Bee Informed Partnership
(BIP) 2018 SENTINEL APIARY PROGRAM
The Bee Informed Partnership is looking for participants in their Sentinel Apiary Program. Below is the information we received from them.
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My name is Dan Reynolds, and I’m a research specialist with the Bee Informed Partnership: https://beeinformed.org/
We research colony survivorship and provide diagnostics for beekeepers across the US.
I am reaching out to beekeeping organizations and representatives for participation in the fifth year of the Sentinel Apiary Program. We had a great year for participation in 2017 and are looking to do the same for 2018.
Spots are limited, so if this is something that you or your club might be interested in, please let me know and I can reserve a spot for you.
The program starts in May and we have a little over a month to get in those last applications.
This program is specifically suited to beekeeping groups or smaller beekeepers. Beekeeping organizations often use the program as a teaching tool for new beekeepers, or have an individual participate on behalf of the group as a benchmark diagnostic tool for colonies in your area.
You can find more information about the Sentinel Apiary Program on the Bee Informed Partnership website, which can be viewed here:
Please feel free to ask us about how beekeeping clubs specifically use the program.
Details:
The Program consists of six months of sampling (May-October) for either 4 or 8 colonies
(8 is recommended, but if you will only have 7 or fewer in 2018 then 4colonies is an option).
Participating in the Program means you will:
1. Take monthly samples of ~300 bees from each colony and mail them to our lab to be processed for Varroa and Nosema
2. Perform a routine health inspection of each colony during each sampling (we ask you to record Frames of Bees, Brood Pattern, and Queen Status)
3. Optional: share hive scale data (if you already have one or want to purchase one, we have several supported vendors which can be found here: https://beeinformed.org/programs/sentinel/
What we do for you is:
1. Provide all materials and instructions needed to complete sampling
2. Send you diagnostic reports about your Varroa and Nosema levels within two weeks of receiving your samples
3. Keep all of your data in a safe, anonymous online database so it can be viewed by beekeepers in your region as a “Sentinel” or first line of defense for watching Varroa levels.
Varroa map can be seen here: https://bip2.beeinformed.org/sentinel/
Hive Scale map can be seen here: https://bip2.beeinformed.org/hive-scales/public
Past Sentinel participants say the Program helps improve your colony health monitoring, record keeping, and Varroa management. It can also be used as a valuable teaching tool to share with new beekeepers, or other beekeepers in your area or beekeeping club. Plus, non-participating beekeepers in your area will benefit from being able to see your Sentinel data shared online as a benchmark for colony health in their region!
How to Sign Up & COSTS:
The price for the Program is:
$275 for 4 colonies or $499 for 8 colonies.
If you would like to participate, please fill out the enrollment form:
https://www.ncbeekeepers.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/2018_Sentinel_Enroll.pdf
and send a check made payable to University of Maryland to:
Dan Reynolds
Bee Informed Partnership
4112 Plant Sciences Building
College Park, MD 20742
Please let me know if you have any questions at all. I’d be happy to talk more about the details of the Program!
Happy Beekeeping,
—
Dan Reynolds
Faculty Specialist
Bee Informed Partnership
University of Maryland
Entomology Department
4112 Plant Sciences Building
College Park, MD 20742
301-405-3799