Project Overview
Commodities
- Animals: bees
- Animal Products: honey
Practices
- Animal Production: animal protection and health
- Education and Training: decision support system, focus group
- Sustainable Communities: sustainability measures
Proposal abstract:
High percentages of honeybees perish each year, unable to over-winter in the Northeast. Though there are many hazards the honeybee faces within our current environment, lack of knowledgeable beekeepers should not be among those hazards. This project proposal for honeybee support cohort groups, encourages continued learning and support past the initial Beekeeping 101 classes. The project for this model cohort group is designed to help the participants continue to learn in an engaging environment, timely to the needs of their honeybees. The learning curve towards the skill of "reading" a hive is high, yet with the design for this project support group, participants will be provided timely guidance to provide optimal care for their honeybees. The intent of this project is to develop a replicable training model to provide timely answers and improve the survival rate of honeybees.
As stated, there are many hazards facing the honeybee, however we do have the potential of improving survival rates by providing quality beekeeping stewardship through helping new(er) beekeepers to become more competent. Skills needed involve understanding bee behaviors and “language”, providing safe and secure food, water, nesting/shelter and protecting and monitoring bee health - particularly through the control of mites and other pests.
Following completion of the project the model will be shared with beekeeping organizations to encourage a uniform and comprehensive approach to teaching how to achieve successful beekeeping.
Project objectives from proposal:
“This project seeks to” increase the colony survival rate for new(er) backyard beekeepers compared to the state/national average. Bee Informed Partnerships (BIP) abstract of Honeybee Losses for 2023 reports backyard beekeepers as the highest group of beekeepers leading with colony losses. In 2022-2023 Bee Informed Partnership calculated an annual loss of backyard beekeepers to be 54.6%.
Colony health will be identified monthly through monthly inspection reports participants provide; this reporting method will maintain a status of colony survival.
Year-end colony survival will be determined at the completion of twelve-month project. Number of starting colony’s vs twelve-month end to compare to state/national data.
Each participant w/in the cohort will provide a monthly colony number, mite count report, treatment course (if applicable), and updated colony inspection report.
“The question we will answer” is if this virtual platform is beneficial for the participant demographics represented within the cohort. A report with demographics will also outline all participants within the cohort. Demographics included: age, work status, male/female, years beekeeping, prior beekeeping instruction received, purpose for keeping bees, purpose for joining cohort.
Measurements will include:
- attendance and participation during each meeting
- submission of monthly inspection and action reports
- replies to 3 surveys given at start, midway and completion of project.
“The question we will answer” is if this virtual platform is an effective method to impact the quality decisions the participants make while tending to their bees to improve survival percentages.
Measurements will include:
- survival rate of honeybee colonies
- examination of knowledge levels at start, middle and end of project
“The project seeks to” develop a format/platform that beekeeping organizations can utilize as a model to guide new(er) beekeepers towards successful beekeeping. The final project will be a model program presented to the three beekeeping organizations within the Tri-County (YCBA, CABA, LCBS).
The final project statistics will be presented to the larger beekeeping organizations and honeybee supply companies to encourage their contribution to market these on-going platforms.