NORTHEY: BEEKEEPING SCHOOLS TO BE OFFERED AGAIN IN 2012
Courses for beginning beekeepers to be held across the state

DES MOINES – Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey today encouraged Iowans interested in beekeeping to consider enrolling in one of the twelve beekeeping schools that will be held around the state again in 2012.  Iowa Honey Producers Association (IHPA) in partnership with several other groups host the courses to help those interested in beekeeping get started.

“These courses provide an excellent opportunity for new beekeepers or those who are interested in getting started to learn from Iowa beekeepers who understand our seasons and environment,” Northey said.  “The timing and content of the coursework aims to help you become prepared and confident in time for bees to arrive this spring.”

Early enrollment for many of these courses is important so courses can meet minimum enrollment numbers. Fees will vary by location.  For more information, please refer to the IHPA website and online monthly newsletter at www.abuzzaboutbees.com or contact Andrew Joseph, State Apiarist with the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, at (515) 725-1481 or andrew.joseph@iowaagriculture.gov.

A list of 2012 course locations and details follows here:

City	Start Date	Course Time	Meeting Location	Contact	Fee
Ankeny	Jan. 19	Thursdays for 7 weeks	Iowa Lab Facility, DMACC Campus	Andrew Joseph: 515-725-1481 or Andrew.Joseph@IowaAgriculture.gov	$30
Cedar Rapids	Jan. 19	8 sessions throughout the year	Indian Creek Nature Center	Bob Wolfe: 319-363-0664 or more information at www.indiancreeknaturecenter.org/basic-beekeeping/	Member: $55 Nonmember: $85 Partner: $10
Knoxville	Jan. 17	Tuesdays for 7 weeks	Marion County Extension Office	Craig Greene: (641) 842-2112	$30
Indianola	Jan. 19	Thursdays for 8 weeks	Trinity-United Presbyterian Church	Mike Wyatt: (515) 961-0357	TBD
Glenwood	Jan. 25	Wednesdays for 4-6 weeks	Mills County Engineer’s office	Clarence Seale: 712-310-7410	TBD
Winterset	March	TBD	Winterset library	Pat Randol: (515) 210-7445 or pdrandol@gmail.com	TBD
Oskaloosa	Jan. 19	Thursdays for 7 weeks	Mahaska County Extension office	Craig Green: 641-842-2112	$30
Marshalltown	Jan. 18	Beginning Beekeeping class for 4 weeks; Advanced Beekeeping next 3 weeks	Iowa Valley Community College	Sandy Supianoski: 800-284-4823	$40 for both sessions $25 for one session
Peosta	Jan. 24	Tuesdays for 6 weeks	Northeast Iowa Community College	NICC Continuing Education: 563-557-0354 or www.nicc.edu and click on continuing education	TBD
Washington	Feb. 6	Mondays for 4 weeks	Kirkwood Center	Ron Wehr: 319-698-7542	TBD
Spencer	March	TBD	TBD	Larry or Marlene Boernsen: 712-735-4205	TBD
Mason City	Feb. 4	Saturdays for 4 weeks	North Iowa Area Community College	NIACC Continuing Education: 641-422-4358	$39

There are currently about 1,500 beekeepers in Iowa that manage around 30,000 colonies of honeybees.  These honeybees produce about 2 million pounds of honey annually, valued at $3.5 million.  Honeybees are also responsible for the pollination of many Iowa crops.  Field and horticultural crops, home gardens and plants eaten by wildlife are dependent on bee pollination for the production of their fruits, nuts and seeds.  The economic value of honeybees as crop pollinators in Iowa has been estimated at $92 million annually.

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