Heartland Apicultural Society – Michigan State University Apiculture Conference Saturday, May 30, 2026 _ 8:00 Registration opens (North Lobby) / Vendor Area Opens (Big Ten A) *TENTATIVE - SUBJECT TO CHANGE | |||||||||||||
9:00 - 9:10 Welcome from Heartland Apicultural Society – Jennifer Tsuruda (Big Ten C) | |||||||||||||
9:10 - 9:30 Welcome and apiculture resources from Michigan State University* – Ana Heck (Big Ten C) | |||||||||||||
9:30 - 10:30 Plenary Session (Big Ten C): What Makes a Good (or Bad) Queen* – Jeff Harris | |||||||||||||
10:30 - 11:00 BREAK (Vendors, drinks, snacks, and door prizes in Big Ten A) | |||||||||||||
| Big Ten A Vendor Session | Big Ten C | Big Ten B | Michigamme | Conf. 62 | Open Apiary 1** | Open Apiary 2** | Apiary Class*** | Laboratory Workshops*** | ||||
11:00 - 12:00 | Mites Past, Present, Future: Formic Acid, Varroa, and Preparing for Tropilaelaps Tom Nolan | All about drones Robyn Underwood | Honey bee nutrition and supplemental feeding John Benham | Swarms, splits, and sustainability Richard Wahl | Managing amitraz-resistant Varroa mites Jeff Harris | Colony inspections** Reed Johnson | Varroa monitoring** Jennifer Tsuruda | Varroa management*** Ana Heck & Meghan Milbrath | No session | ||||
12:00 - 1:00 LUNCH BREAK – on your own (Brody Hall is open for lunch) | |||||||||||||
1:00 - 2:00 Plenary Session (Big Ten C): Spotted Lanternfly Honeydew Honey* – Robyn Underwood | |||||||||||||
2:00 - 2:15 BREAK | |||||||||||||
2:15 - 3:15 | A New Mode of Action for Varroa Control: How Norroa™ Protects Colony Health Eric Walgren Buzzing along with America 250 Margaret Reid | Improving Varroa control* Reed Johnson | Single brood box management Mike Sautter | Swarm catching tips Barry Richards | Using a double-screen board for splits Leonard Davis | Beekeeping while minimizing disruption** Judy Wu-Smart | Colony inspections, queen handling** Ana Heck | Swarm deterrence and splits*** Meghan Milbrath | Natural Sciences Building 2:30- 4:30 Bee Dissection & Anatomy*** Zachary Huang Must be pre-registered | ||||
3:15 - 3:45 BREAK (Please visit vendors & grab a drink - Big Ten A) | |||||||||||||
3:45 - 4:45 | Honey Bee Health and what we are doing for beekeepers David Westervelt | Think like a bee Larry Connor | Bee diseases & Varroa* Leonard Davis | The honey bee’s annual cycle of survival John Benham | Swarms, splits, and sustainability Richard Wahl | Inspections and swarm management** Judy Wu-Smart | Colony inspections, queen handling** Ana Heck | Making late season nucs for expansion*** Meghan Milbrath | |||||
5:00 - 6:30 Reception (Kellogg Patio) | |||||||||||||
Key: *Presentation only offered once during the conference. **Space limited on a first come, first served basis. ***Pre-registration required.
Heartland Apicultural Society – Michigan State University Apiculture Conference Sunday, May 31, 2026_ 8:00 Registration opens (North Lobby) / Vendor Area Opens (Big Ten A) *TENTATIVE - SUBJECT TO CHANGE | ||||||||
8:45 - 9:00 Welcome from Heartland Apicultural Society – Jennifer Tsuruda (Big Ten C) | ||||||||
9:00 - 10:00 Plenary Session (Big Ten C): Soybeans, Honey Bees, and Pesticides: Understanding the Risks & Benefits* – Reed Johnson | ||||||||
10:00 - 10:15 BREAK (Please visit vendors & grab a drink and snack - Big Ten A) | ||||||||
| Big Ten C | Big Ten B | Michigamme | Conf. 62 | Open Apiary 1** | Open Apiary 2** | Apiary Class*** | Laboratory Workshops*** |
10:15 - 11:15 | Say bees! (photographing your bees) Jennifer Tsuruda | Swarm catching tips Barry Richards | Using a double-screen board for splits Leonard Davis | Honey bee nutrition and supplemental feeding John Benham | Beekeeping while minimizing disruption** Judy Wu-Smart | Colony inspections, queen handling** Ana Heck | Swarm deterrence and splits*** Meghan Milbrath | 10:30 - 12:30 College of Veterinary Medicine G200 Bacterial Disease Microscopy*** Peter Fowler Natural Sciences Building Bee Dissection & Anatomy*** Zachary Huang |
11:15 - 11:30 BREAK (Please visit vendors & grab a drink - Big Ten A) | ||||||||
11:30 - 12:30 | The honey bee’s annual cycle of survival John Benham | New invasive threats* Jennifer Tsuruda | Managing amitraz-resistant Varroa mites Jeff Harris | Trees for bees Mike Connor | Inspections and swarm management** Judy Wu-Smart | Colony inspections, queen handling** Ana Heck | Making late season nucs for expansion*** Meghan Milbrath | |
12:30 - 1:30 LUNCH BREAK – on your own (Brody Hall is open for lunch) | ||||||||
1:30 - 2:30 Plenary Session (Big Ten C): Shake My Breath Away (Pros & Cons of Mite Monitoring Methods)* – Jennifer Tsuruda | ||||||||
2:30 - 2:45 BREAK (LAST CHANCE TO VISIT VENDORS & grab a drink - Big Ten A) | ||||||||
2:45 - 3:45 | Mitigating viral diseases in honey bee colonies* Jeff Harris | Think like a bee Larry Connor | Single brood box management Mike Sautter | Trees for bees Mike Connor | Efficient inspections** Robyn | Colony inspections** Reed Johnson | Varroa management*** Ana Heck & Meghan Milbrath | No session |
3:55 - 4:10 Door Prizes & Conference Closing (Big Ten C) | ||||||||
Key: *Presentation only offered once during the conference. **Space limited on a first come, first served basis. ***Pre-registration required.