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Just Wondered If Anyone Practices Organic Beekeeping And Has Had Good Results? I've Tried For A Couple Of Years To Do The Standard Way , And Am Having Bad Luck. I'm More Interested In The Organic Ways , With No Chemicals .
Mike in Ohio said:I try and use integrated pest management (IPM). This doesn't swear off using chemicals but does minimize their use. This year I didn't use apistan (haven't used checkmite because I hear it is nasty stuff and I'm trying to avoid it). I think mite counts were down here this year because of all the rain. That's the only thing I can think of.
Using screened bottom boards makes a huge difference for VM. It also helps keep the hives cooler in the dead of summer. Not as much bearding.
I haven't had enough of a track record (3 years) to say with confidence as to what impact some of the changes will have. I'm also leaning towards going with all carnolians. I also run russians and italians.
With the way the weather has been I'm thinking I'm going to see heavy losses this winter...maybe 50%. The past few years I've done much better than reports from other beekeepers in the area. I was just thinking about what I am going to order for packages and/or nucs for this spring.
Well, enough rambling on my part.
The ones I have now are The Latshaw bees. I started with a nuc from a guy, and they are alot tamer than the Buckfast I had. Very mean.
I requeened in the fall , did all by the book and still lost the hive. Someone at the beekeeper's meeting said it could be tracheal mites, but I did treat with menthol around Aug./Sept.
It's harder than I thought, but alot of fun too!