Project Overview
FNE06-567
Project Type: Farmer
Funds awarded in 2006: $6,369.00
Projected End Date: 12/31/2007
Region: Northeast
State: Pennsylvania
Project Leader:
Craig Cella
Craig A. Cella
Commodities
- Animals: bees
Practices
- Animal Production: feed/forage, parasite control, preventive practices
Proposal summary:
Bee populations have been hard hit by varroa mites, reducing the number of colonies and affecting the profitability of beekeepers. Most keepers overwinter in a two-story colony and buy bees in the spring to make up for winter losses. This project will study the feasibility of a new management system where the beekeeper divides all the colonies in the spring, adds new queens to the queenless colony, and then culls the bottom-producing colonies in July. Outreach will be through presentations, field tours, workshops, and articles.
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.