Welcome to MSBA
MSBA is a non-profit membership organization of beekeepers in Maine, dedicated to education, using best practices and honey bee health. Affiliated with local chapters throughout the state, MSBA also works with the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry to promote the honey bee, products of the hive and initiatives to support beekeepers.
SWAN'S HONEY NUCS FOR SALE
Swan’s Honey has generously donated 20 Nucs to MSBA with the sale proceeds going toward beekeeper education.
The Nucs are 5 frame starter hives with 3 frames of brood, two frames of honey and an established queen!
Swan’s will contact you on or before June 10th to arrange pickup. Limit of two per customer.
PLEASE GO TO BEE SCHOOL
BEFORE YOU GET BEES
Acquiring some basic but essential skills is critical to becoming a successful beekeeper. “Bee School” will get you off to a great start.
In-person courses run for varying lengths from January through April, all over the state. There are also a number of online classes available in 2024.
“𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘊𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘮𝘢𝘴 𝘱𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘺 𝘴𝘺𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘺 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘴. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦’𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘥𝘰 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘳𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘶𝘱𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺.” — Andrew Coté
BEEKEEPER'S CALENDER
May
Much energy is spent on swarm prevention. Temperatures can still dip into the 30s at
night so beekeepers need to avoid breaking up the brood cluster and make sure that splits have enough bees to keep queen cells and brood warm. Most of your time will be spent managing for population buildup and swarm prevention. Reverse brood chambers if necessary and inspect the brood pattern. Check the queen’s performance and for symptoms of brood disease. Requeen any hives with failing or poor performing queens.