The Keeper. Summer Conference Rousing Success. August Joint Carolina Spring Conference

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1 August 2016 The Keeper A Newsletter of the SC Beekeepers Association Summer Conference Rousing Success Over 400 beekeepers gathered at Trident Technical College in Charleston and came together for three days of excellent presentations from our featured speakers,. Some of the speakers included Julianna Rangel from Texas A&M, Reed Johnson from Ohio State University, Adam Finklestein owner of VP Queen Bees, Dr. Jennifer Tsuruda from Clemson University, Jerry Hayes from Monsanto, Kerry Owen owner of Bee Well Honey, Daniel Schmehl Bayer Corporation. Our workshop schedule included featured speakers and our own SC Beekeepers. Joint Carolina Spring Conference March 3 & 4, 2017 Baxter Hood Center, Rock Hill, SC The Spring Conference will be held on March 3 and 4 in Rock Hill at the Baxter Hood Center. South Carolina will host this meeting in a joint meeting with North Carolina. The conference will feature many top researchers and scientists from all over the all over United States. They will present their latest results from research projects. Carolinas who will share with us all the data they have been accomplishing in the field. In the past, these meetings have been well attended and have been very successful. The conference will have Open Sessions and breakouts on both days. We will also have a catered supper on Friday night with a featured speaker.

2 Association Leadership At the Latest Business Meeting The summer conference marks a time for change, including the leadership of the association. At the last business meeting we approved new and continuing officers. We also thanked retiring President Larry Haigh for his unselfish service as State Association President over the last two years with a $100 gift card. We are proud to announce the new officers and directors for Executive Officers: State Association President - Steve McNeely Vice President Elect Kerry Owen Vice President Dwight Porter Secretary Cynthia Robinson Treasurer Marie Arnal Our Area Directors: Upstate John Gardner Mid State Danny Cannon Coastal Glenn Tyler

3 Bee Well s Kerry Owen named 2016 South Carolina Farmer of the Year Kerry Owen, owner of Bee Well Honey Farm and Supply, is this year s recipient of the award. Owen has been a beekeeper for about 17 years. He was nominated for the award by Lindsey Craig, area livestock and forage agent for the Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service. Kerry is the first beekeeper to be nominated for this award, Craig said. This is new terrain in the South Carolina agricultural industry. It shows just how much agricultural diversity we have here in our small state. We are very proud of him. There are about 2,500 beekeepers who manage about 30,000 bee colonies in South Carolina. Bee Well Honey Farm is family-owned and operated by Owen and his wife, Donna. Their daughter, Britney Ward and their son, Stetson Owen, work in the business as well. The Owens produce and distribute Bee Well Honey. The honey is produced by 1,500 to 2,000 colonies of bees. - Text courtesy of Clemson University.

4 And the Winners Are... Hardware from the Conference Photo Contest The Photo Contest was a success! We had 35 entries. Some of the photos will be posted soon. Here are the winners. Category #1 Photo of Beekeeping In the bee yard in the processes of keeping bees or just the beehives First Place Karen Mauldin Second Place Joann Gabryszak Third Place Jennifer Wicker Category #2 Photo of Honey bees Honey bees interacting with blooms, in the hive, and in their environment. First Place Joann Gabryszak Second Place Michael Fike Third Place Jennifer Wicker Category #3 Photo of Honey bees and People Honey Bees and People interacting. First Place Joann Gabryszak Second Place Dale Snyder Third Place Eugenia Felsinger Category #4 Photo of Honey Bee Swarms Catching swarms as they are happening and/or swarms once landed. First Place Karen Mauldin Second Place Joann Gabryszak Third Place Dianne Holland Category #5 Popular Vote-from all submissions each photo will be displayed. Popular Vote: Alixanna Benson Best in Show Joan Gabryszak Honey and Beeswax Judging Best in Show, Joan Gabryszak Dark Pint: 1st place Joann Gabryszak 2nd place Greg Campbell 3rd place Larry Vickery Light Pint: 1st place Allen Biddix 2nd place Jonathan Aldeghi 3rd place Mark Sweatman Light Quart: 1st place Allen Biddix 2nd place Jim Craig 3rd place Mark Sweatman Dark Quart: 1st place Larry Vickery 2nd place Joann Gabryszak 3rd place Allen Biddix Black Jar: 1st place Joann Gabryszak 2nd place Tami Enright 3rd place Tom Knaust Wax Block: 1st place Jim Allen 2nd place Allen Biddix 3rd place Jim Craig

5 Beekeeper of the Year Dwight Porter - Dacusville Junior Beekeeper of the Year Jamieson Watson & Agent of the Year Morris Warner Plagues Held by Jeff Blackwell Lifetime Achievement Eck Miller Youth Education Youth Education has not yet received any applications for Grants. Get your applications and submit them. Applications are available on the SC Beekeepers Assocation website.

6 Say Cheese... Photos from the Conference

7 Learning Corner Monthly Beekeeping Tips August beekeeping is time to sit back and realize that Fall and cool weather is just around the corner. Carolina is still hot and humid and we are struggling with a lack of rain this year. Regardless, we hope your harvests have been strong. Let s go over a few checklist items to consider. Provide plenty of water Honey bees need water to keep the hive cool in an environment where almost every day is over 90 degrees. A typical hive will pull in about a liter and a half of water every day, so make sure there is plenty of water available close to your hives. Feed your bees If you have harvested your honey and taken off your honey supers, a 1:1 sugar syrup mixture helps simulate the nectar flow. With this syrup, bees may continue to draw out comb. As we get into September, switch to a 2:1 mixture. This will help them to begin to build up the winter stores. Additionally, they get very little nourishment, but will help to keep them from eating their stores. Check for diseases Closely monitor your hive(s) over the next month with frequent inspections. Beginner beekeepers seek the advise of experienced beekeepers. American foul brood was recently discovered in Cleveland Park in Greenville and the state burned the hives. Check to see if you may have it. You may even consider treating with Terramycin after you take off the honey supers. Plant fall crops Bees need to collect pollen and nectar all year. Consider planting bee friendly plants in your Fall garden. Look for robbing Tis the season it could happen. If you see robbing going on, close the entrance down. Open feeding is not a good idea. Temporary measures are to place a wet sheet over the hive, place a wire screen over the entrance secure with thumb tacks. Bee suppliers offer a robbing screen or pollination screen that stays on over the entrance. Swarms are possible While most swarms happen in the Spring. Look for signs of rogue swarms. Swarms can happen anytime. Overcrowding in the whole hive can set this into motion. If you have a lot of bees and you have capped brood that will add to the mix in a short time period, then you might consider adding a super and checker boarding your frames. If the bees are not working the frames in two weeks or when the fall nectar is in full swing then take the super back off. Keep a watch on your bees You are their human. You may find it enjoyable to get to know them.

8 Master Beekeeper Program Test Day in October The South Carolina Beekeepers' Association (SCBA) Master Beekeeping Program (MBP) will conduct Test Day on Saturday, October 8, We will offer the certified, journeyman, and master written tests, and the journeyman and master practical tests. Testing is available in either written or verbal formats. The testing will be in the down stairs conference room 1 at the Lexington, SC library from 09:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Testing is open to anyone through-out South Carolina who is a member of SCBA. For further information contact David MacFawn (dmacfawn@ aol.com, ). David MacFawn and Larry Coble will proctor the tests. Lancaster Journeyman Class in 2017 Lancaster will be the host association for the 2017 Journeyman class. They are working out details and those details will be available later this year. If you are interested in taking the Journeyman class, you need to have passed the Certified Level prior to taking the Journeyman and practical. Talk to your club leadership if you need a missing part. At the Summer Conference The Master Beekeeping Program featured a mini Journeyman review all day on Thursday where almost 70 beekeepers attended. All level exams were given including the Journeyman Practical on Friday. The testing took place on Friday with four Certified written exams, six Journeyman Written Exams and eight took the Journeyman Practical given. Everyone passed their written exams and practical. Congratulations! If you are interested in taking any exams there are guidelines for these levels. You can go to the Master Beekeeper Program page on our website to view the manual. If you have any questions about the program, please contact: David E. Arnal, (843) [voice] davidearnal@gmail.com Founder, Bees Across America, LTD

9 Mark Your Calendar October 12-23, 2016 It is time to consider what your role is at the 2016 Fair! 2016 OPEN ENTRY REGISTRATION PERIOD July 1 - September 1 Begins at 12:01 a.m. and ends at 12 midnight The first South Carolina State Fair was held in 1869 on a tract of land on Elmwood Avenue conveyed to the State Agricultural and Mechanical Society of South Carolina by the City of Columbia for the purpose of holding an annual Fair to promote the material, educational, agricultural and industrial interest of the State. When this area became too small, the Society moved the Fair to its present location in To enhance the State Fair exhibits, competitions were developed in a variety of categories to determine which entries were the best in the Palmetto State. With that same pioneering spirit, the South Carolina State Fair continues to host unique competitions showcasing a variety of industries, including those that extend far beyond agriculture. Today the Society has six exhibit buildings, totaling more than 125,000 square feet of exhibit space, and offers in excess of $300,000+ in premiums and awards annually in categories such as art, home arts, culinary, agriculture, horticulture, and livestock. We welcome you to show us your best at the South Carolina State Fair! Log on to the new and improved SC State Fair web site at Register online using the Online Entry System (95% of our exhibitors register online) or download an entry form and snail mail to the fair office during the Open Entry Registration Period. We can't wait to see what you have been doing since last year!!! And share this with your South Carolina family and friends... We love to have new exhibitors! Now get busy and submit your entry(ies) because the South Carolina State Fair is getting close. For details please visit the SCBA page.

10 Members Corner Time to Renew Membership drives will begin in September. Leadership from your local club will begin taking your 2017 dues. Club membership dues from each club are required in January. We have 15 official bee associations and 8 clubs (less than 25 state members) and one at large group. If you are interested becoming an official state association you can submit the required documents (Leadership & Club Bylaws) to Steve McNeely the State President (tstevemcneely@bellsouth.net) or your Area Director. Area Directors Upstate Director: John Gardner jagsgg@aol.com Mid State Director: Danny Cannon Sheldancannon@bellsouth.net Coastal Director: Glenn Tyler protec@sccoast.net