Project Overview
FNE08-626
Project Type: Farmer
Funds awarded in 2008: $7,500.00
Projected End Date: 12/31/2009
Region: Northeast
State: Pennsylvania
Project Leader:
Craig Cella
Craig A. Cella
Annual Reports
Commodities
- Animal Products: honey
Practices
- Animal Production: housing
- Education and Training: demonstration, display, farmer to farmer, mentoring, on-farm/ranch research, workshop, youth education
- Farm Business Management: budgets/cost and returns, feasibility study, agricultural finance
- Pest Management: integrated pest management, mating disruption, sanitation
- Production Systems: organic agriculture
- Sustainable Communities: community planning, new business opportunities, urban agriculture, sustainability measures
Proposal summary:
Many beekeepers overwinter honeybees and accept the high losses; over time this reduces the number of pollinators and makes an area vulnerable to Africanized bee colonization. This two-year project will explore new overwintering techniques, including whether it is more cost- effective to simply install new bees each spring, and whether overwintering techniques can affect mites and viruses. Outreach will be through producer publications, grower meetings, and local beekeeping classes.
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.