Author: Linda Hieneman
Major Program: Bees/Beekeeping
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: Adam Barnes
Bees in a package During the COVID-19 quarantine, Livingston ANR worked in more unconventional ways to continue serving the community. Livingston ANR offered information to the community by utilizing social media outlets such as Facebook post and live videos. Traditionally Livingston County ANR does a lot of work with honey bees during the summer, but is especially busy during the spring. Most of the bee work is hands on training and hiv
Author: Robert Smith
Beekeeping in Nelson County has continued to increase over the past several years due in part to a very active Nelson County Beekeepers Association. In the early spring of 2020, our group hosted a day-long "Sustainable Beekeeping" workshop. More than 50 participants received hands-on training and insights from our more experienced club members on how to increase efficiency, lower cost inputs, and how to add value to their products. Topics included Swarm Catching, Hive Pest
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 clientele about beekeeping. The Agent purchased and set up 2 beehives at the office and held 2 programs on beginning beekeeping the first year. The Agent is learning first hand how difficult it can be maintain bee hives. This past
Author: Susan Fox
Thirty-five people participated in one or both of a two-night beginning beekeeping class taught by Master Beekeeper Kent Williams. Seven participants indicated that they plan to buy hives and begin beekeeping. Others were beekeepers that needed to hone their skills. A few decided not to buy bees at this time.The West Kentucky Beekeepers group helped to sponsor the program.
Author: Brian Jeffiers
The early months of each year are critical to bee health and productivity. The normal pressures of the winter season, combined with the ongoing issues of mites and colony collapse disorder, have created particularly challenging circumstances for beekeepers. To address this situation, Johnson Co. Extension hosted an educational session for county beekeepers. State apiarist Tammy Horn gave a presentation on the special considerations producers should make to start the season with strong hives, inc
Author: Charles May
More than 160 participants attended the 2020 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 tenth 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 event was sponsored by th
Author: John (J.J.) Haney
Upon starting my position as the Apiculture Research and Extension Associate with Kentucky State University, the amount of challenges I would face operating and providing the services of KSU's Mobile Autoclave, (a mobile autoclave used to sterilize bee equipment), quickly became evident. A unique, physically demanding and popular service provided for Kentucky beekeepers, the autoclave would require quite a bit of maintenance before being operational and road-ready d
Author: Lorilee Kunze
In fall of 2018 Extension was approached by a handful of local beekeepers, interested in the possibility of starting a local association. With the continuing decline of large farming operations in Bullitt County, local farmers are looking to diversify. Because beekeeping is a very profitable, small business beekeeping appeared to be a viable solution. With considerable effort as well as the help and dedication of local beekeepers, by January of 2019, the Bullitt County Horticulture Program forme
Author: Courtney Jenkins
According to the United States Food and Drug Administration, honey bees produce six hive products—honey, pollen, royal jelly, beeswax, propolis, and venom—all of which are collected and utilized by people around the world for various nutritional and medicinal purposes.Honey is the most well-known and economically important hive product, valued at $2.08 per pound and boasting more than $300 million in annual sales. However, the honey bee’s greatest contribution to agriculture is
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
Author: Keith Hackworth
Extension continues to be very active in educating clientele of all ages about the importance of honey bees and other pollinators. Both the 4-H Agent and ANR Agent conducted programs in the schools and with community groups to make them aware of the importance of our pollinators. The clientele are introduced to different types of pollinators, plants that they pollinate and their importance to the environment. Honey bees are addressed in detail with demonstration hives, beekeeping equipment and h
