News Director Reports Director's Report - Area 1
Director's Report - Area 1
Friday, 06 February 2009 21:14 | 
Hello Fellow Beekeepers,
For those of you who do not know me and since this is my first report as a "new re-run" TBA Director, let me introduce myself. I am a commercial beekeeper operating sort of midway between Santa Fe and Alvin, Texas which is half-way between Houston and Galveston.
Our main honey crop is from the Chinese tallow trees. The tallow tree produces a stronger tasting, amber honey. We make most of our honey right here at home, but in past years, I have sent bees to out of state locations to make a little light honey. And we sometimes send bees out of state for pollination fees.
I am a fourth generation beekeeper and even though we are presented with a daily dose of obstacles, I cannot imagine doing anything else.
TBA has done a great job of producing new members and filling our lives with new ideas and information about the bee industry. We still have much to do about the predators that attack our pride and joys; our little friends "the honey bees" that consume our lives, money and sanity...time after time...and your wives’ and family’s time, also.
Mites and Beetles:
Do not let these pests feed on your bees! Monitor them closely! This is January...mite counts are mostly low this month. Hive beetle adults are in the center of the cluster, warm and cozy, feeding on bee larvae of every stage. Sometimes you have to break the cluster to see them. Sandy soil is a likely spot for them to breed.
Nutrition is another big issue:
We have fed four or five pounds of pollen patties and three to five gallons of sugar syrup with Fumagilin and essential oils (consisting of lemon grass, spearmint, etc.). I am not sure what turned them around, but they all look much better now. Hurricane Ike had them looking bad.
Honey Prices:
Prices for honey have gone down some this month, but still it has been unreal on sales. We cannot keep enough on the shelves at local outlets. There is a big demand for local stuff!
It is dry here just like it is everywhere else in Texas. The last rain real rain we had was two inches from Hurricane Ike which was back in September. We have not had much over a sprinkle since. I hope
February will be wet…moisture in the ground makes a big difference in the honey flows.
Let’s all keep our fingers crossed for a profitable 2009!