MSU Apiculture Extension Webinars
Upcoming WebinarS
To get updates of upcoming webinars, sign up for MSU's Pollinators and Pollination Event's Newsletter.
Past webinars
Michigan Beekeeping Q&A Webinar 10/29/2020
Thursday, October 29th at 7pm Eastern
The MSU Apiculture Team will host a questions and answers webinar for Michigan beekeepers. You must register in advance for the webinar. Please note that the registration process has changed from previous webinars. You may submit beekeeping questions prior to the webinar using our online form.
Resources
- eXtension Ask an Expert: for asking questions about beekeeping, home gardening, etc.
- Webinars: webpage and Michigan State University Beekeeping YouTube channel
- Heroes to Hives: MSU Extension beekeeping program for military veterans, active duty, and dependents
- Pollinator Champions: online course about pollinators
- Facebook pages
- Beekeeping Education and Support Fund: Crowd funding campaign for MSU apiculture programs
- Adopt-A-Bee: fundraiser for MSU Extension Apiculture programming that will send someone you choose a postcard and letter
- American Honey Producers Association Video Conference, December 3rd & 4th, 2020
- Two Bees in a Podcast: beekeeping podcast from the University of Florida Honey Bee Research and Extension Lab
- List of Recommended Resources for Beekeepers from MSU Extension Apiculture Team
- Varroa related resources
- Oxalic acid label (for the dribble method, scroll down to "solution method")
- What Robbing Looks Like blog post from Bee Informed Partnership
Michigan Beekeepers' Association Virtual Conference 10/17/2020
Resources:
- eXtension Ask an Expert: for asking questions about beekeeping, home gardening, etc.
- MSU press release about apiculture positions
- Beekeeping Education and Support Fund: Crowd funding campaign for MSU apiculture programs
- Webinars: webpage and Michigan State University Beekeeping YouTube channel
- Heroes to Hives: MSU Extension beekeeping program for military veterans, active duty, and dependents
- Michigan Managed Pollinator Protection Plan
- Bee Aware brochure about pesticide use for home gardens
- Pollinator Champions: online course about pollinators
- Michigan Beekeeping Rules & Regulations
- Gardening for Pollinators: SMART Gardening for Pollinators, pollinator gardens
- Michigan State University Beekeeping Facebook Page
- Michigan Pollinator Initiative Facebook Page
- Heroes to Hives Facebook Page
- MSU Extension Resources: MSU Product Center, Farm Management, Farm Stress, SMART Gardening
- How You Can Help: citizen science projects, donate
Michigan Beekeeping Q&A Webinar 9/30/2020
Watch an unedited version of the webinar on our Facebook page (you will have to wait or skip ahead to find the point at which the webinar begins).
Resources:
- MSU Apiculture Resources:
- Ask a beekeeping question through eXtension Ask an Expert
- Resources for Beekeepers
- Facebook pages:
- MSU Bee Blog
- Pollinator Champions Course
- Virtual conferences:
- USDA Virtual Field Day, RESCEHDULED to Saturday, October 17th, 9am-12pm CST (10am-1pm EST)
- Hosted by USDA Honey Bee Lab and Louisiana Beekeepers Association
- No registration is required, simply join by using the Zoom link or Zoom meeting ID: 836 0388 0984 Passcode: honeybee. (Please note that the Zoom link and Zoom meeting ID changed when the event was rescheduled. The link and ID posted are for the new 10/17 date.)
- COLOSS Honey Bee Research Association eConference, October 12th & 13th, 2020
- The public can participate without registering for the conference by simply visiting the COLOSS Facebook Page on Monday, October 12th beginning at 9am Eastern to view a live video stream and have the opportunity to pose questions via the comment section.
- Michigan Beekeepers' Association (MBA) Fall Conference, October 17th & 18th, 2020
- Registration is only open to MBA members
- Registration is free to MBA members
- American Honey Producers Association Video Conference, December 3rd & 4th, 2020
- USDA Virtual Field Day, RESCEHDULED to Saturday, October 17th, 9am-12pm CST (10am-1pm EST)
- Fall beekeeping management:
- Single vs. double deep brood chambers
DETROIT IS THE PLACE TO BEE!
Ever wonder who is pollinating the fruits and veggies on urban farms? What bees visit the flowers in our cities? MSU and Detroit Hives invite you to learn about the bees that thrive in the city. Sarah Scott from OSU will give an overview of the bees you are likely to find in your garden, what roles these bees play in pollination and food production, and how to encourage more to move into your neighborhood. Dr. Kelsey Graham will highlight the wool carder bee - a unique pollinator with some crazy antics. Join us as we get to know the bees that thrive in the city!
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 Webinars
These webinars were intended for all small-scale beekeepers, regardless of whether their colonies are new or overwintered/established.
Recording from Q&A webinar held on June 3rd, 2020
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