Custom Beehive at West Wind Winery
David Daugherty and Warren Strittmatter made a beehive modeled after an old farmhouse on the grounds of West Wind Winery in Max Meadows. The beehive was donated to Paul Hric, an owner of West Wind Winery, and a beekeeper.
West Wind Hive
Africanized Honeybees in Georgia (posted Jan 2011)
Keith Tignor, Virginia state apiarist, has mentioned that Africanized honeybees (AHB) have been found in Georgia. A quote follows:
“The finding of a feral AHB population in Dougherty County, GA, raised concerns among beekeepers, and apiarists, throughout the east coast. Virginia’s beekeepers obtain 61% of their out of state queens and 79% of their packages and bees from Georgia. The establishment of a feral AHB population in that state would increase the risk of this pest breeding with the queen and nuc production colonies and spreading to other states. At this time my counterpart in Georgia is conducting surveys for AHB. I expect to receive further information on the status of the Georgia honey bee population at an apiary inspectors meeting in January. In response to the Georgia announcement I distributed copies of the Beekeeping Best Management Practices at the Virginia State Beekeepers’ Association meeting last month [November].”
STARTING YOUNG!
Ian Niday, pictured below with his hives, is the 11-year old son of Mt. Empire Beekeeper’s Keith and Dana Niday of Bland County. Ian’s interest in beekeeping began with 4-H projects he did using his dad’s hives. Last year Ian decided he would like to have his own hives and received funding from the Tobacco Grant. Ian and his mom added a creative touch when painting the hives! The challenges of this winter haven’t dampened Ian’s spirit and dedication to his bees!!
