Mowing Around Hives
A comment on your article about cutting grass around bee hives [From the Editor: “Rush Hour,” August]:
Smoke them real well before you start cutting grass. Many “experts” advise to use very little smoke when working bees. In many instances, thus is good advice, but cutting grass close to beehives is not one of them. You need to “lay the smoke to them” and don’t be timid about how much smoke you use. From fall 1976 to summer 1978, I worked for Rossman Apiaries, and they had thousands of hives in about 50 bee yards. We had to cut the grass in the bee yards on several occasions. One person smoked every beehive in the bee yard in about 2-3 minutes, and then we cut grass. The riding mowers would get about a foot from the hives, and the push mowers would get right up next to the hives. We all wore short-sleeve shirts and no bee veil, and we rarely if ever got stung. I currently use a battery string trimmer to cut the grass “weeds” from the entrance of my beehives.
Mickey Anderson
Master of Science (Apiculture), University of Georgia 1974
Cedar Hives, and Purple Honey
Alison McAfee wrote an article regarding cedar nuc boxes vs. pine and I don’t understand stand why?? She’s a native to Canada and natural bees hive naturally in cedar trees. Here on the Oregon coast bees naturally hive in cedar, maples and old-growth hemlock … and some old-growth fir. I have two locations where I place swarm traps where these trees have been for decades … and usually catch two to three natural swarms every year … so isn’t her research rhetorical?
I read Rusty Burlew’s article about purple honey … and a response letter from a scientist saying that the mercury content in sourwood honey can make it purple. I watch Bob Binnie a lot on YouTube … and he is really great at responding to comments. He responded to mine about sourwood honey (he targets sourwood). His response was he’d never had purple sourwood honey … but has had purple kudzu honey … so Rusty’s initial article about kudzu was probably correct.
Dale Ford
Naselle, Washington
Watering Thirsty Bees
In regard to Randy Oliver’s “Thirsty Bees,” I have a method that works for me.
I use metal chicken waterers with marbles or “plastic tears” (used for flower arrangements) in the trough. This allows bees to land and drink without drowning. I place the waterers between hive boxes or in front on stands. We have seven hives and I refill them as needed. Clean algae periodically with Clorox water and an old toothbrush, and put marbles in a bucket of dilute Clorox. Rinse everything well before refilling. Bees use it readily and do not expend energy searching for water and frightening neighbors. I have used this method for 17 years.
Dick Rooney
Woodridge, Illinois
University of Wisconsin Brings Beekeeping Back to its Farm Short Course
The University of Wisconsin – Madison is bringing beekeeping back to its Farm Short Course. Wisconsin offered beekeeping as outlined by the USDA in the 1940s, but later in the 1990s decided not to offer them.
In 2021 Wisconsin beekeepers again wanted beekeeping offered at the college level. The Wisconsin Honey Producers Association agreed to sponsor grants along with the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, which provided the funding to again offer beekeeping at UW Madison.
Two things set this course apart: It is taught by experienced beekeepers partnered with university professionals from different colleges, and a veterinary beekeeping course is included. The university will give a hands-on approach using live colonies. Megan Milbrath of the University of Michigan will teach the veterinary portion, with students learning how to identify bee diseases and write veterinary feed directives for honey bees. The veterinary students will also experience commercial honey extraction and other practices.
I was pleased to learn that Dadant and Sons, through their Watertown branch, has supported this course and supplied the training manual “First Lessons in Beekeeping.
Dan Ziehl
Wilton, Wisconsin
