DATE: 6/12/07

CONTACT: Mike Hood, (864) 656-0346; mhood@clemson.edu

WRITER: Diane Palmer, (864) 656-4741; spalmer@clemson.edu

Clemson to host state beekeepers July 19-21

CLEMSON – South Carolina beekeepers will hold their summer meeting at Clemson University’s Poole Agricultural Center auditorium July 19-21. Cost is $5 for members and family; and $10 for nonmembers.

The program will start at 1 p.m., July 19, with an intermediate level beekeeping short course. The second session of the short course will begin at 7 p.m.

The meeting is for beekeepers and anyone who has an interest in beekeeping.

The general session will start at 8 a.m. on July 20 with workshops following in the afternoon. The meeting will wrap up on July 21 with a general session at 8 a.m.

Topics of discussion include: Colony Collapse Disorder; Varroa Sensitive Hygienic Bees; Genetic Diversity of U.S. Honey Bee Populations; Preparations for Africanized Honey Bee (AHB) Arrival; Plastic Versus Wax Foundation; and AHB’s Effect on the Florida Beekeeping Industry.

Other topics are: Genetic Bottleneck of U.S. Breeder Queens; Honey Bees and Water; and Trapping Small Hive Beetles.

Speakers include: Jerry Hayes, Florida State apiarist with the Florida Department of Agriculture, Gainesville, Fla; Jeffrey Harris, USDA/ARS Bee Lab of Baton Rouge, La;

Steve Sheppard, Washington State University, Pullman, Wash.; and Jennifer Berry, University of Georgia, Athens, Ga.

Other speakers are: Virginia Webb, Clarkesville, Ga.; Ed Buchanan, Black Mountain, N.C.; Jerry Hayes; and David MacFawn.

A special event is scheduled for spouses on July 20 with a visit to Bee Well Honey Farm Store in Pickens. They will then visit Whole Foods Market in Greenville.

A barbecue pork and baked chicken dinner is planned for the evening of July 20 at the home of Jimmy Howard in Pendleton. The cost is $6 a plate.

There will be door prizes and a honey show and competition. Ribbons will be awarded for each honey category and best of show. Participants are asked to bring a container of their best honey. A “black jar class” will also included, which will be judged on taste only.

An estimated 2,000 beekeepers in the state manage about 25,000 honey bee colonies.

For more information, contact Mike Hood, Clemson Extension bee specialist and meeting coordinator, at (864) 656-0346 or mhood@clemson.edu.

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