October Meeting - Speaker on Mite Control

The next meeting of the Crossroads Beekeepers will be Monday, October 13th at 6:30pm at the U of I Extension Center, 1209 N. Wenthe, Effingham.

Please enter the west doors and go downstairs….listen for the buzzing of the beekeepers!  As always, the general public are invited to attend.

Don Bennett, beekeeper from Wayne City, Illinois, will be our speaker for this month's meeting. Don and his wife Cathy operate Scrub Hill Apiary, and Don will be speaking on the use of organic acids for the control of parasitic mites in honey bee colonies. He has experience in using formic acid mixtures and has been investigating the use of oxalic acid by beekeepers in Europe and South America for highly effective and low cost treatments to preserve bee hives from the destructive Varoa mites. Oxalic acid is being promoted by the American Beekeeping Federation who has applied to the EPA for approval based on European research and regulation. When approved, a safe and inexpensive mite control tool will become a reality. Organic acids are not conventional pesticides and use naturally occurring substances to attack mites without damaging bee health or causing honeycomb contamination if prepared and applied properly.

Following the presentation, nominations will be taken for the 2015 officer elections that are held at November's meeting.  Positions available include President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Membership Director.  All paid members are eligible to run for these offices. 

REFRESHMENTS!!!  Please bring your favorite treats to share following the meeting.