KAMLOOPS BEEKEEPERS CLUB

A Branch of the British Columbia Honey Producers Association

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General Meeting Minutes, 17 September 2024

Kamloops Beekeepers Club
General Meeting Minutes, 17 September 2024
TRU, Scratch Café

  1. Call to Order: 6:30, 29 present

Board present: Gary Martin, David Bruce, Duane Robinson, Trisha Watkinson, Murray Willis, Nancy Burkholder, Joanne Nicklas, Klauss Voss

  1. Financial Update: David Bruce

Just over $12,000 in the account; just a little over where we started the year.
Fundraising has included calendars, Bryce did Art Knapp presentation.
Financial matters will be addressed at the AGM.

  1. Education presentation:

Chrystal Cound, RN – EpiPens & their use

      • Ideally given in the tight, can be right through the clothing, leave in place for 3 seconds to ensure the medication is distributed.
      • No limit on dosage – if the first shot is not having the desired effect, take a second dose.
      • Important to follow up with a visit to the hospital.
      • $120 per pen and can be obtained over the counter. Much less expensive if you have a prescription. An alternative to the single use self “pen” is obtaining the epinephrine and needle, pulling the dose and injecting directly – if with another party.

Murray Willis – Varroa mites & overwintering
Varroa mites

      • Check for mites when bees are crippled or crawling, poor flight, deformed wings
      • They multiply quickly with new eggs being laid in pre-capped brood approx. every 30 hours.
      • Treatments include: Ensure directions are followed & honey super is removed (ideally)
        • Pro formic; gel pad placed in hive, available in 14 day and 20 day treatment options, applied ideally at temperatures between 10-29 degrees
        • Liquid formic acid; treatment methods and time vary, ideally applied at temperature between 10-29 degrees
        • Apivar; it is a pesticide so is less effected by temperature. It is a 42 day treatment
        • Oxalic acid, it is a powder that it used with a vaporizer however should be used in a series of treatments (approx. 5 days apart) as it does not penetrate the brood cap
        • Thymovar is another option that can be used in conjunction with other treatments
      • Testing sample from area next to brood just being capped

Getting hives ready for winter

      • Treatments, “winter bulk” and food availability is most important
      • Most overwinter in 2 deeps or 3 mediums
      • Entrance reducers help with warmth and help prevent mice (pro tip, screw them on)
      • Insulation – there are a variety of methods but anything to help them is good

“what you do or don’t do now will show up In 6 months” – Mike Palmer

 

Winter checklist:

        • Remove feeders
        • Entrance reducers on
        • Queen excluder removed
        • Top box full of honey
        • Upper entrance
        • Foam insulation on top
        • Wrapped
        • Bottom board
        • Strapped down on brick
        • Tipped slightly forward (whole hive)
        • Wind break

Gary Martin – Advantage of weighing hives in the winter

Step one: Weigh hives. Target weight 120lbs (poly hive is approx. 35lbs -> 85lbs of bees/honey)

Step two: Combine. Where hives are old and underweight combine

Step three: Feed. Feed the hives that are below target weight. 2:1 sugar water

Step four: Reweigh. (end of Sept) rebalance with backup honey frames

  1. Upcoming meetings: can be found https://www.kamloopsbeekeepers.com/events-meeting
    1. BOD, GoogleMeet, 6:30pm, 15 October 2024
    2. General Meeting, Scratch Café, 6:30pm, 19 November 2024
  1. Action items for the Board Meeting
    1. BOD Elections
  1. Motion to adjourn: 8:42, Dave