Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education

Grants And Education To Advance Innovations In Sustainable Agriculture

Project Overview

FNE05-543
Project Type: Farmer
Funds awarded in 2005: $6,671.00
Projected End Date: 12/31/2007
Region: Northeast
State: Massachusetts
Project Leader:
Daniel Conlon
Warm Colors Apiary

Control of chalkbrood in honeybees with essential oils

Commodities

  • Animals: bees

Practices

  • Animal Production: herbal medicines, homeopathy, preventive practices
  • Education and Training: farmer to farmer, on-farm/ranch research
  • Pest Management: field monitoring/scouting, integrated pest management
  • Production Systems: holistic management

Proposal summary:

Chalkbrood disease is a fungal infection of the honeybee larvae that is increasing in frequency in the U.S., and newly established colonies are more susceptible because they lack a sufficient number of workers to remove infected larvae. This project will investigate controlling the disease by feeding essential oils that are mixed with sugar syrup. Outreach will be through presentations at beekeeper meetings, articles, and a web site.

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.