9:00am - Welcome and Introductions - Margaret Stevens

9:15am - Getting Ready for the Fall Flow - Dr. Nicholas Calderone

10:15am - Coffee Break

10:45am - Commerical Queen Rearing - Valeri Severson

11:45am - Lunch - Provided by Boy Scout Troop 27 of Greenwich, NY

1:00pm - The Status of Nosema Disease and Viruses in Ontario - Janet Tam & Melanie Kempers

2:00 & 2:45 pm - Field Workshops

• Preparing for the Fall Honey Flow - Dr. Nicholas Calderone
• Cultural Methods of Varroa Control - Melanie Kempers
• Evaluating Queen Performance - Valeri Severson
• Basic Hive Management Techniques - Justin Stevens
• Monitoring for Varroa Mites - Janet Tam

3:45 - Panel Discussion & Wrap Up

Dr. Nicholas Calderone
Dr. Calderone is an Associate Professor of Entomology at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY. His areas of expertise include the evolution of social behavior and sociobiology as well as honeybee pets, parasites, and pathogens. He runs the esteemed Dyce Laboratory and conducts Master Beekeeper Workshops as well as numerous other extension efforts.

Valeri Severson
Valeri is president, owner, and manager of Strachan Apiaries, Inc. She’s the daughter of the founder, Don Strachan, whose business began in 1954. Valeri has been active in the family business for more than 30 years and is highly skilled in queen raising and instrumental insemination.

Janet Tam & Melanie Kempers
(The Bee Girls)
Janet and Melanie have been Research Apiculturists with the Ontario Beekeepers Association, Technology-Transfer Program since 1998 and 2006, respectively. The mandate of the Tech-Transfer Program is to conduct research for Ontario’s beekeeping industry, to facilitate a honeybee breeding program in Ontario and to transfer information, skills and methodologies to the beekeepers. The Tech-Transfer Program focuses
on IPM controls for honeybee parasitic mites and co-operates with bee breeders across the province to test for mite and disease resistance in honeybees.

Justin Stevens
Bob’s son Justin is a second generation beekeeper and the manager of Betterbee. As a Peace Corps volunteer in Guatemala, he specialized in agribusiness, working with indigenous farmers and beekeepers and their Africanized honeybees. He has also worked in the non-profit sector in marketing, education, and alternative energy.

Margaret Stevens
Margaret started Betterbee with her husband Bob in 1979. As the president and owner, she plays a role in all aspects of the company.