Apiarist extension courses upcoming

Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development (ARD) is offering three different apiculture extension courses for both new and seasoned apiarists.

Courses located in Edmonton and Airdrie.

BEGINNERS BEEKEEPING COURSE

Course Outline: 2 Days of class work in November or March and a ½ day of hands on work in May.

This 2 1/2 day course is for beginner (wanna be(e)keepers) focuses on the biology and management of honey bees in Alberta. Based on this knowledge, students will learn the practical aspects of purchasing bees, assembling equipment, seasonal management, pest and disease management, handling bees safely, production, extraction, and selling honey. It includes hands on sessions that will train students on how to start and become active beekeepers. 

This course is for beginning beekeepers only. 

This course takes place in Airdrie November 28-29, 2014 and concludes with the field day on May 9, 2015. The Edmonton session takes place November 21-22, 2014 and concludes with a field day on May 9, 2015.

Register early! Class size is limited to only 35 participants. To register, please call toll-free 1-800-387-6030 or click here for more information.

HONEY FOOD SAFETY WORKSHOP

What’s the Buzz about Honey? This is a one-day workshop that focuses on the safe use of agricultural chemicals and implementation of On Farm Food Safety Program and biosecurity practices in your beekeeping business in beekeeping. The workshop includes information on the production of quality safe honey; residues; and the proper use, handling and storage of agricultural chemicals. This workshop also includes information on the federal Food and Drugs Act that governs honey and hive products. Bee biosecurity activities that can be done to minimize the risk of introducing and spreading disease and pests are included. 

Register now as seating is limited. Deadline for registration is five days prior to each workshop. This course takes place in Airdrie on March 12, 2015 and in Edmonton on March 19, 2015.

For more information or to register please call 1-800-387-6030.

INTERMEDIATE BEEKEEPING SHORT COURSE
This one-day advanced course is designed as the next step for beekeepers that have a basic understanding of beekeeping and have kept honey bees for at least one full year. It focuses on reviewing the biology of honey bees through the seasons. It also includes improvement of management practices for swarming control, making nuclei (splitting colonies), feeding, and wintering. The participants will also learn about pest diagnoses and best practices of what to do and why for pest management based on Integrated Pest Management (IPM) principles. Production of quality honey that meets consumers’ expectations is discussed.
It is not mandatory but strongly recommended that participants take our Beginners Beekeeping class first and have kept bees for at least one year. General beekeeping and basic understanding of the biology of honey bees will not be covered.

Class size is limited to only 30 participants. This course takes place in Edmonton February 21, 2015 and in Airdrie February 28, 2015.

To register or for more information please call 1-800-387-6030.