On a lively evening at the Barnsley Beekeepers Association, members were treated to an engaging and insightful presentation by Master Beekeeper Dave Bonner. Speaking on the Miller Method of Queen Rearing combined with the use of a cloake board, Dave shared his wealth of experience, offering practical techniques and invaluable knowledge to both novice and experienced beekeepers.
Supporting Beekeeping in Africa
Before delving into the technical aspects of queen rearing, Dave highlighted his ongoing work with Bees Abroad, a charity dedicated to supporting beekeeping projects in Uganda. He emphasized how beekeeping is not just a hobby but a life-changing activity in Uganda and Kenya, where improved pollination can significantly impact food production and economic stability for local communities. Attendees were encouraged to support the cause, reinforcing the strong sense of community among beekeepers worldwide. (Article written by Dave)
Understanding the Miller Method
Dave explained that the Miller Method is ideal for beekeepers needing only a few high-quality queens each season. This approach utilizes a natural inclination of bees to raise queen cells along the edges of combs. By cutting a brood frame in a zigzag pattern and placing it in a queenless colony, beekeepers can encourage bees to develop new queens efficiently.
Key benefits of the Miller Method include:
- Simplicity: No grafting is required, making it accessible to beginners.
- Low intervention: Beekeepers can work with natural bee behavior rather than forcing artificial queen cell production.
- High-quality queens: The method produces robust and well-nurtured queens.
The Role of the Cloake Board
Dave also introduced the cloake board, a tool that allows a double brood system to be temporarily separated into two sections. Named after New Zealand beekeeper Henry Cloake, this board facilitates the controlled raising of queen cells by simulating a queenless environment in the upper brood box. By manipulating entrances and using a removable slide, beekeepers can cycle between queenless and queen-right conditions, optimizing the colony for successful queen production.
Essential Steps for Successful Queen Rearing
Throughout his talk, Dave outlined the precise timing and management techniques required for successful queen rearing. Key takeaways included:
- Creating a strong cell-raising colony: Ensuring a dense population of well-fed nurse bees is crucial.
- Providing ample drones: Good queen mating requires a strong population of drones, ideally from selected colonies.
- Timing is critical: Planning activities in advance, including the use of a structured spreadsheet, significantly improves success rates.
- Continuous feeding: Ensuring both donor and cell-raising colonies are well-fed leads to healthier queens.
Practical Advice and Discussion
The talk concluded with an engaging Q&A session, where Dave answered questions on optimizing queen-rearing techniques, managing colony population balance, and avoiding common pitfalls. Attendees were particularly intrigued by new research suggesting that queens lay larger eggs in queen cells, potentially leading to superior queens.
Barnsley Beekeepers Association expressed their gratitude to Dave for his detailed and motivating presentation. The evening left members inspired to refine their own queen-rearing practices, with many eager to implement the Miller Method in their apiaries this season.
For those who missed the talk, Barnsley Beekeepers will be sharing Dave’s queen-rearing spreadsheet and encouraging further discussions on best practices. The event also raised donations for Bees Abroad, ensuring that the benefits of sustainable beekeeping continue to reach communities in need.
A huge thank you to Dave Bonner for his time, expertise, and dedication to beekeeping education. We look forward to seeing the results of this knowledge in the coming season!