News and Events

August BeeLines Newsletter The August 2020 BeeLines Newsletter is available from the Kentucky Department of Agriculture Office of State Veterinarian. Information in this edition: Newest Master Beekeeper in Kentucky 2020 Kentucky State Fair Update Virtual Education Opportunities Eastern Apiculture Society (EAS) New Board Member Texas A&M University Pollen Analysis North American Mite-a-thon Cornell University study of […]

June BeeLines Newsletter The June 2020 BeeLines Newsletter is available from the Kentucky Department of Agriculture Office of State Veterinarian. Information in this edition: State Fair COVID-19 Proposal Asian giant hornet KSBA Summer Meeting American and European foulbrood Autoclave status Fight impure and foreign honey Honey barbecue sauce KSU queen-rearing classes KDA pesticide inspectors honey bee […]

May BeeLines Newsletter The May 2020 BeeLines Newsletter is available from the Kentucky Department of Agriculture Office of State Veterinarian. Information in this edition: Greater Wax Moth Treatment Working Bees with Injured Back Honey Bread Recipe NASS 2020 Honey Report improve Winter Survival Rates Four-legged Groundskeepers Comment to EPA on Neonics Online Museum Exhibit Tour North […]

Local Association Presidents and designated officers are invited to join the KSBA Board of Directors and Officers to attend the Kentucky State Beekeepers Association special Executive Board video teleconference meeting on Saturday, May 30, 2020 at 7 PM eastern time. Guests are invited to watch the live stream of the meeting. Agenda will include: Call […]

New ELAP Rule & What It Means for BeekeepersAmy Mitchell, Special Programs Manager, USDA Farm Service Agency explains changes in the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees, and Farm-raised Fish (ELAP)This presentation covers: Removal of the ELAP program from the $125,000 payment limitation. Reimbursement of 90 percent of the cost of losses for socially disadvantaged, […]

The April BeeLines newsletter is available from the Kentucky Department of Agriculture Office of State Veterinarian. Information in this edition: KSBA Activity Updates Swarm Notes Beltsville Bee Lab State Fair ribbon-winning honey recipe Kentucky pollinator plate Nematode worms bio-control for small hive beetles Indoor overwintering: A step to combat Varroa Calling all Kentucky beekeepers: FREE honey […]

KSBA Executive Board Meeting Reminder and Location Change On March 27, 2020 at 6:00 PM KSBA will convene the Executive Board Meeting for all Local Association Presidents or designated attendees at the Hardin County Cooperative Extension Service, 111 Opportunity Way, Elizabethtown, KY 42701 The meeting will not be held at the Comfort Inn as previously […]

The March BeeLines newsletter is available from the Kentucky Department of Agriculture Office of State Veterinarian. Hi all: Attached is the March 2020 Beelines.  The earliest swarm reported to me as State Apiarist was March 4, 2017, so I use that as a benchmark for the earliest time that hives swarm in KY.  The scout […]

The February BeeLines newsletter is available from the Kentucky Department of Agriculture Office of State Veterinarian. Hi all: With unusually warm temps this weekend, you may want to make sure that your hives have honey. If you have to feed, fondant is the better option this time of year. We still have plenty of winter […]

The January BeeLines newsletter is available from the Kentucky Department of Agriculture Office of State Veterinarian. Information in this edition: Jan 2, 2020 deadline for Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP) Berea College 85th affiliate of the Bee Campus USA Natasha Cummins, Dadant and Sons Frankfort Manager Winter Events Eastern Missouri […]

The December BeeLines newsletter is available from the Kentucky Department of Agriculture Office of State Veterinarian. Information in this edition: 2020 KSBA Officers 2019 Beekeeper of the Year Winter Events Honey Pecan Slice Cookies Winning Recipe Agricultural Committee Legislators Eastern Apicultural Society Research Grants Bee Informed Partnership Data Kentucky Queen Bee Breeders November Meeting Beekeepers of […]

The Kentucky State Beekeepers Association is in need of a volunteer to act as Legislative Agent for the association. The agent monitors any actions pending in the Kentucky General Assembly that could impact beekeepers and keeps the KSBA informed. On occasions, the agent may contact legislators to seek legislative action or insure that legislators are […]

You are invited… The Kentucky State Beekeepers Association in cooperation with the Bullitt County Beekeepers will hold the KSBA fall meeting and bee school on November 9, 2019 at the Bullitt County High School, 1330 Ky-44 Shepherdsville, Ky 40165 Also, KSBA Executive Board Meeting will be held on Friday, November 8, 6:00pm at the Holiday Inn […]

The November BeeLines newsletter is available from the Kentucky Department of Agriculture Office of State Veterinarian. Information in this edition: KSU autoclave at KSBA fall meeting KSBA fall meeting agenda Winter hive prep checklist Honey apple pie USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) risk management program Fall/winter events calendar Henderson pollinator group KDA-KFW pollinator protector group at […]

The October BeeLines newsletter is available from the Kentucky Department of Agriculture Office of State Veterinarian. Information in this edition: KSBA Board Meeting and Fall Bee School Kentucky Pollinator Stakeholders Meeting UK hivekeeper, James Harrison 2019 State Fair Honey Booth Report KSBA Fall Financial Update Honey Pecan Baklava Fall/Winter News and Events And more!

The September BeeLines newsletter is available from the Kentucky Department of Agriculture Office of State Veterinarian. Information in this edition: 2019 Beekeeper of the Year Nominations American Foulbrood and European Foulbrood 2019 Mite-A-Thon Kentucky State Fair Sue Bee Honey Carrot Cake Kentucky Queen Bee Breeders Association (KQBBA) September Events And more!

The August BeeLines newsletter is available from the Kentucky Department of Agriculture Office of State Veterinarian. Information in this edition: State Fair Honey Booth Guidelines Kentucky State Fair Honey Show August Events Kentucky Honey Testing Laboratory And more!

The July BeeLines newsletter is available from the Kentucky Department of Agriculture Office of State Veterinarian. Information in this edition: Kentucky Certified Honey Program Volunteers Needed at Kentucky State Fair Honey Booth Beekeeper Schools, Workshops, and Conferences Hemp Cultivation and Honeybees Beekeeper Magazine Seeking Article Contributors EPA and Neonic Pesticides And more!

The May BeeLines newsletter published by Kentucky Department of Agriculture Office of State Veterinarian. Information in this edition: KY State Fair Volunteers Needed! 2019 National Colony Loss and Management Survey KY State Fair Bees and Honey Competition KY Queen Bee Breeders Association Grants KSBA Summer Meeting Hands-on Learning at Lake Barkley Bee School Hannah Sjostrom, 2019 Honey […]

Visit HeartlandBees.org today to register for the Heartland Apicultural Society conference, Monday, July 8 – Wednesday, July 10, 2019 on the campus of Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, Kentucky. HAS 2019 welcomes speakers from across the country, bringing the latest research as well as practical advice for beekeepers of all skill levels.

An Integrated Management Strategy to Prevent Outbreaks and Eliminate Infection Pressure of American Foulbrood Disease in a Commercial Beekeeping Operation The bacterial disease American Foulbrood (AFB), caused by the Gram-positive bacterium Paenibacillus larvae, is considered the most contagious and destructive infectious disease affecting honeybees world-wide. The resilient nature of P. larvae bacterial spores presents a […]

The April BeeLines newsletter published by Kentucky Department of Agriculture Office of State Veterinarian. Information in this edition: KSBA Certified Honey Producer Program Manager Selection Swarming Season April Beekeeper Education Opportunities Buyer bee-ware Purchasing Nucs High Tech Tools Track Stolen Beehives Honeybee Survival Research BEELINES-APRIL-2019

The March BeeLines newsletter published by Kentucky Department of Agriculture Office of State Veterinarian. Information in this edition: Kentucky State Beekeeping Association Spring Meeting Hardin County Beekeeping Association Bee School American Foulbrood Bio-Breakthrough Honey Princess at the Bluegrass Beekeeping School March Beekeeping Schools No-cost Pollinator Projects in Madison County Schools 4-H Bee Ambassador Program Open Position for KSBA […]

The Ohio County Beekeepers will be hosting a bee school from 9:00am to 4:00 pm CT on March 23, 2019 at the Ohio County Extension Office (1337 Clay Street, Hartford, KY 42347). The cost to attend will be $15 per person or $20 per couple. Lunch will be provided To reserve your spot and pre-pay […]

The February BeeLines newsletter published by Kentucky Department of Agriculture Office of State Veterinarian. Information in this edition: Kentucky Agricultural Development Board (KADB) project grants Kentucky Agricultural Finance Corporation (KAFC) farm financing Farm Service Agency (FSA) Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) colony reporting deadline Kentucky State Beekeepers Association (KSBA) Certified Honey Program Manager/Director open job position Beekeeper Education opportunities in […]

The February EXTRA BeeLines newsletter published by Kentucky Department of Agriculture Office of State Veterinarian. It includes information about beekeeper education deadlines and meeting dates in February.

Honey Bee Health Coalition releases two new resources to help beekeepers make informed hive management decisions An expert team of beekeepers, entomologists, extension and regulatory agents, bee suppliers and apiary inspectors produced and reviewed Best Management Practices for Hive Health: A Guide for Beekeepers, which is available for free download. The Coalition also launched a free, mobile-friendly […]

Washington County Beekeepers will be holding a hands on “Build Your Bee Yard” bee school. Saturday, March 9, 2019 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM Washington County Extension Office 245 Corporate Drive, Springfield, KY A variety of sessions will provide both information and practical hands on experience for both new and experienced beekeepers.  The cost of the […]

Clark County Extension Office announces the 2019 Eastern Bluegrass Bee School Clark County Extension Office Saturday, February 16, 2019 8:00 AM to 4:00PM RSVP by calling (859) 744-4682

Allen County Beekeepers Association announces the 2019 South Central Kentucky Bee School schedule. February 2, 2019 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM Scottsville High School 570 Oliver Street Scottsville Ky Topics include: Observation Hives Integrated Pest Management Buying and Installing Honey Bees, Getting Started Pollen Collection Equipment Assembly Basics Queen Rearing 101 & 201 Second Year Hive […]

Audubon Beekeepers Association announces their 2019 Bee School Saturday March 2, 2019 Henderson County Co-op Extension Expo Center 3341 Zion Rd, Henderson KY 42420 For more information check out website http://www.audubonbeekeepersassociation.com or call Larry Stone 270 339-7245 or Jan Powell 270 860-2942

By: : Renee Yetter You are invited to the Southeastern Kentucky Bee School on Saturday, February 2, 2019 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Whitley County High School (350 Blvd. of Champions, Williamsburg, KY 40769). Bee School is for everyone interested in beekeeping, with beginner classes for new beekeepers who have yet to […]

By: Ralph C. (Buddy) May Jr., EAS President Please “Save the Date” on your calendar for the Eastern Apicultural Society’s 2019 Conference scheduled on July 15-19, 2019 in Greenville, South Carolina! Our list of Keynote Speakers include: Dr. Dewey Caron, Dr. Dennis vanEngelsdorp, Dr. Kirsten Traynor, Dr. Geoff Williams, Dr. Meghan Milbrath, Jennifer Berry, and […]

10th Annual Northeastern Kentucky Beekeeping School When: February 23, 2019 Where: Maysville Community & Technical College, 1755 US-68 BUS, Maysville, KY 41056 Flier and pre-registration form $20.00 to pre-register or $25.00 at the door, $7.50 for kids 12 & under Save $5.00 off adult admission by pre-registering. Doors open at 8:00am, opening remarks begin at […]

The Eastern Kentucky Winter Bee School will be held at the Perry County Central High School (305 Park Avenue, Hazard, KY) on January 19 from 8:00 am – 3:30 pm ET. Please note the new location for this year. The keynote speakers are Dr. Jen O’Keefe and Dr. Deborah Davis. They will be discussing honey analysis. […]

By: Barry Richards After considering another site, the Heartland Apicultural Society has committed to meeting on the campus of Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, Kentucky, Monday through Wednesday, July 8-10, 2019. The WKU campus was host to HAS in 2016. Almost all HAS classes, along with vendors, and dining, are held in the Downing […]

The December edition of the BeeLines newsletter is available online. It includes information about Mann Lake, Kelleys, and Brushy Mountain, the KSBA Beekeepers of the Year and 2019 KSBA Officers, free honey label reviews, upcoming educational events, the State Apiarist’s schedule, and much more. Past BeeLine newsletters can be downloaded from the Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s […]

The November edition of the BeeLines newsletter is available online. It includes information about the results of the 2017-2018 USDA Honey Bee Health Survey in Kentucky, the State Apiarist’s schedule, funding opportunities for bee schools and implementing educational curriculum, insurance, and much more. Past BeeLine newsletters can be downloaded from the Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s website (current […]

By: Shannon Trimboli Many local bee clubs and other organizations are beginning to plan their 2019 bee schools and beekeeping workshops. The Kentucky State Beekeepers Association is happy to include these events on our calendar and help promote them by posting information about the schools on our website and Facebook page, as well as sending […]

The October edition of the BeeLines newsletter is available online. It includes information about changes to the proposed FDA “added sugar” labeling requirement, the State Apiarist’s schedule, stories about two of the State Fair winners, upcoming deadlines for beekeeper protection programs, and much more. Past BeeLine newsletters can be downloaded from the Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s […]

By: Lindsey New, Pulaski/McCreary Co. FSA Office The Farm Service Agency (FSA) offers yield protection for honey producers through its Noninsurable Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP). NAP is like crop insurance for honey yield, said Lindsey New, executive director, of the FSA Pulaski/McCreary County office. It is designed to reduce financial losses that occur when […]

By: Shannon Trimboli The new Kentucky State Beekeepers Association (KSBA) membership forms for 2019 have been uploaded to the KSBA website’s membership page. KSBA’s annual membership continues to be $15 per family. For the second year, you can join and pay online or download a fillable pdf form that you can print and mail with a […]

By: Tammy Potter The Kentucky Department of Agriculture (KDA) is collecting information on honey crops in the Commonwealth, as required by state law. To participate, please file a report including: the beekeeper’s name, county, number of hives, pounds of honey produced by Oct. 1, 2017, and total colonies as of Oct. 1. General definitions: Hobbyist, […]

By: Shannon Trimboli I just found out that the Whole Kids foundation in partnership with the Bee Cause Project is accepting grant applications to support an educational hive for a K-12 school or non-profit organization. The application deadline is October 15, 2018. An optional informational webinar about the grant will be held on October 3, […]

The September edition of the BeeLines newsletter is available online. It includes information about September being proclaimed as Kentucky Honey Month, highlights of the State Fair, the State Apiarist’s schedule, our newest Master Beekeeper, and much more. Past BeeLine newsletters can be downloaded from the Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s website (current year only) or from the KSBA […]

By: Tammy Horn Potter Please save the date for Nov. 3rd, Fall KSBA meeting in Shepherdsville. Our honored speaker will be Dr. Jim Tew (Ohio State, ret.), who will be discussing strategies for overwintering bees. Dr. Tew is a beloved beekeeper, speaker and researcher and it is a real treat to have him close out […]

Kayla Fusselman, the 2018 American Honey Queen, participated in the Honey Booth at this year’s State Fair. Afterwards, she sent the following hand-written thank you note expressing her appreciation to the Kentucky State Beekeepers Association for hosting her.

By: Shannon Trimboli Congratulations to John Benham for becoming Kentucky’s third EAS Certified Master Beekeeper. The other two Master Beekeepers in the state are Kent Williams (2003) and Matt Wilson (2014). According to the Eastern Apicultural Society’s website, “The purpose of the Master Beekeeper certification program is to identify and certify people who have a […]

Greetings Fellow KSBA members, It is time to nominate some of our outstanding members for KSBA Beekeeper of the year. For 2018, the nomination period will be September 1st thru October 1st . Please absolutely no late nomination can be accepted. The official voting will be done by the past 15 to 20 KSBA Beekeepers of […]

By: Pollinator Partnership Mite-A-Thon is a tri-national effort to collect mite infestation data and to visualize Varroa infestations in honey bee colonies across North America within a one week window. All beekeepers can participate, creating a rich distribution of sampling sites in Canada, the United States, and Mexico. Their Varroa monitoring data will be uploaded […]

The August edition of the BeeLines newsletter is available online. It includes information about the State Fair, the new Certified Kentucky Honey label, HAS and more. Past BeeLine newsletters can be downloaded from the Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s website (current year only) or from the KSBA Educational Resources for Beekeepers webpage  (back to Feb. 2015).

Below is the schedule for associations working the Honey Booth at the State Fair. Thursday, Aug. 16: Bluegrass Beekeepers Association. Friday, Aug. 17: Bluegrass Beekeepers Association. Saturday, Aug. 18: Oldham County Beekeepers Association. Sunday, Aug. 19: Shelby County Beekeepers Association. Monday, Aug. 20: Allen County Beekeepers Association. Tuesday, Aug. 21 (morning): Capitol City Beekeepers Association. Tuesday, […]

The Kentucky State Beekeepers Association (KSBA) board has stipulated that all honey sold at the Kentucky State Fair Honey Booth must be produced by Kentucky beekeepers and harvested from Kentucky honey bees as per the new “Certified Kentucky Honey” program. Labeling Avoid the word “monofloral.” If you designate your honey as a monofloral, and label […]

Beekeepers in Bullitt County have decided to form the Bullitt County Beekeepers Association. The meetings will be held at the Bullitt County Extension Office (384 Halls Ln, Shepherdsville, Ky 40165) on the second Wednesday of each month. The first official meeting of the Bullitt County Beekeepers Association will be August 8 at 7:00 pm. Everyone […]

By: David Shockey The Kentucky Certified Honey Program is an official marketing program of the Kentucky State Beekeepers Association (KSBA). The goals of the program are twofold: first, to promote local honey that is produced by the beekeepers of the KSBA and is a genuine product of the State; second, to connect the local beekeepers […]

The July edition of the BeeLines newsletter is available online. It includes information about upcoming education events, the State Apiarist’s report, information about the state fair, an update on the June Pollinator Protection Plan Meeting, and much more. Past BeeLine newsletters can be downloaded from the Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s website (current year only) or from the […]

By: American Honey Queen Program Kayla Fusselman, the 2018 American Honey Queen, will visit Louisville, KY August 16-22. She will make appearances at the Kentucky State Fair during her stay, speaking to fairgoers about the importance of honeybees to the public’s daily lives and how honeybee pollination directly shapes our livelihood. She will also share […]

By: Tammy Horn Potter For administrative and economic reasons, the Kentucky Department of Agriculture (KDA) collects information on beekeepers and hives within the Commonwealth, in accordance with state law. The KDA needs an inventory of beekeepers and hive counts by county to accomplish this. Your voluntary help is greatly appreciated. Please email, fax, or mail […]

The July 15 reporting deadline is almost here to annually report your number of honey bee colonies on form FSA-578. Those in the NAP or ELAP disaster relief programs filed their required reports last January, but if you are not enrolled in NAP or applying for ELAP, your report is due by July 15.

By: Bee Informed Partnership As beekeepers, we all love to talk about bees and why we love what we do. Most surveys focus on the bees themselves, but for this one, we are interested in YOU! BIP is working with social scientists at the University of Minnesota to understand more about who beekeepers are, beekeeping […]

Vendors planning to be part of the fall conference of the Kentucky State Beekeepers Association (KSBA) on Nov. 3 must quickly handle some newly discovered late-breaking requirements that potential vendors provide advance proof of their liability insurance within the next couple of weeks. Mike Mabry KSBA vice president, says vendors must have a Certificate of […]

The June edition of the BeeLines newsletter is available online. It includes information about upcoming education events, the State Apiarist’s report, information about the state fair, a good article about keeping bees in cities and subdivisions, the first call to participate in the Kentucky Department of Ag’s annual hive count, and much more. Past BeeLine newsletters […]

Once again, the Kentucky State Beekeepers Association (KSBA) will be selling honey at the Honey Booth at the State Fair. You must be a current member of KSBA to sell your honey. Memberships can be renewed at the State Fair or online. Prices will remain the same as last year. All honey for sale must be […]

By: Shannon Trimboli In March, we started a survey asking people to report the first swarms they saw in each county this year. Twenty-four swarms were reported this year compared to forty-four when we did the same survey last year. Thank you to the all those who submitted data. The map shows the week in […]

To opt out of the Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s mosquito spraying program (because of your nearby hives), send an email and join the list maintained by Tammy Robinson of the KDA Environmental Services Division. Email ag.web@ky.gov witih “beekeeper opt-out” in the subject line.

June 18-24 is National Pollinator’s Week. National Pollinator Week was established to raise awareness of pollinators and their population declines. More information about National Pollinator Week can be found at http://pollinator.org/pollinatorweek/.

The deadline for submitting entry forms for the State Fair is July 2. All entries must be received at the State Fair on Sunday, August 12, from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. or Monday, August 13, from 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. The entries must be picked up on Sunday, August 26, from 6:00-7:30 p.m. or […]

By: David Shockey Kentucky State Beekeepers Association Summer Board Meeting Kelley Bees Office Building Clarkson, KY 5:30 PM, June 2, 2018 Meeting was called to order by Jake Osborne, President Attendees: David Shockey Hardin Co. Joe Taylor Grayson Co. Rick Sutton Lancaster, KY Randy Roberts Madison Co. Ted Caldwell Green River Beekeepers H D Overholt […]

By: The Honey Bee Health Coalition The Honey Bee Health Coalition, a diverse group of nearly 50 organizations working to support honey bee and pollinator health, urged continued cross-sector collaboration following the release of a national survey showing 40 percent of managed honey bee colonies in the United States were lost between April 1, 2017 […]

This residential academic camp will cover all the topics a new beekeeper needs to know to start keeping bees and it is a lot of fun. We accept campers age 10 through adults for this 5-day intergenerational camp. Parents are encouraged to attend with their young beekeepers. Camp is held on campus at the Clay […]

By: Shannon Trimboli In January, I started a KSBA poll asking everyone to report when you saw the first pollen coming into your hive. Thirteen people took the time to respond and their results are below. I apologize for not posting the results sooner, but April and May were crazy busy and other things had […]

The May edition of the BeeLines newsletter is available online. It includes information about upcoming education events, the State Apiarist’s report, information about the state fair, tips for dealing with small hive beetles and laying workers, an exciting collaboration between an area beekeeper and local students, and much more. Past BeeLine newsletters can be downloaded from […]

Happy World Bee Day from the Kentucky State Beekeepers Association!

By: Shannon Trimboli March and April have been busy months for Kentucky beekeepers. They have been in the news several times for hosting successful beekeeping schools, being part of national-level beekeeping projects, and just talking beekeeping in general. Below are the links that I have been sent of media featuring beekeepers in Kentucky and their […]

The April edition of the BeeLines newsletter is available online. It includes information about upcoming education events, the KSBA spring meeting, the State Apiarist’s report, resources from the Honey Bee Health Coalition, and much more. Past BeeLine newsletters can be downloaded from the Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s website (current year only) or from the KSBA Educational Resources […]

Kentucky State Beekeepers Association Spring Meeting, March 17, 2018 by: David Shockey, KSBA secretary Business/Board Meeting was held on evening of Friday, March 16, 2018 at the Comfort Inn in London, KY. Those in attendance: Patrick Stallons, Pennyrile Brad Hodges, Pennyrile David Shockey, Hardin & Grayson Jake Osborne, Davis John Benham, Mammoth Cave Shannon Trimboli, […]

Kentucky State Beekeepers Association Spring Meeting March 17, 2018 Co Extension Office London KY By: David Shockey, KSBA Secretary Welcome of Members: President, Jake Osborne welcomed everyone and opened the meeting. There was approximately 20 folks in attendance. In the interest of time, Jake recommended that the meeting start off with the first guest speaker. […]

Tammy Horn Potter, our state apiarist, recently joined the Project Apis m. (PAm) Board of Directors. The mission of PAm is to fund and direct research to enhance the health and vitality of honey bee colonies while improving crop production. You can read more at: http://www.beeculture.com/catch-the-buzz-read-the-march-issue-of-project-apis-m-newsletter-and-meet-tammy-horn-potter/?.

Dear Beekeepers, As you may know, the Honey Bee Health Coalition was formed in June 2014 to collaboratively implement solutions to support healthy honey bees. The Coalition includes beekeepers, crop producers, agribusinesses, food companies, NGOs, agencies and more working together as an agricultural community to improve bee health. Recognizing the multifactorial nature of bee health […]

Dear Beekeeper, It’s April! That means April Fool’s, Easter, rainy weather, and the BIP Colony Loss & Management Survey! We know it’s one of the busiest times of the year for you – you’re out catching swarms, picking up packages, and planning your next steps in the bee yard – but we hope that you […]

The March edition of the BeeLines newsletter is available online. It includes information about upcoming education events, swarms, the State Apiarist’s report, honey labeling, scholarships, and much more. Past BeeLine newsletters can be downloaded from the Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s website (current year only) or from the KSBA Educational Resources for Beekeepers webpage (back to Feb. 2015).

In last month’s poll, I asked two questions. What are the 1-3 beekeeping books that every beginner should read? What are the 1-3 beekeeping books that every advanced beekeeper should have on their bookshelf? Two people, both of whom have over 5 years of experience keeping bees, responded. Their answers are below. Thank you to […]

By: Eastern Apiculture Society This scholarship, sponsored by Mann Lake Ltd. and created and administered by the EAS Master Beekeepers, was established to encourage a worthy young individual to pursue an interest in honey bees and beekeeping. The Scholarship will provide financial assistance for the selected candidate to attend an annual EAS conference. In addition […]

Hi Everyone, Last year I started these surveys as a way to share information and get to know each other a little better. The very first survey we did was about tracking the first swarms of 2017. Everyone seemed to enjoy that survey, so let’s do it again this year. Mark the week in which […]

By: George Fowler, KSBA Legislative Agent On March 7, Kentucky legislators participating in the Kentucky Farm Bureau Federation’s “Food Check-Out Day” received baskets that included honey donated by members of the Kentucky State Beekeepers Association (KSBA). The baskets showcased the variety of foods produced in Kentucky. For this event, 185 2-oz honey bears were prepared […]

Hi Everyone, It’s time to do some spring cleaning of the website and I need each of you to take about five minutes to help me. Please check the listing for your local club. Is the meeting time and location correct? Have the officers changed? Do you have a website that should be listed, but […]

On December 20, 2017, the United Nations unanimously adopted a resolution declaring May 20 as World Bee Day. The aim is to draw global public attention to the importance of preserving bees and other pollinators. According to the press release, “People will be reminded of the importance of bees for the entire humanity and invited […]

The February edition of the BeeLines newsletter is available online. It includes information about upcoming education events, reporting your honey income on your taxes, the State Apiarist’s report, a 4-H essay contest, and much more. Past BeeLine newsletters can be downloaded from the Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s website or from the KSBA Educational Resources for Beekeepers webpage. […]

February is a busy month. Bee schools are happening all across the state. Many people are thinking about getting into beekeeping for the first time. Others are trying to figure out how they are going to improve their apiary this year. At the heart of all those activities is education. This month’s poll continues that […]

By: National Environmental Education Foundation The National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF), with major funding support from US Forest Service (USFS), is offering a little over $10,700 through mini-grants to facilitate Pollinator Garden and/Community Garden activities. Awarded grantees will be expected to facilitate the development of educational and conservation activities on local Forest Service lands, other […]

Students writing a Honey Bee Essay Contest entry should contact their local 4-H offices for contest details. The state selection will be done only through the 4-H system. Essayists should turn in their work to their local 4-H offices during February. The offices should each forward their one winning essay to Dr. Tom Webster (thomas.webster@ […]

By: Jake Osborne The Kentucky State Beekeepers Association will have their spring meeting on March 17 in London, Kentucky. The meeting will be held at the Laurel County Extension Office, 200 County Ext Rd, London, KY 40741 at 9:00 AM. Speakers will include: Dr Tom Webster: Nosema and an investigative study on a new varroa […]

The Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s newly released Pollinator Protection Program is designed to be a voluntary tool between chemical applicators and beekeepers in an effort to reduce hive mortality. If a chemical product label specifies that the applicator must communicate with area beekeepers prior to spraying, this program allows for beekeepers and others who are […]

Greetings KSBA Members, I am in need of beekeepers in Oldham, Bullit, and Jefferson counties to fill out a survey about hive characteristics, health, and location. I am a U of L student working on my thesis for a Masters of Sustainability, and I am researching to try to find out what best predicts hive […]

By: Shannon Trimboli About a week and a half ago KSBA experienced some growing pains that resulted in the temporary suspension of our news emails. Since then, I’ve been impatiently waiting for the opportunity to let everyone know what happened and how we are addressing it. We are currently using MailChimp to send our KSBA […]

The Kentucky State University Center for the Sustainability of Farms and Families (KSU-CSFF) Small Scale Farm Grant Program was developed to support the expansion of certain types of agriculture in Kentucky, especially among underserved groups. Grant funding decisions are based upon the future impact expected on the production and sales of Kentucky-grown and Kentucky-raised farm […]

The January edition of the BeeLines newsletter is available online. It includes a letter from the new KSBA president, a listing of upcoming bee schools, information about the Small Scale Farms Grant Program, an announcement for a new book written by the KSBA webmaster, and much more. Past BeeLine newsletters can be downloaded from the Kentucky […]

George Fowler of Frankfort’s Capital City Beekeepers (CCB) is the Kentucky State Beekeepers Association (KSBA) legislative agent for the 2018 lawmaking session in progress. One of his first actions will be to work with Kentucky Farm Bureau (KFB) to include KSBA items in baskets KFB will present legislators on March 7, “Food Check-Out Day” at […]

By: Erin MacGregor-Forbes, Chairman The EAS Foundation for Honey Bee Research is a competitive grant program developed from donations received from beekeepers and others interested in funding research on topical problems in honey bees. Proposals are solicited annually with award amounts to be determined the spring before the EAS annual meeting. Requests for “seed money” […]

Hi Everyone, We started doing these surveys last spring by asking everyone to share when they saw their first swarm. Many people seemed to be interested in that survey. As we start the new year, I thought it would be interesting to do a similar survey focused on when we see the first pollen coming […]

By: Shannon Trimboli It is now possible to join the Kentucky State Beekeepers Association and pay your dues online. Membership is $15 / family and runs from January 1 to December 31 of each year. Membership includes: Entry to the KSBA spring, summer, and fall meetings. Email subscription to KSBA news posts. Opportunity to sell […]

By: Charlotte Ekker Wiggins ST. LOUIS – Five speakers have been confirmed for Heartland Apicultural Society’s (HAS) annual conference to be held July 11-13, 2018 at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. Established in 2001 by several professional entomologists, the conference rotates through the Midwest to make it easier for local beekeepers to attend sessions […]

There are a number of beekeeping schools and related events scheduled throughout Kentucky in 2018. To help beekeepers and those thinking about becoming beekeepers, the Kentucky State Beekeepers Association (KSBA) has created a list of upcoming beekeeping events. The list is organized by county and a link to the list can be found on the […]

Wishing you and yours a happy holiday season!

Annual membership runs from January 1 to December 31. Dues are $15 and cover all immediate family members living at the same address. Members who are 80 years old or older are granted free membership. Membership includes: Entry to the KSBA spring, summer, and fall meetings. Subscription to the KSBA News Posts via email. Opportunity […]

The December edition of the BeeLines newsletter is available online. It includes information from the KSBA fall meeting, a summary of the recent Pollinator Protection meeting, the State Apiarist’s report, news about a varroa mite monitoring research project we can all contribute to, and much more. Past BeeLine newsletters can be downloaded from the Kentucky Department […]

By: John Benham The end of the year is near and the start of another “Bee” season is just around the corner. We had a good year at the Kentucky State Beekeepers Association (KSBA) and have plans on making next year even better. Once again our membership (528) has grown over the previous year and […]

Beekeepers must file a hive count report with their local USDA Farm Assistance office by Jan. 2, 2018 in order to be eligible for assistance from the Federal Emergency Loss Assistance Program (ELAP). ELAP is authorized under the 2014 Farm Bill (Agricultural Assistance Act of 2014). ELAP to provides emergency assistance to eligible producers of […]

According to Meagan Lucas, Pulaski County Extension Agent for 4-H Youth, the Pulaski County 4-H Beekeeping Club received a $1600 Pride grant to purchase a bee hive, bees, tools, equipment, and protective clothing. The first meeting of the new 4-H beekeeping club was in November. Future meetings will include purchasing supplies and putting hives together. […]

By: John Benham The Kentucky State Beekeepers Association (KSBA) met in Hopkinsville on Nov. 4, 2017. A big thank you goes out to Steve Buschweitz and Brad Hodges of the Pennyrile Beekeepers association for their invaluable help and support in setting up our fall meeting. The catering, donuts, coffee, and facilities were excellent. The fall […]

Greetings Kentucky Beekeepers, My name is Jake Osborne. I am 29 years old and the 2018 Kentucky State Beekeepers Association (KSBA) President. Since catching my first swarm at eight years old, I have grown to 100 colonies with a focus on honey production. Through my involvement with KSBA, I have had the pleasure of meeting […]

By: David Knoph, NASS During December USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service will be conducting three surveys to collect bee and honey statistics. Collectively, the three surveys will provide information about bee colonies, bee health and honey production. NASS gathers the data for the surveys online, by mail, phone and in-person interview. Specific information for each […]

By: Shannon Trimboli In our October poll, I asked “What would you like to see KSBA do?” Nineteen people responded to this poll and their responses can be found below. A big “thank you” to those who responded and an even bigger “thank you” to the nine people who said they were willing to help […]

The November edition of the BeeLines newsletter is available online. It includes information about the results of the Kentucky USDA-APHIS 2016 Honey Bee Health Survey, how to prepare your honey for pollen analysis, the State Apiarist’s report, upcoming deadlines, and much more. Past BeeLine newsletters can be downloaded from the Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s website or from […]

Happy Thanksgiving from the Kentucky State Beekeepers Association!

Dear Friends, We have a new manager in place at our Frankfort Kentucky Branch. His name is Andrew Fogg. We are pleased to welcome him to our company. He is at the branch now getting things organized and staff in place. He will be open for normal business operations on Monday, November 20, 2017. Please […]

By: Tammy Horn Potter The Kentucky Department of Agriculture is rolling out its Pollinator Protection software that tracks beekeepers’ hive locations, stores the required time intervals for pesticide applicators to warn of upcoming applications, and automatically notifies beekeepers to take precautions regarding the upcoming spraying, if the pesticide’s label requires notification. Beekeepers download the software […]

By: Shannon Trimboli It’s that time of year again. The time when many local organizations begin planning beekeeping schools, workshops, and other events for next year. As you begin making those plans, I want to remind everyone that I am happy to share those events on the KSBA website, calendar, Facebook page, and through our […]

By: Tammy Horn Potter Beekeepers and the public are invited to attend the upcoming pollinator stakeholders meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 15. Key players in the effort to assist Kentucky’s pollinators will brief the group on their progress last year and plans for the coming year and work on joint strategies and timelines. The pollinator stakeholders will meet […]

By: Shannon Trimboli The new Kentucky State Beekeepers Association (KSBA) membership form for 2018 has been uploaded to the KSBA website’s membership page. Like in 2017, it the new membership form is a two pages with the second page containing information for KSBA’s Buy Local webpage. If you don’t want to be included on the Buy […]

Oct. 11, 2017 Meeting at Nelson County Cooperative Extension Office, Bardstown Present: Rick Sutton, President of Kentucky State Beekeepers Association (Garrard Co.) Ricky Humphrey, Vice President of Nelson County Beekeepers Susan Zhunga, Secretary and Treasurer of Nelson County Beekeepers Mike Mabry, Member of Nelson County Beekeepers Pat Schwartz, Member of Nelson County Beekeepers Nicole Soteropoulos, […]

The October edition of the BeeLines newsletter  is available online. It includes information about the Fall KSBA meeting, the Honey Booth, the State Apiarist’s report, upcoming classes, and much more. Past BeeLine newsletters can be downloaded from the Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s website or from the KSBA Educational Resources for Beekeepers webpage.

All members attending the Kentucky State Beekeepers Association (KSBA) meeting on Nov. 4 are invited to participate in a Black Jar Honey Contest. Participants are asked to bring a jar of their honey, painted black with no identifiers whatsoever. The jar can be very small – a baby jar or two-ounce jar is fine. The […]

BY: Project Apis M. on behalf of the National Honey Board Background U.S. Honey production is decreasing and colony losses are increasing, while many crops dependent on pollination services continue to expand. Honey bee colony losses in the United States were reported at 33% during 2016-2017. Colony losses are attributed to pathogens, parasites, pesticides, hive […]

By: Shannon Trimboli In the August poll about the Certified Kentucky Honey label, I provided lots of opportunities for people to add additional comments because I knew it was a complicated subject that would create strong opinions. I was right and the participants took full advantage of the spaces for comments. Among the comments were […]

The fall meeting of the Kentucky State Beekeepers Association (KSBA) will be Saturday, Nov. 4, 2017 at the Christian County Cooperative Extension office (2850 Pembroke Road, Hopkinsville, KY). Registration will begin at 8:00 a.m. CT and the meeting will wrap up around 3:00 p.m. A tentative agenda can be found below. The fall meeting is […]

By: Tammy Horn Potter Honey pollen typing following the methods of Vaughn M. Bryant, Ph.D. is now available from Jen O’Keefe, Ph.D. at Morehead State University. She will accept up to eight samples per month on a first-come-first-served basis. Do not filter samples, for accurate analysis. The per-sample charge for the analysis and report is $80. […]

By: Shannon Trimboli Recently we were contacted by a student at the University of Louisville. Haileigh Arnold is working on her Masters degree and is doing research on the environmental and social factors that affect honey bee distribution and production the most. As part of her thesis research, she is looking for beekeepers in Jefferson, […]

By: Shannon Trimboli In July we started two surveys. One asked Kentucky beekeepers for their opinions on pursuing a certified Kentucky Honey label. The second survey was aimed at gathering input from our customers about their thoughts and what is important to them when they buy honey. Results of the first survey were reported earlier. […]

Dear Friends, Unfortunately, it has become necessary to make some management changes at our Frankfort, KY location. During the transition to new staff, we will temporarily be closing. We hope to be open and going again in short order but wanted to let all our beekeeping friends using that branch be aware of the situation. […]

The Kentucky State Beekeepers Association (KSBA) will hold its fall meeting on Nov. 4 at the Christian County Cooperative Extension Office, 2850 Pembroke Road, Hopkinsville, 42240. All members are invited to attend. Dr. Jen O’Keefe, Morehead State University, will be the keynote speaker. Her presentation will be about honey analysis and is titled “Honey Typing: […]

The September edition of the BeeLines newsletter is available online. It includes information about the Honey Booth at the State Fair, regulations related to setting up a honey house, the State Apiarist’s report, upcoming competitions and grants, and much more. Past BeeLine newsletters can be downloaded from the Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s website or from the KSBA […]

By: Tammy Horn Potter In accordance with state law, the Kentucky Department of Agriculture (KDA) is collecting information on honey crops in the Commonwealth. Participation is voluntary. To participate, please file a report including the beekeeper’s name, county, pounds of honey produced by Oct.1, 2017, and total colonies as of Oct. 1. General definitions: Hobbyist, 1-29 hives; Sideliner, […]

By: Tammy Horn Potter The Kentucky Department of Agriculture (KDA) continues to facilitate conversations about local honey with the Kentucky State Beekeepers Association (KSBA). The KDA hosted a meeting Aug. 22 for KSBA and honey stakeholders at the Kentucky State Fair, where beekeepers and honey producers across the state discussed results from an industry survey […]

The annual Honeyfest in Clarkson, Kentucky, is set this year for Sept. 28-30. Music, a parade, and family activities will mark the annual celebration of the city’s ties to the honey industry in the home town of Kelley Beekeeping. Begun in the early 1990s, the celebration is now in its 23rd year. Festival activities include […]

By: Joe Taylor Greetings Fellow KSBA members. It is time to nominate some of our outstanding members for KSBA Beekeeper of the year. For 2017, the nomination period will be September 1st thru October 15th. Please absolutely no late nominations can be accepted. The official voting will be done by the past 15 to 20 […]

By: The Bee Informed Partnership The Bee Informed Partnership is proud to be a supporter of the first annual Mite-A-Thon that will take place Saturday, September 9 to Saturday, September 16, 2017 and we invite you to participate! The Mite-A-Thon is a national effort to collect mite infestation data and to visualize varroa infestations in […]

by: Shannon Trimboli The August edition of the BeeLines newsletter is available online. It includes information about honey bee research being conducted at Kentucky Universities, the State Apiarist’s report, a list of upcoming bee schools, information about KSBA’s new honey marketing subcommittee, state fair information, and much more. Past BeeLine newsletters can be downloaded from the […]

By: Shannon Trimboli Over the past few weeks we have been conducting a survey asking Kentucky’s beekeepers about their interest in a Certified Kentucky Honey Label. A second survey asking consumers about what is important to them when they buy honey is being run through the end of the month. Results from that survey will […]

Increased safety net available to beekeepers in 48 states. By: USDA Risk Management Agency WASHINGTON, July 27, 2017 – Crop insurance for beekeeper operations has been expanded to include 19 additional states and now spans the entire 48 contiguous states. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Risk Management Agency (RMA) today announced changes to the […]

By: Shannon Trimboli In July we asked everyone about their honey and how much it sells for so that we can see how our prices vary across the state. Many thanks to the 46 people who participated in the survey. Most people (83%) sell their honey out of their home, out of their office, or […]

Associations working the honey booth need to contact John Benham, KSBA treasurer, by Friday, Aug. 11 with the number of tickets they need for their workers and the name and address of the person to mail them to. KSBA will be purchasing tickets and mailing them out on Monday, Aug. 14. The associations working the Honey Booth […]

Once again, the Kentucky State Beekeepers Association (KSBA) will be selling honey at the Honey Booth at the State Fair. Beekeepers will receive 70% of the sale price. You must be a current member of KSBA to sell your honey. Memberships can be renewed at the State Fair. All honey for sale must be properly […]

By: Shannon Trimboli Keith Rogers, Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s Chief of Staff, spoke to KSBA members about the Kentucky Proud program at our business meeting in June. Some of the members raised concerns about the ability of people to buy honey from outside of Kentucky, bottle it here, and sell it as Kentucky Proud because […]

Hi Everyone, The idea of a Certified Kentucky Honey label was brought up at the June business meeting of the Kentucky State Beekeepers Association. At the meeting we created a Honey Marketing Subcommittee to pursue the idea further. A couple of weeks ago, we met with members of the Kentucky Department of Agriculture to begin […]

By Shannon Trimboli Tammy Horn Potter, our state apiarist, asks all Kentucky beekeepers to submit information about the number of hives they had as of June 1, 2017. Submitting this information is voluntary. The form for submitting your information can be found here. You can fill it out online, save it, and email it to […]

The July edition of the BeeLines newsletter is available online. It includes information about Kentucky Pollinator Plan stakeholders meeting, the State Apiarist’s report, a list of upcoming bee schools, state fair information, USDA honey bee diagnostic services, and much more. Past BeeLine newsletters can be downloaded from the Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s website or from the KSBA […]

By: Shannon Trimboli People are always telling me they are looking for good local honey. Whether or not I have any honey for sale is often the first question they ask when they find out I’m a beekeeper. I don’t think Kentucky beekeepers have come anywhere near saturating the market for locally produced honey. Lately, […]

The Kentucky State Fair is August 17-27, 2017. As always, the Kentucky State Beekeepers Association (KSBA) will have a Honey Booth at the fair. While KSBA organizes and coordinates the booth each year, we rely on the help of our local associations for staffing the booth on a daily basis. This year’s Honey Booth schedule […]

By: Lindsey New, Farm Service Agency July 15 is the deadline to file reports of colony inventory (FSA-578) for all producers except those participating in NAP. (Example: 7/15/17 for 2017 honey “crop” year). Contact your local FSA office for more information.

By: Shannon Trimboli In June, I asked our readers to take a survey to let me know what you thought about the news posts. The results were very insightful and helpful. Thanks to the 35 people who provided feedback through the survey. Below is a summary of the responses and some of the actions I […]

By: American Honey Queen Program Maia Jaycox, the 2017 American Honey Queen, will visit Louisville, Kentucky August 17-23. She will make appearances at the Kentucky State Fair during her stay, speaking to fairgoers about importance of honey bees to the public’s daily lives and how the diverse flight path of honey bees extends from food […]

The June edition of the BeeLines newsletter is available online. It includes information about National Pollinator Week, the State Apiarist’s report, a list of upcoming bee schools, a reminder of the upcoming deadlines for state fair entries and colony inventory reports, new research about honey bees, and much more. Past BeeLine newsletters can be downloaded from […]

By: Shannon Trimboli June 19-25 is National Pollinator’s Week. National Pollinator Week was established to raise awareness of pollinators and their population declines. More information about National Pollinator Week can be found at http://pollinator.org/pollinatorweek/. The Kentucky State Beekeeper Association’s website also has additional resources about pollinators other than honey bees at http://www.ksbabeekeeping.org/about-other-pollinators/.

By: Honey Bee Health Coalition Varroa mite infestation represents one of the greatest threats to honey bee health. When honey bee colonies are untreated or treated ineffectively, colonies can fail and mites will spread to other nearby colonies — including your neighbors’ hives. Every honey bee colony in the continental United States and Canada either […]

By: Shannon Trimboli Last month our survey asked what types of hives you have. Ninety-three people participated in the survey. Most of the people who responded use traditional Langstroth hives with some combination of deep, medium, and shallow boxes. The most common configuration was one or more deep brood boxes with medium honey supers. In […]

By: Bee Informed Partnership and USDA A joint collaboration between the Bee Informed Partnership, the USDA-ARS Bee Research Laboratory and USDA-APHIS has been established in the short term to primarily provide for the diagnostics of honey bee brood for American foulbrood (and other brood) disease. We will also offer other pest and disease diagnostics for […]

Hi Everybody, Since September 2016, I’ve been trying to post at least one news post to the KSBA website every week. Starting in January 2017, I’ve been posting 2-3 news posts every week and added the option to subscribe to the news posts. Approximately 800 people have subscribed to have the news posts emailed to […]

By: Tammy Horn Potter The Kentucky State Fair will be here before we know it. Many beekeepers are having a good year due to the relatively mild winter. July 1 is the deadline to enter categories, and you can submit your categories online at Kentuckystatefair.org. Local bee association presidents and Extension agents may deliver Kentucky […]

By: Bee Informed Partnership Note: This is a preliminary analysis. Sample sizes and estimates are likely to change. A more detailed final report is being prepared for publication in a peer-reviewed journal at a later date. The Bee Informed Partnership, in collaboration with the Apiary Inspectors of America (AIA), conducted the eleventh annual national survey […]

By: Shannon Trimboli It’s the start of honey season! Some beekeepers have already started harvesting honey and others will likely start harvesting over the next month or so. Honey is a food product and must be properly labeled in order to be legally sold in the state. Kentucky also has regulations for how cosmetics, including […]

By: Shannon Trimboli In March we started a multi-month survey asking everyone to report when you saw your first swarm in any given county. We thought this would be a fun way to see if they came early this year after such a mild winter. In order to allow everyone to track the swarms, I […]

The May edition of the BeeLines newsletter is available online. It includes information about a new apiary at Murray State University, catching swarms, the Honey Booth at the State Fair, the State Apiarist’s report, a list of upcoming bee schools, and much more. Past BeeLine newsletters can be downloaded from the Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s website or […]

By: Shannon Trimboli A couple of months ago we started doing surveys to get to know each other better. Last week, I presented the results for our April survey. Later this week, I’ll present the results of the first swarm per county survey that we started in March. For the May survey, let’s talk hives. What […]

By: Shannon Trimboli In an effort to get to know each other better, last month we conducted a survey asking everyone how long they have been a beekeeper. Seventy two people responded to the survey. Of those who responded, 27 people (38%) have been beekeepers for one year or less and 35 people (49%) have […]

KSBA’s summer business meeting will be immediately after Kelley Beekeeping’s field day on June 3, 2017. Kelley Beekeeping is graciously allowing KSBA to use a room in its new training center (formerly the old office building) for our business meeting. All KSBA members are invited to attend this members-only business meeting. All local associations, please […]

By: Shannon Trimboli We wanted to make sure everyone is aware that the email address for our State Apiarist, Tammy Horn Potter, has changed. Her new email address is tammy.potter@ky.gov. She will no longer be able to receive emails sent to her old address. Please update any contact information you may have for her. While […]

By: Shannon Trimboli The Kentucky State Beekeepers Association maintains a list of lesson plans and other resources related to honey bees for teachers and other educators. The list can be found under “For Teachers” in the Educational Resources section of the KSBA website. If you know of other lesson plans and educational resources that should […]

The April edition of the BeeLines newsletter is available online. It includes information about the Kentucky Queen Bee Breeders, educational videos and presentations available for organizations and others to use, the State Apiarist’s report, a list of upcoming bee schools, and much more. Past BeeLine newsletters can be downloaded from the Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s website or […]

By: Tammy Horn Potter Tammy Horn Potter, Kentucky State Apiarist, offers the following information and advice regarding American and European foulbrood to veterinarians and beekeepers. The worst disease in the honey bee colony is American foulbrood. I strongly advise any veterinarian who sees the symptoms described in the following AFB websites (American Foulbrood – Prevention […]

By Shannon Trimboli Last month I started a new series consisting of a monthly survey to help us learn more about each other. Typically the survey will run for about a few weeks to a month and then I’ll report the results to everyone. The first survey was about when we see the first swarm […]

By: John Benham The 2017 spring meeting of the Kentucky State Beekeepers Association was held at the Boyd County Fairgrounds in Ashland, KY on Saturday, March 18, 2017. Over 80 beekeepers and soon to “bee” beekeepers attended. Our speakers did an excellent job of providing programs that were informative and of benefit to all attending. […]

The March edition of the BeeLines newsletter is available online. It includes information about the Mann Lake EAS Master Beekeeper Scholarship, a summary of articles about resources the Pollinators Stewardship Council offers beekeeping organizations, the State Apiarist’s report, a list of upcoming bee schools, and much more. Past BeeLine newsletters can be downloaded from the Kentucky […]

By Shannon Trimboli The Bee Informed Partnership will be conducting its 2016-2017 National Management Survey from April 1-30, 2017. Beekeepers from across the U.S. are encouraged to participate in the survey. To participate, go to https://beeinformed.org/participate/. An interactive map of the U.S. displaying results from previous years can be found at https://bip2.beeinformed.org/geo/. According to the map, Kentucky […]

By: Kelly Kulhanek The Bee Informed Partnership is launching its 2017 Sentinel Apiary Program. The program is aimed mostly at Sideline and Backyard beekeepers, although Commercial beekeepers are also welcome. The program is designed to help beekeepers improve their colony management and to share data with other beekeepers in their region. The Bee Informed Partnership […]

By Shannon Trimboli A few weeks ago I started a survey to find out when the first swarms were seen in each county in Kentucky. Thank you to those who have already participated. I look forward to seeing more results come in as we get further into swarm season. My original plan was to gather […]

By Shannon Trimboli Since January 1, there have been 15 beekeeping workshops, events, or schools in Kentucky. Several of these have been featured in local media. Below are the links to the articles or other media pieces that we could find online. The links can also be found on the KSBA website under “In the […]

By: Shannon Trimboli Believe it or not we already have four swarms reported from the survey we started last week. Those swarms were in Trigg, Russell, McLean, and Harrison. Even though the first swarms have already been reported in those counties, if you see or hear a reliable report of a swarm in those counties […]

Hi Everyone, The reason I started these news posts was to improve communication between KSBA and Kentucky’s beekeepers. However, communication is a two-way street. It’s not just us providing you with information. So let’s start sharing information and getting to know each other a little better. One way I think we can accomplish this is […]

By: John Benham The spring 2017 meeting of the Kentucky State Beekeepers Association will take place Saturday, March 18, at the Boyd County Fairgrounds in Ashland, KY. All beekeepers or those interested in beekeeping are invited to attend. Registration with coffee and donuts will begin at 7:30 a.m. ET and the program will start at 9:00 […]

By: Michele Colopy, Pollinator Stewardship Council Program Director The Pollinator Stewardship Council joins with the American Honey Producers Association seeking your support concerning new honey nutrition label language. No matter the number of hives you manage, whether honey production is your livelihood you only sell your honey at farmer’s markets, or just share it with […]

The February edition of the BeeLines newsletter is available online. It includes information about coping with the warm winter, the State Apiarist’s report, and a list of upcoming bee schools. Past BeeLine newsletters can be downloaded from the Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s website or from the KSBA Educational Resources for Beekeepers webpage.

Hope Pettibon, the 2017 American Honey Princess, will visit Kentucky March 6-11. She will participate in the Capitol City Beekeepers Association’s Bee Friendly Frankfort event and will be a guest speaker at the Bluegrass Beekeepers Bee School on March 11. During her visit, she will speak about the importance of honey bees to Kentucky agriculture […]

By: Dorothey Morgan The newly formed Kentucky Queen Bee Breeders Association is up and running. The officers are: President, Dorothey Morgan, Vice President, David Davis, Treasurer, Joe Taylor and Secretary, Kristi Willoughby. The founding board members are: Nick Nickels, Kevin Hale, Chris Renfrow, David Davis, and Dorothey Morgan. The goals of the Kentucky Queen Bee […]

Members of the Kentucky State Beekeepers Association (KSBA) can now advertise their honey bee related products and services on KSBA’s new Buy Local page. Products and services listed on the site include honey, pollen, propolis, nucs, queens, lotions / creams, lip balms, candles, beeswax, beekeeping equipment, honey bee related art, plants for honey bees, swarm removal, […]

We are excited to announce that we have had over 100 new members join and old members renew over the last couple of months! John Benham, KSBA treasurer, will be sending out membership cards and welcome letters at the end of February. If you have questions about your membership, feel free to contact him. Shannon […]

It is with heavy hearts and great sadness that we announce our dear friend Rev. Jim Hazelrigg passed away on Wednesday, January 25. Jim was a long time beekeeper and member of the Kentucky State Beekeepers Association (KSBA). In 2011, he was the president of KSBA and then served as the treasurer for many years. […]

The January edition of the BeeLines newsletter is available online. It includes reports about the 2016 Honey Booth, FSA programs for beekeepers, the State Apiarist’s report, and a list of upcoming bee schools. Past BeeLine newsletters can be downloaded from the Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s website or from the KSBA Educational Resources for Beekeepers webpage.

The December edition of the BeeLines newsletter is available online. It includes reports about the 2016 Beekeeper of the Year and the Fall KSBA meeting, the State Apiarist’s report, and the 2016 Hive Count and Honey Count reports. Past BeeLine newsletters can be downloaded from the Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s web-site or from the KSBA Educational Resources […]

Congratulations to our new officers for 2017. Rick Sutton moved up to the position of president, Jake Osborne moved into the president-elect position, Chris Renfrow is our new vice-president, Jason Conley is our new secretary, John Benham is our new treasurer, Tana Peers remains our sergeant-at-arms, Kent Williams continues as our historian, and Ray Tucker […]

Everyone at the Kentucky State Beekeepers Association wishes you and yours a very merry Christmas and a happy new year!  

Annual membership runs from January 1 to December 31. Dues are $15 and cover all immediate family members living at the same address. Members who are 80 years old or older are granted free membership. Membership includes: Entry to the KSBA spring, summer, and fall meetings. Subscription to the Bee Line, KSBA’s official newsletter. Opportunity […]

The next Kentucky State Beekeepers Association meeting will be on March 18 at the Boyd County Fairgrounds, 1760 Addington Rd, Ashland, KY 41102. Please save the date and plan to join us there. More information about the speakers, lodging, and other details will be announced in the coming weeks.

Kentucky was well-represented in the December issue of Bee Culture Magazine. The Kelley Beekeeping Company’s ribbon cutting was featured in the business section of the magazine and made the magazine’s front cover. Our State Apiarist, Tammy Horn Potter, was also interviewed and featured in an article about her literary contributions to beekeeping, her work as […]

KSBA members have two new benefits to enjoy. The KSBA webmaster, Shannon Trimboli, is adding a new page to the website. The new page will list KSBA members who have honey bee related products for sale. The goal is to help the public and other beekeepers find local sources of honey, pollen, queens, nucs, and other […]

Videos Complement Coalition’s Tools for Varroa Management Guide, Provides Step-By-Step Demonstrations of Utilizing an Integrated Pest Management Strategy of Monitoring and Treatment KEYSTONE, CO, Nov. 28, 2016 — The Honey Bee Health Coalition released a series of videos today to help beekeepers promote colony health and combat costly and destructive Varroa mite (Varroa destructor) infestations. […]

In the Sept. 2016 BeeLines, Tammy Horn Potter announced that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had passed a new regulation. Under the new regulation, a veterinarian must write a prescription or a Veterinarian Feed Directive (VFD) before any antibiotics can be fed to an agricultural animal. Since honey bees are considered agricultural animals, this […]

The November edition of the BeeLines newsletter is available online. It includes a report about the expansion of the Kelley Beekeeping Co., the State Apiarist’s Report, an analysis of pollen contained in the winning “black jar” entry in this year’s State Fair honey competition, and much more. Past BeeLine newsletters can be downloaded from the Kentucky […]

With all the warm weather we’ve enjoyed this fall, it is hard to believe that Thanksgiving is only a couple of days away. As the holiday season rapidly approaches, we want to thank our members for their support and everything our they do to help promote beekeeping throughout the state. KSBA wishes all of our friends, members, […]

The new membership form for 2017 is online. Be sure to use the new form when sending renewing or signing up as a new member this year. The 2017 membership form is two pages. The first page is the same as it has always been. The second page allows you to participate in a new benefit […]

The Kentucky Department of Agriculture is updating its information on honey crops within the Commonwealth. Beekeepers across the state are asked to report how much honey they harvested this year. Please mail, fax, or email the following information to: Tammy Horn Potter, State Apiarist Address: Kentucky Department of Agriculture, 109 Corporate Drive, Frankfort, KY 40601 Work cell: […]

Over the years, many of KSBA’s members have been contacted by local teachers who want someone to talk to their classes about honey bees and beekeepers. These are important requests and we are happy that our members are often able to fulfill them. Thank you to everyone who has taken time out of their busy […]

The October edition of the BeeLines newsletter is available online. It includes a report about this year’s Honey Booth, the State Apiarist’s Report, the call for Beekeeper of the Year Nominations, and a honey report. Past BeeLine newsletters can be downloaded from the Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s website or from the KSBA Educational Resources for Beekeepers webpage.

KSBA will meet on Nov. 5, 2016 at Jenny Wiley State Park. All members are encouraged to attend. Scheduled speakers are: Gabe Blatt, West Virginia queen producer, will speak about preparing yards for queen production. Dan O’Hanlon will discuss West Virginia’s Bee Immunity law. Lindsey New, Pulaski County’s Farm Service Agency agent, will speak on […]

Is your organization hosting workshops, classes, or similar events related to honey bees or beekeeping? If so, send a short description of the event to Shannon Trimboli, KSBA webmaster, to have it added to the KSBA calendar and posted as a news event on the KSBA website. All announcements should be submitted at least two weeks before […]

Each year KSBA and the Kentucky 4-H chapters sponsor a statewide honey bee essay contest. The winning essay is submitted to a national competition sponsored by the Federation for the Preservation of Honey Bees, Inc. Participants in the essay contest had to members of their local 4-H chapter and had to write an essay on […]

The KSBA Fall Meeting will be held Nov. 5 at Jenny Wiley State Park. KSBA president, Ray Tucker has arranged for a discounted block of rooms to be held through Oct. 4. The rate will be approximately $70. If you are interested in reserving a room at the discounted rate, please call Jenny Wiley State […]

The Bee Informed Partnership is seeking additional Technical Transfer Team members to work with commercial beekeepers in the following states: Minnesota (serving beekeepers in MN and ND), Florida (serving beekeepers in FL and GA), Texas (serving beekeepers in TX and ND), and possibly two new teams in the northern Midwest and northeast states. More information about […]

There is only one week left to nominate outstanding members for KSBA Beekeeper of the Year. The nomination period ends at midnight on Oct. 1. Absolutely no late nomination can be accepted. There is no official nomination form. Nominations should include the nominee’s name and contact information (address, phone, and email if possible), along with […]

The September edition of the BeeLines newsletter is available online. It includes a report about this year’s Honey Booth, the State Apiarist’s Report, the call for Beekeeper of the Year Nominations, and a honey report. Past BeeLine newsletters can be downloaded from the Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s website or from the KSBA Educational Resources for […]

In order to legally sell honey, beekeepers must follow state regulations for labeling their honey. It doesn’t matter if you are selling from your home, at the local farmer’s market, the state fair, or a grocery store. The regulations and labeling requirements are the same. Luckily, there are many resources that will tell you what […]

KSBA members and officers are staffing the Honey Booth at the State Fair. The Honey Booth offers KSBA members a chance to sell their honey, wax, and related products to fair-goers from across the state. It is also an excellent education and outreach opportunity to help people learn more about honey bees, local honey, and […]

Our State Apiarist, Tammy Horn Potter recently spoke with Mike Feldhaus, producer of KY Farm Bureau’s “Across Kentucky” radio program, about varroa mites and the research being conducted at Purdue University on mite-biting genetics. You can listen to the interview at https://www.kyfb.com/federation/newsroom/across-kentucky-july-29-2016/. Links to this interview and other beekeeping-related KY Farm Bureau podcasts can also be […]

Phil Craft, former Kentucky State Apiarist, sent the following note asking for our help with a survey about varroa mite monitoring. —- As you may know, I consult for Veto-pharma, the maker of Apivar. I serve as their U.S. technical adviser. Veto-pharma is interested in the practices of beekeepers with regard to monitoring for varroa […]

KSBA and the State Apiarist operate a Honey Booth each year at the Kentucky State Fair. The purpose of the Honey Booth is to promote the sale of Kentucky honey and beeswax and to teach about the importance of honey bees. KSBA members can sell their honey or beeswax at the Honey Booth. KSBA keeps […]

The first public forum for the KY Pollinator Protection Plan, will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 24, 7:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. E.T. at the KY Dept. of Agriculture building. A second public forum will be held in Bowling Green, July 2016, to coincide with the Heartland Apiculture Society (details to be determined). Below is a tentative […]

The Kentucky Pollinator Protection Plan Forum originally scheduled for Jan.20 was cancelled due to snow. It has been rescheduled for Feb. 24 (Wednesday), 109 Corporate Drive Complex, Frankfort, KY 40601 from 7:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. EST. Copies of the plan will be available at the Forum or can be shared via email upon request.  The plan is […]

Due to inclement weather, the first public forum to consider the KY Pollinator Protection Plan has been postponed. A new date and place will be announced soon. Drafts of the plan will be made available at the forum as will a powerpoint showcasing the four main goals of the plan: best management plans, increased pollinator […]

Beekeepers must file a hive count report with their local USDA Farm Assistance office by Jan. 2, 2016 in order to be eligible for assistance from the Federal Emergency Loss Assistance Program (ELAP). ELAP is authorized under the 2014 Farm Bill (Agricultural Assistance Act of 2014). ELAP to provides emergency assistance to eligible producers of […]