The Nebraska Beekeepers Association will begin hosting monthly “Beekeeping 101” Conference Calls for our members on the second Tuesday of each month to help educate and connect current, new, and potential beekeepers. The calls will provide seasonal reminders and NBA updates from 7:30 to 8 pm followed by a special guest speaker at 8 pm.
On our first call will be held on Tuesday, October 8, beginning at 7:30 pm. UNL Apiary Manager Dustin Scholl will present “Overwintering 101” at 8 pm, during which he will discuss mite treatments and feed.
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It’s time for our only fundraiser of the year, the Nebraska State Fair!
The State Fair runs Aug 23rd-Sept 2nd.
We have made signup easy online. Just click the link below, choose your dates/times you wish to volunteer. Then on your day to work, you can pickup your free ticket into the fair at the Will-Call booth
It is time to submit your bids for honey, comb honey, ross rounds, candles, soap & value added products! This is a great opportunity for you to wholesale your items through the association, a real win-win. Honey, comb honey, ross rounds need to be packaged/bottled in a commercial kitchen.
On the second Saturday of every month, the learning series will teach education credits on topics from the Great Plains Master Beekeeping program. The learning series will provide knowledge gain on curriculum not covered in basic workshops and will expand on specific subjects. Learning series courses are 2 hours long and feature hands-on activities, lecture, and Q&A.
Keynote presentation:Benefits and Risks to Honey Bees Foraging in Urban and Agricultural Areas
2ndtalk:Pesticides and Poisons in the Hive: An Overview of Honey Bee Toxicology
Bio:Reed got his start in research beekeeping while looking for a summer job in his hometown, Missoula, Montana. He knocked on the door of Dr. Jerry Bromenshenk at the University of Montana, was offered employment, and was quickly drawn into the world of bees and their biology. Reed went on to receive a Ph.D. in Entomology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign working with Dr. May Berenbaum where he was involved in the honey bee genome project. Reed then moved on to and a post-doc position at the University of Nebraska with Dr. Marion Ellis where he explored drug interactions between miticides in bees. Reed is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Entomology at The Ohio State University – Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center in Wooster, Ohio. He teaches two courses at Ohio State: one on the biology and practical aspects of beekeeping and other on pesticide toxicology and application. His research focuses on determining how bees are exposed to pesticides and combinations and measuring the effect that toxic exposure has on the health of honey bees and other pollinators with the goal of promoting bee health in the context of modern agriculture.
Meet our speakers!
Jennifer Albrecht (UNL student) Monitoring and Effects of Pesticide Residue Accumulation in Hives on Bee Health and Varroa Mite Susceptibility
Bio:Jennifer Albrecht is a graduate student under the advisement of Dr. Judy Wu-Smart. Her research focuses on the implementation of pesticide monitoring management practices, and the impacts of pesticide residues within the hive on bee health. Her hope is to empower beekeepers to proactively manage pesticides in their hive and participate in a nationwide citizen science program that collects regional weekly mortality
Peter Berthelsen:The Art & Science of Getting Great Honey Bee Forage on the Landscape
Bio:Pete Berthelsen is currently serving as the Partnership Director for The Bee & Butterfly Habitat Fund and providing consulting services for wildlife and pollinator habitat needs through Conservation Blueprint, LLC. Previously, employed with Pheasants Forever, Inc. from 1991 to 2017 as the Director of Habitat Partnerships (2013 to 2017), Senior Field Coordinator (2006 to 2013), Director of Conservation Programs (2000 to 2005), and Regional Wildlife Biologist (1991 to 1999). Prior to employment with Pheasants Forever, work experience includes employment with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service in North Dakota, Texas Parks & Wildlife Department and the U.S. Forest Service in Michigan.
Natalia Bjorklund (UNL student): Landscape ornamental plants and maintenance for honey bees and Nebraska Wild Bee Research in Urban Settings
Bio:Natalia is originally from Greeley, Nebraska. She completed her B.S. in horticulture from U of Nebraska, Lincoln, and her M.S. in horticulture from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. She worked at various botanical gardens across the country before joining Nebraska Extension in 2011. She recently left Extension to finish her Ph.D. in Entomology.
Bridget Gross (UNL student): Women in Beekeeping: An Examination of the Impacts of a Collaborative Learning Program
Bio:Bridget Gross is originally from Vermilion, Ohio. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Sciences from The College of Wooster. Additionally, she researched drone brood removal and the use of drones as edible insects with the Ohio State University Bee Lab. She is know a Master’s Student at UNL, working on beekeeper education programs and how to build better connections between beekeepers and landowners.
Kat & Dustin Scholl: Lessons learned from a value-added business
Bio:Dustin and Kat Scholl own and operate K&Ds Honey Bees in Seward, Neb. Their hobby beekeeping business was started in 2009 and primarily focuses on products of the hive and education outreach. They currently have over 15 hives within three apiary locations. In 2015, their education and outreach efforts were recognized with the Nebraska Wildlife Federation Communicator Award. Dustin is the apiary manager for the UNL Bee lab and a NBA officer. Kat works for the city of Lincoln Parks and Recreation Department to promote events and programs.
Matthew Smart (UNL Professor):Utilization of honey bee colony monitoring devices to examine the effects of land use, forage availability, and weather on colony productivity.
Bio: Matthew Smart is a research assistant professor in the Entomology Department at UNL. His research is focused on the impacts of land use, habitat, nutritional resources and other biotic and abiotic stressors on pollinator health and productivity. Specific areas of interest include understanding the spatiotemporal utilization of forage resources by pollinators in the context of varying habitat conditions and resulting impacts on health and ecosystem service delivery of pollinators.
Carrie Smith (Artist): CDW Smith is a retired school teacher and local artist who loves to make monoprints and encaustic works (with beeswax and tree resin). She has studied encaustic with local legend Margaret Berry and other encaustic artists in Santa Fe and elsewhere.
Photo: “Storm over the pass” monoprint with encaustic on panel
Steve and Becky Tipton: Value-added products (lotions, & potions)and Rendering Beeswax
Steve and Becky have been keeping bees in NE Kansas for 30 years. Both retired from their original jobs to work the farm and the bee business. Steve and Becky earned their Midwest Master Beekeeper certification through Dr. Marion Ellis at UNL and were honored to help him teach the program for many years. Steve and Becky also teach a beginning beekeeping class in Topeka and offer individual beekeeping instruction (mentoring). Both have held multiple offices and been very active in the NE KS Beekeepers Association and the Kansas Honey Producers. Classified as “serious sideliners” by the beekeeping industry, Steve says they have a hobby out of control. They sell their honey and a number of skin care products with beeswax and honey at the Downtown Topeka Farmers’ Market.
Surabhi Vakil (UNL student): Landscape enhancements in agricultural areas to increase pollinator abundance and diversity and reduce pesticide exposure
Bio:Surabhi Vakil is a PhD student at University of Nebraska Lincoln, Department of Entomology. I completed my bachelors in Agricultural Sciences and Masters in Entomology from Himachal Pradesh Agriculture University India. Before coming here, I was working as Research Assistant in All India Coordinated Project On Honey bees and pollinators. Currently I am working on examining ways that may enhance the agricultural landscape to increase forage availability and reduce neonicotinoid insecticide exposure to improve the health of bees. These enhancements are sustainable and practical solutions for growers which will make adoption of pollinator conservation practices easier. In addition to this research I will assist in several grower-beekeeper workshops to foster communication and collaboration for mutual economic development
James Wolfin (UMN student):Building better lawns: Designing eco-friendly lawns for your honey bees and native bees.
Bio: James Wolfin is a graduate research assistant at the University of Minnesota, where he is working towards a Master’s degree in entomology. Studying under the advisement of Drs. Marla Spivak (Entomology) and Eric Watkins (Horticulture), James is exploring how we can incorporate low-growing flowers into environmentally friendly turf lawns to provide forage for native bees and honey bees. James’ interest in bees began at the University of Delaware, where he identified pollen species collected by honey bees, in order to inform beekeepers what floral species their honey bees were foraging on throughout the year.
Judy Wu-Smart (UNL Professor & NBA officer): Hive Health in Nebraska (APHIS updates)
Bio:Judy is an Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL). In her role at UNL, Judy is developing a pollinator health program to help understand the underlying stressors in bee health and their interactions with environmental toxicants. Her research program explores different ways to promote sustainability and resilience in pollinator ecosystems. She also dedicates a lot of time with outreach and extension programs to increase knowledge about the importance of conservation and biodiversity to promote practices that support healthy bee communities in agroecosystems. Her goal is to integrate her research, extension, and outreach efforts with policy to inform the regulatory-decision making process by identifying risk mitigation opportunities and best management practices that will better protect beneficial pollinators in agricultural and urban landscapes.
