• By Phyllis B. Smith
• Posted Thursday, October 24, 2019

Learn How to Help Your Honey Bees Survive the Winter

According to the Bee Informed Partnership, the 2018-2019 annual survey for winter honey bee colony loss indicated the “highest level of winter losses reported since the survey began in 2006-2007.” Backyard beekeepers suffered the most with a nationwide mortality rate of nearly 40 percent. What Are the Patterns of Why Honey Bee Colonies Are Dying in the U.S.? According to Dr. David Tarpy, N.C. State Extension Specialist in Apiculture, some of the top reasons for winter mortality are weak colonies going into the fall, starvation, queen failure, and varroa mite infestation. What’s a beekeepers to do? For starters, attend the November 2 meeting of Forsyth County Beekeepers Association where guest speaker Gregory Fariss, Apiary Inspector for N.C. Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services, will discuss time-tested and science-based techniques on keeping your honeybees alive through the winter. The meeting is free and open to the general public. See details below.

Location: N.C. Cooperative Extension, Forsyth County Center
1450 Fairchild Road, Winston-Salem, 27106
Potluck dinner at 5:30 pm
Presentation at 6:15 pm
Meeting at 7:15 pm