25th Annual USDA/LSU/LBA Fall Field Day in Baton Rouge, La.

The Louisiana State Beekeepers Association and the USDA Honey Bee Breeding, Genetics and Physiology Laboratory will hold the 25th Annual Field Day on Saturday, November 6, 2021. The event will be held at the LSU Rural Life Museum, located at 4560 Essen Ln, Baton Rouge, LA 70808. The entrance is near the intersection of Essen Lane (LA 3064) and Interstate 10. The event will be held in the Visitor Center near the rear of the property

Gates will open at 8:00 a.m. with presentations and activities scheduled from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The Field Day will include a series of talks in the morning from members of the Louisiana Beekeepers Association and the USDA staff about Louisiana beekeeping and research being conducted at USDA lab. The afternoon features break-out sessions for beekeepers of all ranges of experience. The beginning beekeeper course is directed to those who have little to no beekeeping experience. Topics will include basic bee biology as well as necessary beekeeping equipment and management techniques. A question and answer session precedes a practical demonstration in honey bee colonies. The intermediate beekeeping course is focused on the beekeeper with a moderate amount of experience that is now ready to take it to the next level. Topics will include detecting signs of parasites and pathogens, performing swarm captures and cut-outs, followed by a final field session examining open colonies. This session will address the major problems in colony health and include discussion and guidance on the primary pests and pathogens affecting honey bee colonies. There will be a workshop for advanced beekeepers that focuses on principles of selective breeding followed by a final session on queen rearing techniques.  

A nonrefundable pre-registration fee of $35 is required for attendees 12 years of age and above.  Children 11 and under must stay with their parents at all times. Registration includes a catered lunch. Pre-registration will open October 1, 2021. You may pre-register and submit payment at labeekeepers.org with the option to pay by credit card or PayPal. A printable pre-registration form will be located atlabeekeepers.org that may be mailed along with a check made payable to Louisiana Beekeepers Association to Beth Derr, 210 Meadowlark Dr, Jefferson, TX 75657 and must be postmarked by October 22, 2021. Pre-registration will close October 22, 2021. All other walk-up registration on the day of the event will be collected at the door for the increased fee of $40 per person.

For additional information please visit labeekeepers.org or contact Joe Sanroma (318-346-2805), Jennifer Brown (601-493-3447), or Dr. Frank Rinkevich (225-276-3998 or frank.rinkevich@usda.gov).