Category: MPSBA

• call to order at 0940
• World Bee Day – May 20 (United Nations declared world bee day to be May 20 last December – )
• Motion to approve last meeting minutes by Craig and seconded by Joe Boehm – carried.
• Next meeting is Friday, May 11, 2018 and John is bringing some food at 6pm if people want to show up a bit early – meeting still starts at 6:30pm
• Rob reviewed the antibiotic discussion at the Powassan meeting with the vet that they had come in.  This vet will probably provide the antibiotics to beekeepers and it shouldn’t be a big deal.
• Joe mentioned that you can buy some before the legislation is passed and put it in your freezer and it should keep for quite a while (at least until the whole process gets sorted out).
• Q&A
  • when to unwrap – Joe recommends middle of May for this year
  • when to re-queen – up to you, queen’s can live many years and some commercial bee keepers re-queen every august, you should be able to tell by your brood pattern if your queen is still viable – the workers will also know and take care of this themselves if you don’t (if you are letting the hive raise their own queen – should aim for when the dandelions are out, otherwise you can introduce a new queen any time)
  • where to find mason bees – set up your bee house and they will find it!
  • will there be a tour this year? – yes, still looking for volunteers – was going to be Bracebridge / Gravenhurst but maybe Parry Sound again, Rob will talk to Peter Istvan
• reminder to take courses if you are interested – there are quite a few available right now
• 50/50 – Joe won but donated his winnings to the club funds
• Motion to adjourn by Joe seconded by Roland – carried.
• formal meeting closed
• equipment show and tell and discussion

M-PS Beekeepers Assoc. March 17/18 9:30, Raymond Hall

Rob welcomed everyone and introduced Sarah Martz from OMAFRA.

Sarah gave us a talk about Understanding Ontario’s’ Label Requirements for Honey:
-Ont Regulation 119/11 and Food Safety Requirements
-OMAFRA’s honey monitoring program – will check colour class, grade(moisture) and drug and lead residues.
-Labels – in 2016 only 17% of retail honey were compliant, 46% at farm gate
-over 150 gr – honey/miel
-grade and colour class
-name and address
-net weight
-country/province of origin
Farm gate – sold directly to consumer from producer’s place of residence
-Honey/miel
-address
Retail – needs grade and colour class as well
-grade=moisture – use a refractometer
– colour – can use colour chart, Pfund Scale Honey Grader

Standard Container Sizes are for Retail, sizes do not apply for Farm Gate sales

Comb honey label must say Comb Honey/miel en rayon. Does not need grade and colour class.
Honey substitutes are not regulated – ie honey and cinamon etc.
Federal requirements – Consumer Packaging and Labelling act – nutrition label, allergen alerts

Sarah offered to look at any of our member’s labels to check them before we would get them printed.
sarah.martz@ontario.ca, Teresa Ferreira teresa.ferreira@ontario.ca.

50/50 draw was the biggest ever – for $50!! Winner is……Roland

New.. Website set up by Craig Nakamoto, www.muskokaparrysoundbee.ca. Minutes will be posted on the website, plus dates of upcoming meetings.
Rob suggested we get a logo for the association – put the request out to our creative members.

Bee yard tour – visiting other bee yards. June 2, with rain date being 9th. We will try to have the new bee inspector, Tim Greer or our retired bee inspector Claude Dupuis. Rob was asking for a volunteer to head up a Gravenhurst/Bracebridge tour this year. Contact Rob if you would be open to having us visit your yard.

Future speakers:
May 11, Gord Sleeman – honey judging
Sept 7, Tech Transfer Team

OBA conference, March 21 – 23, BlueMountain. Check out OBA site

Registration for new beekeepers. All beekeepers must be registered with OMAFRA, it is free. This is a good thing that helps us all. Most importantly it helps to keep track of any diseases and can warn nearby beekeepers.

Liability insurance is through OBA. $96/yr., 5 million liability. You need to be a member of the OBA. Also check your home insurance. Insurance is mandatory if you sell at farmers’ market.

Upcoming courses:
Tech Transfer Team
Canadore College, Parry Sound – Beginner’s, Queen Rearing, and IPM advanced.
Classes are also offered by Scott Ferrier, Kearney.

A good source of info on beekeeping is the videos from Univeristy of Guelph.
Devon Rawn –youtube videos are another good source.

Medication update. As of December, we will need a prescription from a vet in order to buy our Oxytet antibiotic. It was suggested that Hailey from Martin Veternary services will be a good connection.

Treasurer’s report:
Crofters education grant of $2000 has now been all used. Jane will send a letter of appreciation.
$2278 on hand.
32 members have signed for 2018.

Next meeting is April 21, 9:30

Meeting adjourned at 11:00. Jim Smith moved, seconded by Roland Lalond. Passed.