What started as an idea to help fill the beekeeping information and events void this winter, has morphed into a three-day conference set for Wanganui, August 11-13 where beekeepers, scientists, equipment suppliers, honey traders and leaders of industry bodies will drive discussions on a wide range of topics. We dive into the programme set for The Beekeepers Conference 2024, hosted by Southern North Island Beekeeping Group (SNIBG), to find out what attendees can expect.
Last month conference organises opened registrations and announced that Californian scientific-beekeeper Randy Oliver would headline The Beekeepers Conference, and weeks out from the event held at Wanganui Racecourse the full programme has rounded into shape.
Oliver’s expertise will be well utilised, with speaking slots for him all three days, on the topics of ‘varroa management strategies’, ‘breeding for mite resistance’, and ‘ways to natural miticides and a dive into oxalic acid’. The American, whose hives have been free of synthetic miticides for 14 years and who has a breeding programme resulting in half of his hives not requiring any varroa treatment, will also front various group and panel discussions throughout the event.
Around those sessions, there is plenty more to entice beekeepers to the conference, at which discussions around varroa management will play a leading role. Complimenting Oliver’s experience in that area will be Kiwi beekeepers’ reports of what is and isn’t working for them, Victoria University of Wellington professor Phil Lester discussing mite resistance, an exploration of whether we have “resistant” bees in New Zealand, NOD Apiary scientist Heather Broccard-Bell via video-link on formic acid, and Russell Smith of Beequip NZ on oxalic acid treatments.
Varroa is far from the only concern for honey bee health, and so Australian beekeeper Wayne Fuller will provide education and warning about small hive beetle, John Berry will address nosema and John Mackay from dnature will detail their Foster Method for detecting American foulbrood, among others.
Egmont Honey has come on board as event sponsor and chief executive James Annabell will take the opportunity to address beekeepers around honey markets.
With the honey industry in the midst of developing a new strategy, as proposed by Apiculture New Zealand and criticized by New Zealand Beekeeping Inc, leaders of both those groups – Karin Kos and Jane Lorimer respectively – will address the conference. Continuing the theme of looking to the future, Fiona O’Brien will tackle the tricky topic of funding research for the apiculture industry.
The programme also includes Ministry for Primary Industries scientists presenting their work, with Hayley Pragert offering ‘How commercial beekeepers are using miticides’, and Richard Hall on their hive monitoring project.
Conference organiser Frank Lindsay says, as of late July, they had about 80 attendees registered for each day. Now, with the introduction of a full programme and nearing closer to the event, they are hoping that number will rise steeply. They are hoping to create an environment where beekeepers come along not just to listen to speakers, but to contribute to discussions.
“We would like to have an interactive conference where beekeepers can ask questions and add to the information if they have something to contribute. It’s all about exchanging knowledge,” Lindsay says.
“We have assembled a great line up of speakers, some you may never see in person in New Zealand again. With the cost per day to attend less than a replacement nuc, it’s a great investment, especially considering one thing learned at conference can pay back for years.”
For a registration form email beeconference2024@gmail.com
For enquiries email secretary Frank Lindsay, lindsays.apiaries@gmail.com
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