MSU Apiculture Extension Webinars
Upcoming Webinar
Michigan beekeeping: Questions & Answers (JUNE 2020)
Wednesday, June 3rd at 7pm EST
This webinar is intended for all small-scale beekeepers, regardless of whether their colonies are new or overwintered/established. Please submit beekeeping questions by Monday, June 1st of time using the online form.
Past Webinars
Pollinator habitat: making every acre the best it can be
Resources:
- Michigan Pollinator Initiative's list of resources on planting for pollinators
- Project Wingspan
- Let Pollinator Partnership know if you're interested in becoming a Project Wingspan Seed Collection Volunteer by filling out this form! https://tinyurl.com/Wingspan-volunteer.
- To see Pollinator Partnership's list of target plants and sign-up as a Potential Seed Collection Location please fill out the online form here: https://tinyurl.com/PWseedsite
- To learn more about P2's habitat survey and find out if your lands qualify for participation in Project Wingspan, visit this page: https://www.pollinator.org/wingspan/survey
- To discover Pollinator Partnership's many other resources, projects, and programs, check out https://www.pollinator.org/
- Bee Friendly Farming is good for farmers and for pollinators. Find out more at www.pollinator.org/BFF
- Bee and Butterfly Habitat Fund
- Link to Pollinator Habitat Tip videos as well as past webinars that provide more granular details about habitat management. http://www.conservationblueprint.com/videos/
- Link to apply for free pollinator seed mixes through The Bee & Butterfly Habitat Fund: https://beeandbutterflyfund.org/habitat-programs/seed-a-legacy-program
First-Year Colonies: Getting Ready for Bees
Watch the webinar recording of First-Year Colonies: Getting Ready for Bees
Supplemental materials:
- Should You Keep Bees? article
- List of recommended resources for beekeepers
- Video on purchasing bees
- Article on establishing a honey bee colony
- Instructions for lighting a smoker
- Article on feeding honey bees
First-Year Colonies: What to Do When the Bees Arrive
Supplemental materials:
- List of recommended resources for beekeepers
- MSU Extension video on installing a nuc
- MSU Extension video on installing a package
- University of Minnesota video on installing a package
- How to open a plastic bee bus package box video
- University of Minnesota video on inspecting a new colony
- Article on establishing a honey bee colony
- Instructions for lighting a smoker
- Recommendations for maximizing wax production
- Article on feeding honey bees
Established Colonies: Early-Season Management
Supplemental material: MSU Bee Blog (subscribe for updates), especially the Early Spring Management post
Established Colonies: Preparing for Swarm Season
Supplemental material: Swarms: the biology and control of swarms in northern states article
Michigan beekeeping: Questions & Answers (April 2020)
This webinar is intended for all small-scale beekeepers, regardless of whether colonies are new or overwintered/established. Please submit beekeeping questions ahead of time using the online form.
VARROA Webinars
keep bees alive: Why did my bees die?
Supplemental material: Why Did My Bees Die? handout
keep bees alive: understanding varroa risk
Supplemental material: Varroa Mite Monitoring handout
Keep bees alive: making a plan for varroa
Supplemental material: Keeping Your Bees Safe from the Varroa Mite handout