The Polk County Beekeepers Association meets monthly from January through November. The next meeting will be held Thursday, January 18 at 6 p.m. at the Mill Spring Ag Center.

David Weir from the Spartanburg Beekeepers Association will present a program discussing nucs.  David gave an excellent presentation last fall on nucs and we are pleased to have him join us again. Nucs or nucleus colonies, are small honey bee colonies created from larger colonies. The term refers both to the smaller size box and the colony of honeybees within it. The name is derived from the fact that a nuc hive is centered on a queen, the nucleus of the honey bee colony. Nucs can be created  or purchased and can be used to better manage your hives.

March will be here soon and beekeepers should start preparing for the busy season ahead. When plants and trees start blooming, bees start making honey. The bees will also be busy supporting the queen as she increases her egg production to grow the colony.

The meeting is planned for Thursday, Jan. 18 from 6 – 7:30 p.m. at the Mill Spring Ag Center, 156 School Rd Mill Spring, N.C. The Polk County Beekeeping Association meets the third Thursday of the month. Beekeepers, bring your questions for the beekeeper question and answer session during the meeting.

Polk County’s GroRural program has been a supporter of the Polk County Beekeeper Association. For more information and/or to be added to the Polk County Beekeeper monthly email list, please email David Smith at d.smith.7363@gmail.com.

submitted by Lisa Krolak