BeeLines ● June 2016 ● 1

June 2016State Apiarist Dr. Tammy Horn Potter ● Kentucky Department of Agriculture, Ryan F. Quarles, Commissioner

BeeLines

Beekeeper Education:

JULY REMINDERSJULY 1 is the deadline for honey, wax, bee gadgetry, and honey culinary entries to the Kentucky State Fair. Folks who want to sell honey at the Kentucky State Beekeepers Association booth, please email KSBA President Ray Tucker Jr. at ray@solarplacefarm.com.

Also, pay attention to the moisture standards. Last summer was the fourth wettest summer on record, and several entries were automatically disqualified because the moisture was too high.

Pay attention to the category. If you enter honey in the “light honey” category, you may change it to amber when you arrive at the Fair, but you have to request the change. Once it is entered, I cannot change the category.

Since this is the State Fair, I would love to see more entries from around the Commonwealth. If you cannot make the trip to Louisville, your local beekeeper association officer or the local extension agent may make a delivery of association entries if the individual tag is attached to the item. Obviously, if the tag is missing or the item does not show up by the times/days entries are to be received, the State Fair cannot be responsible.

● July 13: Kentucky Pollinator Protection Public Forum, Warren County Cooperative Extension Office. 3132 Nashville Road, Bowling Green. The Forum will run from 7-9 p.m. CDT.

● July 14-16: Heartland Apiculture Society is also in Bowling Green, at Western Kentucky University,

http://www.heartlandbees.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/2016-Registration-Form-050616.pdf

● July 25-29, Eastern Apiculture Society. Galloway, New Jersey. You must be an EAS member to attend the conference. If you are not a member, sign up by going to the Membership page, and register for the conference when your membership is complete.  If you are already a member, you can check and confirm your membership on that membership page and confirm your membership.  There will be an additional $25 late fee for registration after July 10. 

http://www.easternapiculture.org/conferences/ eas-2016/2016-registration.html.

● June 4: Kelley Field Day. 807 W. Main Street, Clarkson, KY 42726. Gary Rueter will be the featured speaker. “Beekeeping for Dummies” will be taught by the author of the Beekeeping for Dummies book, Howland Blackston. Pulled pork BBQ will be provided to all registered customers. Opening speech will start at 8:30 a.m. CDT, and the closing speech will end around 4 p.m.

https://www.kelleybees.com/Shop/1/Hives-Components/ 4622/Field-Day-Registration

● June 4: Kentuckiana Beekeeping Association Field Day. 2-4 p.m. EDT. Chuck Davis, 2907 Blevins Gap Rd., Louisville, 40272.

● June 25: Beyond Beginning Beekeeping. Intermediate beekeeping course, 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. EDT. Lexington. Instructor, Phil Craft. Monitoring and controlling Varroa mites, queen problems, honey bee nutrition, small hive beetle and wax moth control. Limit 40 pre-registered participants.

Contact Phil at philcraftbeekeeping@windstream.net for more info.

Donning a bee jacket, Commissioner Ryan Quarles and State Apiarist Tammy Horn Potter are promoting National Pollinator Week (Jun 20-26) by showcasing diverse bee habitats. Potter holds a mason bee hive, and a bumble bee hive sits on a honey bee hive. (Kyle Kelly photo)

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Requests for Help:Remember: One jar for the State Fair!The Kentucky State Beekeepers Association provides 240 jars of honey donated by Kentucky beekeepers to the Fair’s annual Commodity Breakfast on opening day and the second-Thursday Kentucky Farm Bureau Country Ham Breakfast.

While bottling your honey this summer, please consider bottling an extra jar to donate. You may bring donations to Kelley’s Field Day or the Heartland Apiculture Society.

•The Kentucky Humane Society, Louisville chapter is hosting a Beneficial Insect talk every week from June 16-Aug. 5. The 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. EDT camp takes place at the main campus, 241 Steedly Drive.

There will be a camp garden for the first time this year, with a monarch waystation, nectar flowers, a mason bee house, and other insect houses. 

Several experts are slated to discuss bees and other awesome insects for the children. One more speaker is needed for July 29.  Here are the guidelines:

● Talks can be from 30 to 45 minutes. Anything hands-on keeps the interest of young campers.

● We have a computer, DVD player, and screen if you need it for your presentation.

● We ask presenters to refrain from any graphic discussion of animal abuse and such topics.

● Please share with our campers how they can help and be good ambassadors for your species of expertise. Are there any volunteer opportunities for teens?

Although KHS education manager Valerie Merrifield prefers Fridays, she can be flexible with your schedule.

June 17, Jessica Mayes (honey bees). Bluegrass Beekeepers Association.

June 24, Tammy Horn Potter, 10 a.m. (honey bees). Kentuckiana Beekeepers Association.

July 1, Hannah Helm (monarch butterflies). Wild Ones.July 8, Doug Potter (native bees). Kentucky State

Beekeepers Association.July 15, Jack Kuhn. Capital City Beekeepers

Association.July 22, Hannah Helm (Aldo Leopold’s land ethic). Wild Ones.

July 29 — Speaker needed.Aug. 5, Jessica Pendergrass, 10 a.m. Representing

Kentuckiana Beekeepers Association.Volunteers contact Tammy Horn Potter,, tammy.horn@ky.gov.

Honey needed at new farmers’ marketLori Himmelsbach is organizing a farmers’ market in Anchorage. She would like to find a honey supplier for the organic and responsibly farmed market starting June 4 through October from 8 to 11 a.m. Eastern Time on Saturdays.  She says the $250 season fee is refundable if you don’t find value in the market. 

Phone (502) 494-7012. Profile: louismill.com/anchorage-farmers-market.

President’s LetterThe year is going fast. The Heartland Apiculture meeting July 14-16 will be here before you know it. Many thanks to John Benham, Tom Webster and others who have worked tirelessly to put together a great program in the wonderful venue at WKU.

The State Fair is just around the corner August 18-28. We have yet to have anyone, or any group, step up to manage the honey booth. We are running out of time to figure this out. Please contact me so we may develop a plan that will work.

One person doesn’t have to take on the whole project. It is too big for that. We can break the project into tasks you can do, but you have to let me know you are willing to help. Any advice on the honey booth is welcome. It takes many people to make the work productive and fun.

We have 300 members current on their dues, and another 180 that are behind beginning this year. KSBA will meet at WKU upon adjournment of the Heartland Apiculture Society conference, Saturday afternoon, July 16. Come to Bowling Green and learn about bees and find new friends in beekeeping.

Thanks! Ray Tucker2016 President

Please contact Ray Tucker, (606) 679-5257, or cell (859) 221-1994, if you are interested in managing the Honey Booth this year.

The HASRegistration

form is on page 6.

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By Dr. Tammy Horn Potter

I have heard three chalkbrood outbreak reports this season, one each from eastern, Bluegrass, and northern Kentucky.

Chalkbrood is caused by a fungus. The spores are nearly always present but are not expressed until environmental triggers are present (such as too much or too little rain). These cases do not seem to signal a huge outbreak.

Requeening is the only option, as well as good hive management hygiene such as sterilizing hive tools after working hives, and keeping equipment new. Antibiotics will not work on chalkbrood; don’t waste your time or money.

•I attended the Honey Bee Health Coalition and was impressed with a short film called “The Bee Understanding Project.” It shows how a corn producer and a beekeeper “walk a mile” in each other’s shoes for a day or two.

Those needing an activity for Pollinator Week may screen this 25-minute film without fees. It may also be used at bee association meetings if your speaker is sick or you just want to change up your program.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBsrvJ2-7xY.

• Last November, I reported on FDA efforts to restrict sales of Terramycin and other antibiotics that tend to be overused in agricultural industries. The concern was how these restrictions might impact beekeepers in unintended ways.

State Apiarist’s Report:Three chalkbrood cases reported in Kentucky

State Apiarist’s schedule● June 4: Kelley Field Day.● June 7: Floyd County Beekeepers.● June 8: Kentucky Farm Bureau Southern

Regional Commodity event, Brown Hotel, Louisville.

● June 13: USDA-APHIS collection; Christian County Beekeepers.

● June 14: USDA-APHIS collection.● June 16: Pendleton County Beekeepers.● June 20: USDA-APHIS collection.● June 22: Kentucky Pollinator Protection Plan

meeting, 10 a.m.-noon EDT, 109 Corporate Drive Complex, Frankfort. Zika virus update, focusing on how products impact pollinators.

An update: U.S. Rep. Jason Smith (R-Mo. 8th) introduced H.R. 5140, the VFD Repeal Act. The legislation would repeal the Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD) regulation set to go into effect Jan. 1, 2017. The bill has been referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

The regulation was created without Congressional oversight and would dramatically change the process of receiving and administering antibiotics to livestock as well as altering the relationships among veterinarians, feed suppliers, and farmers.

Chalkbrood cells, left, and at right, the mummies created by the fungal spores and carried out by the workers. (Kelly Lewis photos)

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American Honey Princess Tabitha Mansker will visit the Kentucky State Fair opening day Aug. 18 and will make appearances there through Aug. 24.

If you didn’t meet her in March at the Bluegrass Beekeepers meeting, please come by to say hello at the State Fair Bees and Honey Booth.

During her week at the fair, Tabitha will make appearances throughout the fairgrounds, speaking to fairgoers about the importance of honey bees to daily life, and how honey bee pollination is the foundation of a billion-dollar industry. She will also share information about the many uses for honey, including its healing touch.

Tabitha, who has reigned as 2015 Texas Honey Queen, is the 20-year-old daughter of Gary and Wanda Mansker of Nevada, Texas. She is pursuing studies in business and marketing and hopes to become a teacher. Tabitha stays busy helping to manage her family’s 16 hives of bees and extracting honey for many commercial beekeeping operations.

As the 2016 American Honey Princess, Tabitha serves as a national spokesperson on behalf of the American Beekeeping Federation, a trade organization representing beekeepers and honey producers throughout the United States.

Honey bees are responsible for nearly one-third of our entire diet through the pollination services they

Tabitha Mansker visited State Representative Ken Upchurch of Monticello during the 2016 legislative session.

Conservation Reserve Grassland Program helps enhance grassland for pollinatorsBy Lindsey New, FSA, Somerset, Ky.CRP-Grassland is a voluntary program offered by the Farm Service Agency (FSA) that helps landowners and operators protect grassland.  The current CRP-Grassland period will run through July 29. 

The program emphasizes support for grazing operations and plant and animal biodiversity. Of interest to beekeepers: Participants may receive cost share assistance and annual payments for setting grassland aside to develop pollinator habitat.

Kentucky’s Pollinator Habitat practice involves establishing a cover including three native grasses and nine forbs (wildflowers) on the offered land, with at least three of those species blooming in spring, summer, and fall.

In the first and only ranking period of this new program, applicants for CRP grassland gained points for allowing Pollinator Habitat on the affected land. 

Lindsey New is executive director for USDA’s Farm Service Agency, Somerset Service Center (Pulaski and McCreary counties),

45 Eagle Creek Dr., Ste. 101, Somerset, KY 42503. Email lindsey.new@ky.usda.gov, or phone (606) 678-4842, Ext. 125.

Honey Princess Tabitha Mansker returns for week-long Fair visit

provide for a large majority of fruits, vegetables, nuts and legumes. This amounts to nearly $19 billion per year of direct value from honeybee pollination to U.S. agriculture.

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The following information is taken from the Commercial Food Manufacturing Brochure, parts of which are listed on the Kentucky Department of Agriculture honey bee website, kyagr.com.

As a rule, every manufacturing facility must meet the following requirements: ● Be constructed of smooth, non-absorbent and easily

cleanable materials and be designed to be insect/rodent-proof.

● Be connected to a municipal water source or have a water supply approved by the Division of Water (details follow). Be connected to a municipal sewer or an ap-proved onsite septic system.

● Feature a hand wash sink in the food prep area, utensil wash area, and each restroom.

● Include a three-compartment sink with drain-boards for washing utensils.

● Have a utility/mop sink. ● Have restroom facilities approved by the Kentucky

Division of Plumbing, (502) 573-0397, or http://dhbc.ky.gov/Plb/Pages/default.aspx.

● Please note that construction plans for new or renovated facilities, regardless of retail or wholesale operations, shall be submitted for review through the local health department. An exemption to the Honey House requirements

was created for beekeepers who produce less than 1,800 pounds of honey a year.

House Bill (HB) 400, signed into law and effective since mid-2002, contains specific exemptions for some honey producers. Specifically, the law states that if a person sells less than 150 (one hundred fifty) gallons of honey in a year off the farm, the person is not required to process the honey in a certified honey house or food processing establishment. This exemption is equivalent to less than 1,800 pounds of honey per year.

Apiaries meeting this exemption would still need to comply with Kentucky’s labeling requirements and operate in a safe and sanitary manner. They should also submit their labels to Annhall Norris.

The most current FDA draft guidance on the labeling of honey products: www.fda.gov/food/guidanceregulation/

guidancedocumentsregulatoryinformation/ucm389501.htm.

Email AnnHall.Norris@ky.gov.

Honey building requirements and labels

Beekeepers: Report honey adulteration to Food SafetyMany beekeepers are concerned about honey adulteration. If you have a concern or complaint, please contact the Food Safety Branch of the Kentucky Department for Public Health.

I (Dr. Tammy Horn Potter) cannot accept samples because of the “chain of custody” issues involved.

It is quite difficult to prove adulteration, but the Food Safety Branch can send an inspector to investigate a honey kitchen. The Food Safety Branch works with the FDA on serious cases.

The primary contact person for adulteration issues is Mark Reed, R.S., MPA, MPH, manager of the Food Safety Branch.

Mark Reed, 275 East Main St., Mail Stop: HS1C-F, Frankfort, KY 40621. Phone (502) 564-7181. Email Mark.Reed@ky.gov.

What the label must include● The identity of the product: HONEY ● Net quantity: For honey this is customarily stated in

weight ‒ ounces and grams ‒ not volume.

‒ A one-pound jar label should read Net Wt. 1 lb. (454 g). ‒ A two-pound jar should read Net Wt. 2 lb. (908 g). ‒ A one-pint jar should read Net Wt. 22 ounces (624 g)

or Net Wt. 1.37 lb. (624 g). ‒ A one-quart jar should read Net Wt. 44 ounces (1.2 kg)

or Net Wt. 2.75 lb. (1.2 kg).

● Name of manufacturer: This is your name or your company’s name. If you are bottling honey purchased from another producer, the words “Bottled by”, “Distributed by”, or “Manufactured for” are also required with your name.

● Address of manufacturer: Your complete address, including street address, city, state, and ZIP, are required.AnnHall Norris, Kentucky Department of Food

Safety, reviews honey labels. If you intend to sell honey at the State Fair at the Kentucky State Beekeepers Association booth, you may want to have her review your label to make sure it complies with the state regulations.

Email AnnHall.Norris@ky.gov.

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Fifteenth Annual HEARTLAND APICULTURAL SOCIETY, INC. Conference July 14, 15, 16, 2016

Western Kentucky University – Bowling Green, KY PRE-REGISTRATION

REGISTRATIONS POSTMARKED AFTER JUNE 26, 2016 ARE AT WALK-IN RATES. MAIL-IN REGISTRATION AFTER JUNE 26, 2016 ARE NOT GUARANTEED – call Treasurer to verify.

PRINT NAMES OF ATTENDEES AS YOU WISH FOR THEM TO APPEAR ON THEIR NAME BADGE: NAME Adult Child

FIRST: LAST:

FIRST: LAST:

FIRST: LAST:

FIRST: LAST:

ADDRESS:

CITY: STATE: ZIP:

TELEPHONE: TELEPHONE:

EMAIL ADDRESS:

Registration for children under age 12 is free if accompanied by adult. Please list their names above for name badge(s).

REGISTRATION: Number of Adults By Jun 26 (After June 26 rates)

PARKING: Weds Thurs Fri SUBTOTAL: Indicate number of meal tickets you are purchasing, dinner starts on Wed 13(price is the same for ults/children): MEALS: Number of Meals Price Total Amount

Breakfast (Thu-Sat) x $ 7.00 Lunch (Thu-Sat) x $ 8.00 Dinner (Wed-Fri) x $ 9.00 Ice Cream Social N/C Friday BBQ x $15.00 SUBTOTAL:

DORM ROOM RATES: All rooms are $40 per night. If you wish to split a room, just have one person sign up. (bring your own sheets, pillow, blanket, towels)

Dorm Room x $40.00 SUBTOTAL:

(Registration + Lab Fee +Parking + Meals + Dorms) TOTAL: Make your check payable in US Dollars to H.A.S. and mail to: Heartland Apicultural Society CREDIT CARD: Amex, Visa, Discover or Mastercard 7784 N. Sanctuary Lane Name on card: _________________________________________ Mooresville, IN 46158-6082 Card number: _________________________________________ Attn: Debbie Seib Expiration (MO/YEAR): _____/____ Verification Code: _______

Thursday only Friday only Saturday only Full Conference Lab Fee (special class) Queen Rearing (first 50 only)

x $35.00 x $35.00 x $35.00 x $80.00 x $20.00 N/C

x $ 50.00 x $ 50.00 x $ 50.00 x $130.00 N/A N/C

Indicate number of meal tickets you are purchasing, dinner starts on Wed 13(price is the same for adults/children):

(Circle days you will need a parking permit. $1 per day) PARKING:

Wed Eve Thur eve Fri. eve