Sustainable Beekeepers Guild of Michigan - Page

USDA Pol-Line Queens Available🐝 - https://mailchi.mp/sbgmi/nqiportalupdate71024

VSH Testing Workshop + Mated Queens from TKB + Queen Updates - http://eepurl.com/iTjJs-/

The Harbo Assay is one of the primary methods used to sample honey bee colonies for the presence and degree of Varroa Sensitive Hygiene (VSH) or as we like to call it, measurement of Suppressed Mite Reproduction (SMR).

Beekeepers can use this skill to evaluate the colonies they would like to raise queens from, determine if the queen or bees they’ve purchased are as the (VSH) seller advertised, or to further evaluate ACTUAL brood infestations by varroa mites.

SBGMI Members Save $20 Off With Coupon Code In The Members Section.

https://sbgmi.org/product/hands-on-harbo-assay-class-belleville-mi-8-10-24

USDA Pol-Line VSH & Wildflower Queens Available 🐝 - https://mailchi.mp/sbgmi/nqiportalupdate6424-10336617

Feelings aren’t facts. Uncapping and Recapping myths.

Beekeepers more frequently than not – will not allow the bees to be bees when it comes to the varroa mite. Is this attitude toward the latter changing? The SBGMI believes so. The mission of the Northern Queen Initiative believes so. While we will listen to the whispers of the bees in things like bearding and comb building will we listen to them when they tell us about mite suppression? The honeybees have long told us how to handle many things through beekeepers who have listened to those whispers and passed the triumphs on to the rest of us – but when it comes to living with the varroa mite, the ear plugs come out and we default to easy mode.

Read more:

Feelings aren't facts. Uncapping and Recapping myths. - Sustainable Beekeepers Guild of Michigan Typical with beekeeping myth, lore, and "teaching" much of what is said about the how's, what's, and who's of beekeeping is seldom rooted in fact. What we get when we ask questions are often anecdotes and experientially based insights. The idea of taking things with a grain of salt is most apt here.

The 2024 SBGMI Hobbyist and Sideline Beekeeper Management Survey is live. All beekeepers are encouraged to take the survey.

It takes about 5 minutes. All participants can receive a chance to win a NQI or SBGMI T-shirt!

us14.list-manage.com

Is uncapping and recapping behavior legit? 🐝 - https://mailchi.mp/sbgmi/springsummerupdate

3 seats available! Join us for this event!

Queen Grafting Class - Niles MI. 6.22.24 - Sustainable Beekeepers Guild of Michigan NQI Presents: Learn to Graft Your Own Queens. June 22nd, 2024 9:00am - 2:00pm 1422 Alman St. Niles, Michigan, 49210 Free queen rearing book and grafting tool, take home your practice queen cell! Morning refreshment and lunch to follow class. Participants should complete the online queen rearing univ...

VSH & Mite-Biter stock now in portal!! 🐝

Queen Grafting Class in Niles, MI! - https://mailchi.mp/sbgmi/nqiqueenclassniles24

Queens will be added to the ordering portal this coming Monday.

The Northern Queen Initiative will be producing VSH Virgin Queens from stock originating from several breeder queens:

Dr. John Harbo Instrumentally Inseminated VSH Breeder Queen

USDA Pol-Line VSH Breeder Queens from the USDA-ARS Baton Rouge Lab

Michigan Open mated 2022 Stevens Bee Company Queen Mother (Harbo 4)

Purdue Mite-Biter F1 Virgin Queens will also be made available from Rex Apiary

All breeding stocks must meet strict criteria for NQI production and come from a verified breeder queen, score 4 on the Harbo scale for Varroa Sensitive Hygiene (VSH), or have been verified using appropriate assay techniques.

All VSH Virgin Queens are $20.00, local pickup in Michigan locations, or $35 flat rate shipped overnight.

Ordering Portal - Sustainable Beekeepers Guild of Michigan Certified Queen Breeders actively select for and commit to annually produce a minimum number of queens using NQI selection protocols for NQI purposes. New breeder queens are made available annually to Breeders that report required records and distribution royalties. Certified Queen Breeders are voti...

💵SBGMI Receives Grant Funding for Northern Queen Initiative - https://mailchi.mp/sbgmi/sbgmi-receives-grant-funding-for-northern-queen-initiative

Queen Portal has VSH queens in stock! 🐝 - http://eepurl.com/iQkms2

The NQI Ordering Portal is now Live! 🐝 - https://mailchi.mp/sbgmi/nqi-order-portal-live

We are very grateful for all of the sponsors of the door prizes at the SBGMI winter conference in February.

They have all finally been shipped/sent from the manufacturer and the SBGMI. Happy day!

Bee Culture Magazine, American Bee Journal, Betterbee, HillCo, LLC - Beekeeping Equipment Supplier, Optera, EZPZ Beekeeping Equipment, Kobe Apiaries, Miller Bee Supply, Pierce Beekeeping Equipment

Conference videos from the 3rd Annual Virtual Winter Conference are now beginning to post to the SBGMI website for subscribed members.

SBGMI Members receive early-bird access to steep discounts for our excellent virtual conference every winter. They also receive premier access to the recordings before posting for general membership. Along with membership there are a plethora of other steep discounts that come with your $20.00 fee. Please enjoy this first talk from Troy!

https://sbgmi.org/sbgmi-3rd-annual-virtual-winter-conference-videos-2024

At some point, everyone has to do the whole "legalese" thing and update policies.

The short version is - if you are a subscriber at http://www.sbgmi.org, and you do not wish to auto-renew your membership fee, you need to login to your account (https://sbgmi.org/my-account) and change your settings to disable this option.

We appreciate all your support and 100% understand the desire to have control over your transactions. Please, by all means, disable this if you do not wish it to be active.

Please read our Auto-Renewal Policy: https://sbgmi.org/legal-auto-renewal

AUTO RENEWAL SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT - Sustainable Beekeepers Guild of Michigan his Auto Renewal Subscription Agreement ("Agreement") sets forth the terms and conditions between You as a Subscriber ("Subscriber") and Sustainable Beekeepers Guild of MI d/b/a SBGMI) of 11126 Wayne Rd., Romulus, MI. 48174 in connection with Your subscription for Auto Renewal Subscription ("Auto Re...

Orders close on Saturday at midnight.

LAST CALL VSH Group Queen Orders from Cory Stevens - https://mailchi.mp/sbgmi/final-call-group-queen-orders-10290579

Although we have dropped some subtle hints and inclinations over the past year or so, we are very proud about some upcoming news for the Northern Queen Initiative - NQI. The SBGMI has been working on this effort for a few years and is proud about the progress this far. We have some great news on the horizon and are looking forward to sharing it with everyone who has supported everything we do!

Don't hesitate to give the new Northern Queen Initiative - NQI page a follow to stay in touch with the efforts. To learn more visit http://www.fightingthemites.com

The SBGMI will continue to happily share information on behalf of the NQI through our current media channels as we foster this new initiative and more!

SWARMS! SPLITS! LOOK OUT! WE BETTER HURRY!!!!

A fantastic article in the American Bee Journal by Eleanor Shumacher concerning Beekeeping Basics: Fail Safe Splits.

If you aren't a current subscriber, SBGMI members can find a discount form/code at https://sbgmi.org/membership

In this article Eleanor emphasizes the need for proactive beekeeping and making splits at the first signs of the swarm impulse. This can prevent swarming and help colonies grow rapidly with the flush of spring blooms.

Where are the spring blooms?! They are coming...but not yet. The North is currently experiencing Spring leaf-out, but not quite at blooming stage! Drones! Queens! Swarms! Oh my - but NOT YET!

Some key tips she provides for making splits from strong spring colonies to prevent swarming and maximize colony growth?

1. Planning early and be proactive and make splits when the weather is nice enough (above 50°F).
2. Split strong overwintered colonies to prevent swarming and save time and resources.
3. Monitor hives for signs of the swarm impulse, such as a stable spring population and a burst of spring blooms, to know when to make splits.
4. Ensure good nutrition to help build colonies before and after splitting. Some may use feeders, some may not. But make sure you have honey/nectar if not supplementing.
5. Ensure the new colony yard has shelter from the wind to prevent drifting when workers re-orient to their new homes.

Be patient grasshoppa!

Membership - Sustainable Beekeepers Guild of Michigan Discount and Member Benefits The SBGMI offers more than just engagement on social media platforms. We also have membership options for individuals and family! All beekeeping management styles are welcome […]

🫅Does requeening your colony really help? + $5 Discounts on Memberships, both new and renewal! - https://mailchi.mp/sbgmi/long-live-the-queen-katie-lee

New to beekeeping? Have you checked out the SBGMI Lending Library? Here is one you should have in your own library as you start your beekeeping adventure:

The Backyard Beekeeper An Absolute Beginner's Guide Invite bees into your backyard to help out with pollinating the garden, provide crafting materials, or just help the Earth with The Backyard B...

We will be looking for your blazing insights, commentary, and contributions for the Spring Quarterly Journal!

Submissions can be on any number of "Summer" relevant topics like: hive inspections, swarm prevention & management, honey harvesting, pest and disease management, queen management, record keeping, prepping for fall (YES PREPPING FOR FALL), or whatever you'd like to submit.

Send your idea, article, or questions to Janet Tucker!

Jeff Wesolowski is from Maumee, Ohio. He currently works as a full-time RN with over 29 years of experience. Jeff keeps bees in many styles and is proud of is non-conventional frame designs and 6 frame capacity hive bodies. When he isn't keeping bees "Captain Jeff" is fishing on Lake Erie, working his garden, preserving produce, and brewing kombucha and mead. Jeff is an avid supporter of the SBGMI mission and a case study in the product of our efforts, willingness and desire to help the honey bee species succeed through genetics and good stewardship!

SBGMI Satisfaction Survey + Win a free shirt! 👕 - https://mailchi.mp/sbgmi/2024-satisfaction-survey

The Sustainable Beekeepers Guild of Michigan receives feedback in many forms. Please take 3-5 minutes to answer the following questions to help us better serve and understand our supporters! These responses will be anonymous unless you elect to permit our use of them publicly to help promote the SBGMI.

Thanks in advance for all your support and helping us continue to better our efforts in the future!

Additionally, you will be registered to win a free SBGMI/NQI T-Shirt for your time!

https://tinyurl.com/53xxm9jk

SBGMI Members get a generous 15% discount with Premier Beekeeping Products.

Login to your account http://www.sbgmi.org and head over to the member section.