Managing your hives Archives - Professional Beekeepers

published - 24 February 2020
By Nadine Chapman

Your beekeeping community needs you

Local branches are the foundation of vibrant, effective state associations with AHBIC overarching at the national level.

Branch
Branches provide the foundation for the state associations and the Australian Honey Bee Industry Council (AHBIC) at the national level.
The branch memberships are composed of recreational and professional beekeepers and usually include some of …
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AHBIC, corporate governance, insurance, state associations

Beekeeping on public land, Managing your hives, Pests and diseases, Policy and compliance, Pollination, Registration, Uncategorized

published - 22 January 2020
By Nadine Chapman (University of Sydney)

Bushfire and drought recovery for beekeepers

Rural industries have been hit hard by drought and bushfires. The effect on Australia’s beekeepers will be felt for a long time to come, due not only to the immediate loss of floral resources, but because some floral species can take up to 75 years to mature and flower.
Many Australians …
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AHBIC, bee hives, drought, fire, floral resources, hive aid, registration

Beekeeping on public land, Managing your hives, Pests and diseases, Policy and compliance, Pollination, Registration, Uncategorized

published - 10 January 2020
By Elizabeth Frost, NSW Department of Primary Industries

Mental health for beekeepers

Are you okay?
Are your bees okay?
Would you like someone to speak to about how you’re going?
When times get tough, it’s normal to need support, from your family, social network, GP or mental health professional.
As a beekeeper you often work remotely, but you are never alone.
Beyond Blue support service …
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agriculture, drought, fire, mental health

Managing your hives

published - 13 December 2019
By Tom Gillard

Controlled Breeding: Artificial Insemination of Queen Bees

The unique mating system of honey bees makes it incredibly difficult for beekeepers to accurately determine the fathers of their colonies. Virgin queens mate with approximately 30 drones at sites called Drone Congregation Areas (DCAs), which are open areas surrounded by trees. Drones fly from around 3.75km radius from the …
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artificial insemination, breeding, genetics, queen bees

Managing your hives

published - 5 December 2019
By Nadine Chapman

Summer management

It’s getting hot hot hot, and so are your bees! Extreme heat can melt beeswax, kill brood or even the entire colony.
Keep your colonies cool
Site location: ideally your site will provide some shade during the hottest part of the day, but not early morning
Hive: bees require less effort and energy …
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apiary location, hive management, summer, ventilation

Managing your hives

published - 4 December 2019
By Nadine Chapman

Screened bottom boards

Varroa has not yet established in Australia. In the advent that it does establish, beekeepers need to be aware of the available control methods. Chemical treatments have several drawbacks. Miticide residues have been reported in honey and bees wax, mites can become immune to the miticides, and their use prevents …
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hive management, screened bottom boards, varroa

Honey, Managing your hives, Pests and diseases

published - 12 November 2019
By Dr Doug Somerville

Comb honey production

The creation of comb honey is an art form in the field of beekeeping. Honey in the comb is seen by the general consumer as something ‘pure’ and ‘natural’. Invariably this is true, as there has been little or nothing done to the product from the hive to the consumer. …
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chunk honey, comb honey, comb storage, honey

Honey, Managing your hives

published - 9 November 2019
By Elizabeth Frost, NSW Department of Primary Industries

What is VSH? Varroa sensitive hygiene trait

The Varroa destructor mite is a major honey bee pest throughout most of the world. Australia is the only major beekeeping country in the world to be free of the parasite. Varroa mites feed on the fat body of adult bees and developing bee larvae and reproduce under capped cells …
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biosecurity, breeding, varroa, VSH

Managing your hives, Pests and diseases

published - 28 October 2019
By Liz Frost, Dr Doug Somerville

“Honey and Pollen Flora of South-Eastern Australia” – read all about it

Honey and Pollen Flora of South-Eastern Australia is a long-awaited publication written by Dr. Doug Somerville, Technical Specialist, Bees with the NSW Department of Primary Industries. This book focuses on the value of key plants to nectar-feeding animals in Australia with particular emphasis on honey bee nutritional requirements. Successful beekeepers …
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acacia, angophora, corymbia, eucalyptus, honey, leatherwood, pollen

Beekeeping on public land, Honey, Managing your hives, Pollination

published - 17 October 2019
By Nadine Chapman

Why we need to breed better bees

More honey More money
“If you just keep using the same bees as we’ve got today, into the future, for people to make a living they are going to have to be getting more money for the honey or getting paid more for the pollination. Whereas if we improve them, people …
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Managing your hives