Cybil Preston, State Apiary Inspector, MDA
Phone 410-841-5920, Fax 841-5835, Cell 410-562-3464
changing Maryland for the better
Happy Summer! I Hope all are well and healthy.
New Pandemic Practices
Due to the Covid 19 Pandemic, we are working under different conditions.
In order to keep the apiary inspection staff safe, we have implemented new operating practices. We are currently doing inspections on hives with issues or beekeepers with inspection needs for commerce.
Please reach out to me if you need an inspection. We are asking that the beekeeper NOT be present in the apiary. If the beekeeper is present both the beekeeper and the Inspector MUST wear masks and must stay 6' apart.
Mask wearing is going to be increasingly harder to do as the summer heat rises. We will assess this and make changes as the Governor proceeds with the stages of the roadmap of recovery.
National Honeybee Survey
We will again participate in the National Honeybee survey. Hopefully, the labs that process the samples will be opening back up soon. I currently do not have the ability to store all of the samples whilst the lab is closed.
I am looking for beekeepers with 8 or more beehives in the same location, who would be willing and wanting to participate. The survey is free of charge! An inspector will take samples of bees and wax from each colony.
Tests are run on the samples and the beekeeper will get a print out and run down of hive issues and viral levels.
Anyone wishing to participate should contact me. Cybil.preston@maryland.gov.
The crazy weather this spring made it interesting for splits, nucs and queen rearing.
The cooler/cold weather was not a friend to the beekeepers doing the above actions. We saw a good bit of chill brood this spring and unsuccessful queen mating but it seems to be straightening out due to all the swarming I am hearing about.
The honeybee disease detector dogs are now on VACATION til the fall and weather gets colder. They are currently spending their days snoozing and swimming.