Take the mystery out of beehive inspections during a UMES Extension workshop May 17 from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at the UMES Research, Extension and Teaching Farm in Princess Anne.
Led by Stephen Goewey, beekeeper and apiary program assistant at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, the goal of the session is to “equip beekeepers with the skills to assess colony health and make informed management decisions.”
A classroom portion of the day will cover identifying signs of colony health, recognizing common pests and diseases, proper recordkeeping and how to determine when interventions are necessary — skills perfect for beginners, Goewey said.
“Weather permitting, participants will suit up and visit the Langstroth hives in our apiary to put what they’ve learned into practice, including handling frames, identifying different types of broods, locating the queen (indicated at left by blue dot) and assessing the condition of the colony.”
Resource materials will be distributed, including a disease and pest identification guide, a seasonal management calendar, and a decision tree for Zone 7a encompassing weather and temperature for the Eastern Shore of Maryland.
“Whether you’re a first-year beekeeper looking to build confidence or have some experience, but want to refine your skills, this workshop will enhance your ability to read your hives and make better management decisions,” Goewey said.
Pre-registration is required. The cost is $25 per person and includes lunch.
Gail Stephens, agricultural communications, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, School of Agricultural and Natural Sciences, UMES Extension, gcstephens@umes.edu, 410-621-3850.
Photos by Todd Dudek, agricultural communications, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, School of Agricultural and Natural Sciences, UMES Extension, tdudek@umes.edu.
