Upcoming Classes
Why do honeybees need our help? Why are bees so important for gardens? What does it take to become a beekeeper? Get answers to these and other bee questions and find out if becoming a beekeeper is right for you.
Instructor: JoAnne Sabin. Location: 1780 7 th Street West St. Paul, MN 55116 Read MoreWhy not rear your own queens? The University of Minnesota Successful Queen Rearing Short Course teaches one method of rearing queens that works consistently for both hobby and commercial beekeepers. Topics covered include queen and drone biology, timing of queen rearing in northern climates, stock selection and breeding for hygienic behavior, setting up mating yards, and record keeping. Everyone will have a chance to try their hand at grafting larvae and raising their own queens. A unique feature of the course is the section on queen rearing equipment designs that will allow you to build your own!
Learn about:
- Introduction to Queen Rearing
- Biology of Queens
- Equipment Used
- Record Keeping
- Choosing Breeder Stock
- Drones
- Commercial Queen Production
- Preparing Finishing Colony
- Preparing Swarm Box
- Grafting (hands on)
- Alternative Methods
- Procedure from Egg to Queen
- Queen Mating
- Practicing what you have learned
- Marking Queens
The cost for the 2-1/2 day course includes Successful Queen Rearing manual, Honey Bee Diseases and Pests manual, lunch, and refreshments. Those attending the course receive a professional video (DVD) demonstrating the queen rearing techniques.
This course is for anyone interested in learning how to raise queens who has at least one year of beekeeping experience.
This class is limited to 32 people. Registration is first come first served.
1. Explain your reason for taking this course, including why you want to raise queens.
2. How many colonies do you maintain?
Instructors:
Marla Spivak, Professor, Department of Entomology, University of Minnesota
Gary Reuter, Apiculture Technician, Department of Entomology, University of Minnesota
Discover everything you need to know to start your own apiary and take care of your bees year-round with JoAnne Sabin of the Minnesota Hobby Beekeepers Association and Honey Bee Club of Stillwater. Learn honeybee biology and behavior, equipment and desired apiary location characteristics, hive management for year 1 and year 2, (including package or nuc installation, feeding, colony inspections, swarm prevention, disease, pests, mite management, reversals, splits, winter prep, and spring care of survivor colonies), and how to harvest honey.
This is a 9-hour course, consisting of three consecutive Wednesday night sessions. Each class is held from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm. The price includes all three sessions.
Activity number 211301-01 The registration website will become active closer to the class date.
Read MoreDiscover everything you need to know to start your own apiary and take care of your bees year-round with JoAnne Sabin of the Minnesota Hobby Beekeepers Association and Honey Bee Club of Stillwater. Learn honeybee biology and behavior, equipment and desired apiary location characteristics, hive management for year 1 and year 2, (including package or nuc installation, feeding, colony inspections, swarm prevention, disease, pests, mite management, reversals, splits, winter prep, and spring care of survivor colonies), and how to harvest honey.
This is a 9-hour course, consisting of three consecutive Wednesday night sessions. Each class is held from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm. The price includes all three sessions.
Activity number 211301-01 The registration website will become active closer to the class date.
Read More
Discover everything you need to know to start your own apiary and take care of your bees year-round with JoAnne Sabin of the Minnesota Hobby Beekeepers Association and Honey Bee Club of Stillwater. Learn honeybee biology and behavior, equipment and desired apiary location characteristics, hive management for year 1 and year 2, (including package or nuc installation, feeding, colony inspections, swarm prevention, disease, pests, mite management, reversals, splits, winter prep, and spring care of survivor colonies), and how to harvest honey.
This is a 9-hour course, consisting of three consecutive Wednesday night sessions. Each class is held from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm. The price includes all three sessions.
Activity number 211301-01 The registration website will become active closer to the class date.
Read More