Project Overview
FNE03-485
Project Type: Farmer
Funds awarded in 2003: $8,682.00
Projected End Date: 12/31/2004
Region: Northeast
State: Maine
Project Leader:
John O'Meara
O'Meara Family Farm
Annual Reports
Commodities
- Animals: bees
Practices
- Animal Production: parasite control
- Education and Training: on-farm/ranch research
- Pest Management: botanical pesticides, field monitoring/scouting, integrated pest management, physical control, traps
- Sustainable Communities: sustainability measures
Proposal summary:
Varroa mite infestations are a serious problems for beekeepers, and chemical controls are expensive, often ineffective, and unacceptable to some consumers. The farmer will use a combinations of sticky traps and black walnut leaf smoke, a technique that has been tried in Turkey. Results of the trial will be compared to a control hive, and results will be shared in the beekeeping community through a brochure, presentations, and an article prepared for the agricultural media.
Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture or SARE.