It's almost here!
The NHBA Spring Meeting and Raffle will be February 22, 2025 at Camp Carpenter featuring Dr. Nathalie Steinhauer. Sign up for the 2025 Spring Meeting and also reserve an optional lunch here: https://www.nhbeekeepers.org/membership
The main talk will be "Splitting Colonies and Nucs: Science-Backed Strategies for Beekeepers". Splitting colonies is a key strategy for beekeepers to harness and guide the growth of their hives. But what does Research say about the effectiveness of this practice? In this talk, we’ll explore the Science behind the methods, highlighting how bee behavior, genetics, and disease management inform best practices in splitting. We will also discuss the limited but important scientific studies that have examined some of the factors involved—focusing on issues like Varroa management and overall hive productivity. (Please note: This presentation is focused on the theory that shaped the practices, and does not cover the practical, step-by-step process of splitting, which is usually best taught locally.)
For Lunch we are trying out a new caterer, Erika from Morrigan's Walk Farm. Erika came highly recommended, is a baker by trade, and is attending bee school at KBA.
The menu is:
Mexican-style ground beef (mild) / Chicken Fajitas
- Ground beef with assorted spices (mild) with optional
medium-heat salsa
- Traditional Chicken Fajitas
Roasted Vegetables
White Rice
Black Beans
Flour Tortillas
Garden Salad
Dessert
Starsha is busy getting the raffle together (feel free to donate!). And we will be having our business meeting and holding elections. If you think you have what it takes to help run the NHBA please run for office!
Dr Steinhauer is an entomologist specializing in questions related to honey bee health.
Originated from Belgium where she completed a master’s in biology, and following a
postgraduate research master’s in Ecology, Evolution and Conservation from Imperial College
London (UK), she graduated with her PhD from University of Maryland Honey Bee Lab in
2017. From 2018 to 2023, she acted as the Research Officer for the Bee Informed Partnership, a
nonprofit organization whose goal was to support beekeepers to keep healthier bees through
research and extension. At BIP, she collaborated on the development, implementation, and data
analyses of BIP’s national monitoring programs and field trials, in particular the annual Loss and
Management Survey. Nathalie now works under Dr Ramesh Sagili as Research Associate for
Oregon State University. Self-described R-enthusiast, and beekeeper since 2009.