Have your bees gone into cluster or are they still flying?   

​AND

How could you tell the difference.

Michael Hughes

A chairde, 

I am myself a prospective customer/member of the Irish Beekeeping Association. I'm proposing here that I would volunteer to take genuine questions from other prospective members; edit and moderate the questions given, and pose them to board meetings in a time-limited slot. If this is a step too soon then let me know too!

​Le dea-mhéin,
Gearóid Ó Fathaigh

At a recent lecture on overwintering of bees a chart was presented that clearly pointed out that queen laying steadily declines from its high point up the beginning of DECEMBER????  Then it starts to recover again.
After that the boss starts laying again so that the hive is stronger in January and February and so on.  If this is correct, and I have no reason to disbelieve the lecturer, the best time to treat for Varroa would seem to be in 3/4 weeks time????

Thoughts anybody....   Michael Hughes

Out of interest does anyone use a fogger to treat for varroa?.

​Tom Carr

I am a member of NIBS, and I have black bees.  However, I am convinced that IBA clg, cannot hold views or agendas for Black or Buckfast bees.  I feel that the need to serve all beekeepers equally (egalitarianism), demands strict neutrality from the company on this subject.  Furthermore I believe that local Associations are masters of their own destinies, and that as long as there is freedom of movement for goods (queens and colonies) and services within the European Union there it is fruitless to attempt anything other than on a voluntary basis at local level.

​Michael Hughes

Remember when you were a kid and you said a naughty word.
Well I don't know how your parents handled it but mine tried not to laugh, and then made me put some of my pocket money into the swear box.
Well, I would like to propose we have something similar.
Anyone who mentions the words " Buckfast" or " Native Irish Bee" has to pay a € 5.00 fine.
That money is then put towards a fund to help beekeepers who are affected by Foul Brood and have had to destroy their hives. 

What do you think folks?

Hello beekeepers,
Firstly, welcome to all our new members, and a big thank you to the committee that made this possible. 
Its hard to conceive of what has been achieved in such a short space of time.
You are all amazing.
To all the associations that were behind us and supporting this venture, thank you.
We are all looking forward to a fresh start in an honest, fair, affordable and transparent organisation.