Dave McKinney reports that the NB Beekeepers Association passed a resolution at its 2007 AGM to subsidize the difference in price between the regular and small cell foundation.

The McKinneys’ Bee Store (formerly the NBBA store) in Maugerville, NB is selling the intermediate 5.1 mm wired foundation as well as the standard wired and not-wired 4.9 mm small cell foundation manufactured by Dadant.

Suggested for use by experienced beekeepers only. Varroa Mite have a hard time reproducing on worker brood raised in small cell comb. Those beekeepers who on their own have tried this technique report good results, with varroa screens and drone foundation. Switching a colony of honey bees to small cell comb can be hard if not done at the correct time of the year…

For those who didn’t attend the Southern Beekeepers meeting in Sussex last month and receive a 12 page copy of Small Cell Experience and Methods, Dave invites you to send him an email and he will send you a copy in PDF format. You can contact him through the NB Beekeepers group on Yahoo.

Country Fields Beekeeping Supplies Ltd. has updated its price list for 2007, and it’s available now on their website at www.countryfields.ca. New products on the list include Pierco drone comb (one-piece plastic foundation frames) for drone-trapping, as well as safety respirators and PVC gloves for handling your formic acid or oxalic acid applications.

Top Stitch Manufacturing in British Columbia is now offering bee suits, jackets, and beekeeper’s hooded vests. The clothing is made of polycotton twill fabric in a design very similar to the leading brand. Features include various roomy pockets including right and left hivetool pockets, velcro closure on front flap pockets, UV-resistant and detachable veil, elastic on cuffs. Available in white or tan, in a range of sizes.

Contact Topstitch Manufacturing for more information.

Notice to New Brunswick Beekeepers:

The NBBA has closed its Bee Store in Maugerville effective Jan. 31/07.

This decision was made at the Board of Directors’ Meeting on Dec. 18/06. The details of the closure were negotiated by a Committee with Ruth and Cathy McKinney in January.

Cathy McKinney will continue a Bee Supply Store, on the same site, as a private enterprise.

Details of the closure will be available at the annual meeting in Moncton on the 17th of February. The gratitude and appreciation of the NBBA has been passed on to Ruth McKinney for her many years of service and dedication at the Store.

Cathy purchased a portion of the inventory from the NBBA but a portion of the inventory still remains. Plans are being looked at for disposal of these items. Perhaps, a one day auction combined with a field day and hot dogs? Anyone with ideas may pass them on to me. A list will be made of available items and circulated as soon as possible.

Ruth Esau
President NBBA