Worcester County Beekeepers Association

HELP!! Passage of H.4041 "An Act to Protect Massachusetts Pollinators" could die without your immediate help!

H 4041 is a reasoned, extremely moderate use restriction of systemic neonicotinoid pesticides by homeowners. Your Representatives have told the Speaker they support this bill. One hundred Massachusetts scientists support the bill. Now the Speaker needs to hear directly from you!

Please send a short email to the Speaker of the House and the Chair of Ways and Means and tell them you want H.4041 passed this session. Please do it now! Time is of the essence!

Speaker Robert DeLeo 19th Suffolk

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Chairman Jeffery Sanchez (Ways & Means)
15th Suffolk/Norfolk
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Please see this letter from WCBA Legislative Director Dr. Richard Callahan for more details:

Letter from Dr. Callahan

Saturday, June 16 - MASS BEE FIELD DAY - PRESENTERS NEEDED

Time & Place:        All day @ UMass Agricultural Learning Center, Amherst, MA

See Events Page for further details!

Beekeeping experts from throughout New England attend this field day to share their knowledge and experience with fellow beekeepers. The all-day event is free and attendance is highly recommended. Pre-registration is not required but it is very helpful.

For more information, to register or order lunch, visit www.massbee.org. The full field day agenda will be posted there as it is finalized.

Presenters are still needed!! Please contact Dan Conlon at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you are interested in giving a 45-minute talk. The theme of this year's Field Day is Increasing Your Honey Production.

Sunday, June 24 - DEDICATION IN HONOR OF RICHARD DION

Time & Place:        1pm, Grafton Municipal Center (behind Grafton Police Station)

From Ken Warchol:  The WCBA will be dedicating a metal bench honoring a past president of Worcester County Beekeepers and Grafton Selectman for his dedication to our association. Richard Dion served as our secretary, vice-president and President in the 1970’s and 1980’s. He took our association through some troubled times and brought it back to where it is today, a thriving bee club. As his vice-president I saw the tremendous effort he put in and the donations he made. I know he would be honored if he were still alive. Please come join his family, other beekeepers and friends at this dedication event in Grafton. How ironic that we now have our bee school at Grafton High School 200 feet away from where this bench will sit! I hope to see you all there at the bench unveiling.

LOOKING FOR PACKAGE BEES OR NUCS?

Please see the supplier list on page 6 of our winter newsletter:

2017winter.pdf

HONEY BEE SWARM REMOVAL

Honeybee swarms are a natural process where the bees divide their colony and half of them leave home along with their queen, to start a new hive. Before they find their new space, they may hang around in a temporary spot for a few hours. If you see a honeybee swarm, keep your distance and please don’t panic--they are normally fairly gentle. Do call a beekeeper who will come and get them.

A list of Worcester County Beekeepers who are on call to collect swarms can be found here. Most will also travel to nearby towns.

INSURANCE FOR BEEKEEPERS

Did you miss the insurance presentation at our April meeting, by Wendy Ashe of A&B Insurance in Westford? Here is a link to her handout:

Beekeeping Insurance Info

TEMPERATURE PROBE INFORMATION

Did you miss the temperature probe presentation at our April meeting by WCBA member Max Weagle? Here is a link to the probe information:

Temperature Probe info

SUPPORT MA BILLS TO RESTRICT NEONIC USE !

WCBA BY-LAWS

We have posted an online video of Dr. Eric Mussen's talk on Advanced Honey Bee Nutrition from our Oct. 7 conference:

Nutrition Needs in the Honeybee Colony

HIVE INSPECTIONS ARE AVAILABLE

The MA apiary inspection service is now available. If you are interested in having an inspector check your hive, or any hive that died, please submit an online inspection request here:

MDAR Apiary Inspection Request Form

You can also call 617-626-1801 to request a visit from an inspector.

MA POLLINATOR PROTECTION PLAN

The MA Pollinator Protection Plan has been released and can be found at http://www.mass.gov/eea/docs/agr/farmproducts/apiary/pollinator-plan.pdf

WCBA EXTRACTORS

WCBA has several extractors available for rent to our members. For details see here.

DOES YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS NEED UPDATING?

If your membership is up to date but you are not receiving club emails (quarterly newletter & important announcements), please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  to update your email in our records.

Saturday, June 16 - MASS BEE FIELD DAY

Time:        11 AM

Location:  UMass Agricultural Learning Center

                  911 North Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA

Beekeeping experts from throughout New England attend this field day to share their knowledge and experience with fellow beekeepers. The all-day event is free and attendance is highly recommended. The Massachusetts Beekeeping Association also holds its annual State Bee Smoker Contest at this event, so bring your smoker and secret fuel. Pre-registration is recommended.

For more information, to register or order lunch, visit www.massbee.org. The full field day agenda will be posted as it is finalized.

(Unfortunately we did not have enough people for the WCBA bus -- refunds will be made to those who already signed up.)

Sunday, June 24 - DEDICATION IN HONOR OF RICHARD DION

Time:        1 PM

Location:  Grafton Municipal Center (behind Grafton Police Station)

From Ken Warchol: The WCBA will be dedicating a metal bench honoring a past president of Worcester County Beekeepers and Grafton Selectman for his dedication to our association. Richard Dion served as our secretary, vice-president and President in the 1970’s and 1980’s. He took our association through some troubled times and brought it back to where it is today, a thriving bee club. As his vice-president I saw the tremendous effort he put in and the donations he made. I know he would be honored if he were still alive. Please come join his family, other beekeepers and friends at this dedication event in Grafton. How ironic that we now have our bee school at Grafton High School 200 feet away from where this bench will sit! I hope to see you all there at the bench unveiling.

Saturday, July 21 - ANNUAL WCBA COOKOUT

Time: 11 AM (Early Start)

Place: Home of Scott Malkasian, Dowd's Lane, Princeton, MA (See directions below)

Scott Malkasian and Brian Faucher generously provide us with hamburgers, hot dogs, condiments and drinks. Please bring a salad, side dish and/or dessert to share. After lunch, Scott will lead a hive opening and talk about his management style and his many hive experiments.

Other reasons to come out and enjoy the afternoon with your fellow beekeepers:

• Annual WCBA Smoker Contest—bring your smoker and favorite fuel
• Tips on preparing your honey entry for the Spencer Fair
• Honey extraction demo by Norman Mercier—great for new beekeepers
• Tour Scott’s log cabin mansion—the view from the top is spectacular

BE SURE TO SAVE THESE DATES FOR UPCOMING MEETINGS AND EVENTS

Directions to the Leicester Knights of Columbus

Indoor monthly meetings and many of the Special Events of the WCBA are held at the Knights of Columbus Hall, Manville Street, in Leicester, Massachusetts.

From Webster Square in Worcester: Follow Route 9 West into Leicester. Two miles from the town line turn right onto Manville Street, just after Entwhistle’s Garage. Entrance to the Knights of Columbus is 1/2 mile up on your left.
From the Spencer or Leicester area: Follow Route 9 East. Turn left onto Manville Street, just before Entwhistle’s Garage. Entrance to the Knights of Columbus is 1/2 mile up on your left.