Author: Valerie Stewart
Major Program: Bees/Beekeeping
Powell County Extension Staff was asked by the Powell County Beekeepers Group about applying for County Ag Development funds to help provide funds to increase the number of bee hives locally. Extension staff contacted the State Office on Ag Policy and worked closely with the Powell County Beekeepers group to prepare an application for grant funds to help support the increase in new bee hives and the expansion of existing bee hives in Powell County. The grant application was approved
Author: Annette Heisdorffer
Honeybees play a vital role in the production of many fruit and vegetable crops by serving as pollinators. Beekeeping as a hobby has increased due to the awareness of the importance of the honeybee in pollination, to protect the pollinator, and for the honey. Some people want the benefit of the bees in their own home garden. With the popularity of beekeeping increasing, a “Beginning Beekeeping” class with three sessions was hosted by the Agent for Horticulture Education a
Author: Deborah Stumbo
Pike County Beekeepers are concerned about all the problems and publicity surrounding the survival of Bees and their integral services (pollination) to the vegetable industry and survival of many commercially produced & native plants. Pike County has one of the strongest Beekeeper organizations in the state, even to the point that we have 2 members that regularly attend & serve on the State and Perdue programs on Queen Breeding and Artificial Insemination of Bees. Because of
Author: James Morgeson
Pollinators the world over are declining and none more so than the honeybee. The number of beekeepers in Washington County is increasing with new members to the Washington County Beekeepers meeting continuing to increase. This years Washington County Beekeeping school catered to those that were new to beekeeping or were just thinking about becoming beekeepers. The day long even consisted of a presentation by the Horticulture Agent on developing a pollinator friendly yard and ga
Author: Kendyl Redding
The Powell County Beekeepers Association applied for a Beekeeper Conservation Grant through the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund. They were approved for a grant of approximately $5,000 in equipment to set up a Honey Bee Conservation Program that would provide mentoring and inspection of Powell County area beehives. The grant was able to help 10 local beekeepers to purchase equipment for their beekeeping practice. Out of those that applied, four applicants were begi
Author: Jay Hettmansperger
Hay fever and allergies affect a large percentage of our population. Natural remedies such as consuming locally grown honey made from local flowers and trees have become very popular. The Garrard County ANR agent has been receiving numerous calls from local clientel about beekeeping. The Agent purchased and set up 2 beehives at the office and held 2 programs on beginning beekeeping. Eight participants attended the hands on programs on what to purchase and how to set up a bee hive. &n
Author: Jessica Bessin
Beekeeping continues to increase in popularity as more people become interested in helping protect our pollinators. As the popularity continues to grow the Fort Harrod Beekeeping club has been there to help the residents of Mercer County and those other counties that surround it.The Fort Harrod Beekeeping club started in the winter of 2015 by the Mercer County Horticulture agent. The club originally initially had only 10 members and now has grown to over 60. The club meets monthly for a short bu
Author: David Davis
In 2017, the Clark County Cooperative Extension Beekeeper Interest Group was established to provide a platform for further educating current beekeepers, and providing the opportunity for others to learn about beekeeping. In 2018, Clark CES assisted in merging the group with the Powell County Beekeepers Association to become the Clark-Powell Beekeepers Association. With assistance from Clark CES, this merger has now made it possible for the group to officially be recognized as a Beeke
Author: Robert Smith
Beekeeping in Nelson County has been embraced by many in our community for generations. Some seek it as a hobby and some look at it as a viable way for additional on farm income. Either way, the Nelson County Bee club can help you learn more about the art and science of keeping bees.In the fall of 2012, a group of interested beekeepers with varying backgrounds began talking about the formation of a bee club to help disseminate information and to learn from one another. In December of 2012, the f
Author: Charles May
More than 150 participants attended the 2019 Eastern Kentucky Bee School that was held in Perry County. This school continues to grow each year with participants coming from surrounding states. This was our ninth school to date. This school was started in 2009 to satisfy a need to educate people on the importance of these pollinators and to provide learning opportunities for beginners as well as advanced beekeepers. The e
Author: Stacy White
Due to concern over honeybee populations, the Bell County ANR agent was contacted by three beekeepers who wanted to start a local club for beekeepers. Their mission was to provide a venue for local beekeepers to congregate and share experiences in an effort to increase their overall success rate in keeping bees alive and producing more quality honey for consumption and sale. The Bell County ANR agent facilitated the organization of this club. From the three original beekeepers
Author: Roger Mollette
The concern for the loss of honey bees in Kentucky prompted the Martin County Agriculture Advisory Council to organize a group of leaders to form the Martin County Beekeepers Association. The group is not only active in replenishing the honeybee population, but now have become very active in honeybee research.The end results of this research prompted by NASA will not only affect the county but the state and nation as this information gathered will help discover the answer to the cause of t
Author: Michele Stanton
There has been much publicity the past few years about the importance of pollinators. There are many insects and other animals who pollinate the flowers needed to produce our crops and sustain our natural environment, but the stars of the show are bees. When members of the public think of bees, they think honeybees, and many have heard that bees are in trouble. The honeybee, however, is an exotic invasive insect! “Keeping honeybees for pollinator conservation is like keeping ch
Author: Linda Hieneman
According to the US Department of Agriculture, one mouthful in three of the foods you eat directly or indirectly depends on pollination by honey bees. Honey bee populations have been declining in Kentucky over the past ten or more years. Education is key in helping protect honey bees as well as teaching beekeepers how to care for their hives. The Greenup County Beekeepers Association was formed by a hand full of members in 2017. The main focus of the A
Author: Keith Hackworth
Floyd County becomes a “Certified County.”Floyd County was one of the first seven counties in the state to become certified as a Kentucky 4-H Bee Ambassador Program “Certified County.” This certification was received because of the efforts from Heather Coleman, 4-H Agent; Keith Hackworth, ANR Agent; and the Floyd County Beekeepers Association.Floyd County received this certification because of combined efforts to educate youth and adults about honey bees and ot
