read each season : https://agriculture.vic.gov.au/biosecurity/animal-diseases/honey-bee-diseases/diagnosis-control-and-eradication-of-american-foulbrood-disease

Other things to look at for in hives during this time of the year:

• EFB (European Foul Brood), 

• The Lesser and/or the Greater Wax Moth,

• Broodlessness, or not much brood, as hives should be building fast in September, and

• Slugs and general dampness are also problems; we want the internals of the hive nice and dry.

What we as beekeepers do in winter is as important as what we do for the rest of the year. Good preparation for the season will make your swarming season enjoyable, and will see us on the right path for honey harvesting season as well. 

Now, come on Spring...

Scott Denno
BRB Biosecurity Officer

BENDIGO BRANCH V.A.A. INC. – 41ST ANNUAL BEEKEEPING FIELD DAY 2020

The Harcourt Field day has been cancelled due to COVID - 19.

It is the intention the Bendigo Branch V.A.A. to again conduct the field day next year in 2021.

Public Address System

Late last year we noted with some enthusiasm an increasing membership and attendance at our monthly general meetings.

This increased meeting size raises the issue of more bodies absorbing sound - making it somewhat difficult to hear our guest speakers. We borrowed a PA system for our February meeting prior to lock-down, and it really helped, at least until the batteries ran flat. This proof-of-concept led the committee to submit a grant application with the Ballarat City Council. A small grant of $2000 was provided to contribute toward the purchase of both a PA system and a replacement laptop.

The PA system can be used in and out-of-doors and runs on both 240v and battery power. It has the versatility to support our meetings and any community activities we may be involved in the future.

With its support of up-to-four microphones, we have purchased two wireless headset microphones, and one wireless hand-held microphone.

This means we can better support discussions, interviews, and Q and A with microphones available for questions from the floor.  

Recommended Vendor List

Aligning the club for the future

• Enhanced Public Liability Cover for club members when conducting club business including the collection of swarms, open hives and educational events.
• VRBA aims and objectives are closely aligned with those outlined in our strategic plan.
• VRBA is working toward developing educational teaching material for use of member clubs
• VRBA will be working to educate local government around state legislation and beekeeper related issues.

Would you like to add to this newsletter?

Have you knowledge you would like to share?

BRB Area Leaders

Bio Security Quiz

Can you beat the President!

On The Fridge

It has been a very big season so far, here are some things our members have been up to.

Member photos have been extracted from our public Facebook page.



Malcolm has found a bee feeding in the middle of winter.





Peter has been checking his bees on some of the amazing blooms of native flowers in the Victorian deserts.





Malcolm has been drinking some of his mead





Amanda has found wild Turnip in the Mallee





Peter has been sharing tips for keeping our boxes sealed in the shed over winter.


 

Q. Why was the Bee busting for a wee wee?


A. It was looking for a B P service station!!