Taylor County Beekeepers Club

09/20/2024

Dear Taylor County Beekeepers Club Members and Supporters,

After many years of dedication and community involvement, we are formally announcing the closure of the Taylor County Beekeepers Club. Founded in 2013, our club aimed to educate and unite area beekeeping enthusiasts, promote cooperation, and raise awareness about the vital role of honey bees and other pollinators in our environment. Together, we achieved these goals through monthly meetings, educational booths at festivals, and open hive demonstrations.

I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to all our members and supporters for their enthusiasm and commitment. A very special thank you goes to those who served as elected officers, contributing their time and effort to help the club continue. We are also deeply grateful to the Taylor County Extension Office for hosting our meetings and events through the club's lifetime.

As we close this chapter, we have donated the remaining funds in our club account to the UF Foundation's Honey Bee Research Fund, supporting ongoing research and education in beekeeping at the UF IFAS Honey Bee Research and Extension Laboratory.

Thank you all for being part of this incredible journey. Though our club is ending, our shared passion for beekeeping and the well-being of other pollinators will continue.

Warm regards,

Trey Blue
Former President, Taylor County Beekeepers Club

05/08/2021

Just one more fascinating bee study:

The researchers said their findings could help fill a gap for lower-income countries with limited access to traditional coronavirus testing.

02/07/2021

Good news for a critical parcel in Columbia County!

A 518-acre property in western Columbia County within the Ichetucknee Springs Focus Area and the Santa Fe and Suwannee River watersheds is now protected under the NRCS Agricultural Conservation Easement Program.

11/21/2020

"Bees pollinate a quarter of the food consumed by humans. With the rapid decline of the honeybee population our ecosystem is impacted - which results in changes in what we eat. Amy Vu, extension coordinator of the UF/IFAS Honeybee Research and Extension Lab explains why communicating the importance of honey bees to the masses is critical for the survival of the bee species and the continuity of the food chain."

Bees pollinate a quarter of the food consumed by humans. With the rapid decline of the honeybee population our ecosystem is impacted - which results in changes in what we eat. Amy Vu, extension coordinator of the UF/IFAS Honeybee Research and Extension Lab explains why communicating the importance o...

08/05/2020

The insect also has yellow eyes, another rare genetic quirk. This combination of odd phenomena likely won’t happen again for a long time, experts say.

07/13/2020

As the growth of new COVID19 cases in Florida continues to rise, we will once again be canceling our upcoming meeting on Monday, July 12th. As of the latest update from the Florida Department of Health, nearly half of Talyor County's 136 cases have been detected in the last two weeks - 25% of our total number of cases have come in the last five days alone. We will continue to assess local conditions month-by-month and resume regular meetings when it is safe and practical to do so at our venue. In the meantime, we urge all of you to follow the recommendations of public health officials, including avoiding crowded gatherings, wearing a cloth face-covering in public spaces, maintaining six feet of distance between yourself and others outside of your household, and regular handwashing throughout the day.

Due to the COVID19 pandemic, the University of Florida Honey Bee Research and Extension Lab will be doing an all-virtual bee college this year, every Saturday morning in the month of August from 8:30am-12:30pm. Each of these five Saturday sessions will have different topics and can be registered for separately for $35/ea or as a bundle for $150. This is going to be a great learning opportunity for beekeepers of all ages and I highly recommend it to all of our members. Read more here: http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/honey-bee/extension/events-and-activities/bee-college/

04/08/2020

The bloom of Chickasaw Plum (Prunus angustifolia) has long since passed. But I needed something pretty today and these Lafayette County blossoms and Honeybee (Apis mellifera) filled the bill for me. Ahhh... Hope it brings you a moment of peace as well.