7:00 pm - Testing and Treating for Varroa Mites (in person and on ZOOM)
One of the critical tasks for a beekeeper these days is to diligently test for varroa mites and to treat when the number of mites is over the IPM established threshold.  This is an important session will discuss the ways to test and treat for varroa mites in 2022.   
 
Gordon Goeking  has been a beekeeper since 2008.  He is a journeyman beekeeper and currently has 7 beehives in 2 locations within Wake County.  He has learned the importance of being diligent in the management of our esteemed honey bee and values greatly the requirement to have an Integrated Pest Management plan in place for the practice of managing honey bees.  He is currently the Secretary of the WCBA. 

7:30 pm - Creating a Profitable Beekeeping Business
Many people sell excess honey and other products from the hive to offset the costs of their beekeeping hobby. Some people are able to generate a small profit from their beekeeping efforts. Creating a profitable side-liner beekeeping operation takes a different approach compared to the typical hobbyist.

Steve Baxter, from Baxter’s Bees in Zebulon, will discuss how to approach beekeeping from a business perspective. He will discuss the importance of planning, creating a brand (which is more than a logo), establishing pricing, and creating product value.  Steve will also discuss the operational streamlining necessary to scale the operation for profitability (modeling a commercial beekeeper).