March 2023
Coweta Beekeepers Association Monthly Newsletter
Hello, my fellow beekeepers!
Swarm season is upon us; from what I hear, it will be a great year! 😊 With that in mind, I want to take the time to remind everyone that the Georgia state law did change at the beginning of the 2023 year. When a swarm enters a structure, they are now a colony living in the structure. I want our beekeepers to know that a honey bee colony that needs to be removed from a structure shall only be removed by a Georgia-licensed Honey Bee Control and Removal Operator (HBR). If caught removing a honeybee swarm from a structure without an HBR license will result in hefty fines. Please see the GA Department of Agriculture website for more information to read up on the details.
Honey Bee Removal Fact Sheet
HBR Manual
Structure Definition: Any building, regardless of design or type of material used in its construction, whether public or private, vacant or occupied, and adjacent outside areas.
What does this mean for those who do not have a license? It just means staying away from swarms within/on structures. Otherwise, happy catching all those free bees! 😊
Thank you,
Heather Shinn, President
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Our next monthly meeting
Date: Monday, March 13, 2023
Location: 255 Pine Road, Newnan, Georgia
Please park in back
Time: 6:30 PM before the meeting mentoring
Speaker: Deborah Simmons.
Title: Resource Hives: Sustainability For Your Apiary
Time: 7:00 PM meeting start
Speaker: Melissa Smith of G's Beez
Title: Propolis: History, Details, and Usage
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Confessions of a New-Bee (keeper)
By Jennifer Mugerditchian
Welcome to March! Facebook tells me we’ve got bees starting to swarm! Are you ready?!?! I just made a fresh batch of swarm lure using Linda Tillman’s recipe and am putting anything and everything I have out around my yard, including a Swarm Trooper, empty hive bodies, a nuc box, and even a Russian Scion made out of some scrap wood. Last year I was unsuccessful, but I saw a small cluster in a tree just behind my apiary in mid-April. This year there is a swarm trap in that tree. If you are still in need of equipment, now is the time. Mann Lake is having a sale, and much of their woodenware is lower in price.
Thinking back to this time last year, I had just gone to a workshop to learn how to put hive bodies and foundation frames together. Trying to keep things square was a challenge; I can see that I missed the mark in some of my earlier construction. You want those hive bodies and supers to fit together well and frames to hang orderly within the hive. I highly recommend a speed square; they are readily available at home improvement stores. The other item I invested in that has been a huge time saver is a frame jig.
You can put ten frames together reasonably quickly, and it's extremely helpful when trying to build a lot of reserve equipment.
One last tidbit for you this month. I recently took a trip to Asheville and made a few stops. Northbound, I detoured Virginia Webb's Mtn Honey in Clarkesville, GA, hoping she might have some honey available. Sure enough, her sweet little roadside stand was well stocked with her world champion honey (honor system- she takes cash and checks!). On the return, I stopped at Bob Binnie's Blue Ridge Honey Company in Lakemont, GA. I enjoyed seeing his operation, perusing all the different products, and shopping for new equipment. His observation hive in the store was really neat – no need to worry about getting stung. Highly recommend both detours if you find yourself in the area. See you next month!
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Upcoming events
September 21-23, 2023
 Eastern Apicultural Society of North America, Inc. (EAS)
Combined Short Course and Main Conference
July 31 - August 4, 2023
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The Month of March
Strong hives, swarming, and early spring
By Steven Page
Already we are a third of the way thru March, and the weather has been warmer than average since the beginning of the year. The deciduous trees are leafing out now, which is about a month early. We could still get a frost or freeze until we pass our average last frost date in about a month.
Honey bee colonies have been collecting nectar and pollen since early January, enabling them to prepare to swarm. Already, we see swarms weeks earlier than during a year with more normal weather consisting of cold and warm spells. I expect most colonies will produce swarms this year. Set up your swarm traps now.
Dr. Tom Seeley's book about swarm traps is a good reference.
Swarm logic
- Use techniques in your hives to prevent swarming.
- If a colony swarms and you can safely reach them, catch the swarm.
- If you are not in your beeyard every day or a swarm is too high to catch, attach swarm traps to trees for a swarm to catch themselves.
The weather has been unusually and consistently warm, but colder weather will arrive next week and may stay until the end of March. The colder weather will slow down the progression of spring flowers. It may damage some of the flowers currently blossoming, but after warmer weather returns, other sources of nectar and pollen will be available.
The main nectar flow will start in late March. If a colony does not produce a swarm, it will easily make over 50 pounds (two supers) of honey this year. I expect some of my colonies to produce over 100 pounds of honey. Make sure you have enough equipment ready. From late March until late April, if a colony is working (drawing comb and storing honey), in the top super, you need to add two supers. After late April, add one super when they are working in the top super. I expect the main nectar flow to end in mid-May.
Do you have enough honey supers?
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Support our Local Beekeeping Supply Stores?
SWEET KINGDOM, LLC
Full line of Beekeeping equipment & supplies including,
Mann Lake, Glory Bee, Dadant, Custom orders, and local builders
Store located at 4046 Sharpsburg McCullum Road (Hwy 154), Suite 213. Newnan, GA. 30265.
Hours are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday & Saturday 11 am - 5 pm.
We are closed Wednesday and Sunday except by appointment.
We accept Cash, Charge/Debit, Check, and PayPal.
- Mated Queens $40 unmarked, (marking is $5 extra.)
- 5 frame nucs will be $195, call Dora for further details
- 3 Lb Package of bees with 2023 newly mated, unmarked queen $140, (queen marking $5 extra), (packages payable in advance). Pickup date starts March 22
Follow us on Facebook - Sweet Kingdom Bees Supplies and Products from the Hive
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