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Promoting Sustainable Beekeeping Practices through local production of nucs (nucleus colonies) and local queen honeybees

Promoting Sustainable Beekeeping Practices through local production of nucs (nucleus colonies) and local queen honeybees

Summary

The Prince William Regional Beekeepers Association (PWRBA) producer SARE project compared hives started from packaged bees to hives started from nucleus colonies (nucs) positively demonstrating higher survival for nuc started hives than package started hives, with survival differences more pronounced in the second year. Education and training resulted in adopting more sustainable beekeeping practices. These centered on utilizing existing colonies to produce sufficient nucs to (1) replace dead hives, (2) increase apiaries, and (3) provide starter hives for new beekeepers and association members instead of relying on commercially produced packaged bees from outside the region. The number of nucs made available to association members in lieu of packaged bees increased dramatically over the course of the project. Queen rearing was successfully initiated.

The Final Report, Appendix A and Appendix B are provided as pdf files in the following links.
Document : FS08-223 Final Report 2011
Document : FS08-223 Appendix A
Document : FS08-223 Appendix B photos

Project Content Page

2011 Final Report

Project Number: FS08-223
Type: Farmer/Rancher Project
Region: South
SARE Grant: $14,736

Coordinator:
Karla Eisen
Secretery
Prince William Regional Beekeepers Association
6311 Catharpin Road
Gainesville, VA 2015
Phone: 703-753-9023
E-mail: PWRBeekeepers@gmail.com
Website: http://www.PWRBeekeepers.com

Participants:
 

Keith Fletcher
SARE Team Leader
Prince William Regional Beekeepers
339 Dalton Drive
Huntsville , AL 35812
Phone: (703)887-6071
E-mail: fatscher@comcast.net

John Strecker
SARE Team Leader
Prince William Regional Beekeepers Association
Birds and Bees Apiary , 8392 Briarmont Lane
Manassas , VA 20112
Phone: (703)335-2789
E-mail: jstrecker@apexcos.com
This project and all associated reports and support materials were supported by the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program, which is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture- National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA). Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed within do not necessarily reflect the view of the SARE program or the U.S. Department of Agriculture. USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.