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Expansion Opportunities in Beekeeping
Grant F. C. GillardJackson, MO [email protected]
www.grantgillard.weebly.comwww.slideshare.net
“Going Big Time”
Attrition of Beginners…
Within two years80% of all beginner
will have quit.
But there are those who persist…
Evolution of a BeekeeperFirst year – scared, intimidated,
micromanageSecond year – this is easy, I’m a proThird year – I can make some “real” moneyFourth year – Wow! This is an expensive
hobbyFifth year – Whew, this is a lot of workSixth year – I finally broke even…this year.Seventh year – I need some new equipmentEighth year – I’m in too deep to quitNinth year – You know, I kind of enjoy it.
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סס☻
What Makes Expansion Work?Efficiency – working smarter, not just
harder-- making the best use of resources (time)
Economics – sales, return on investmentEnergy – Always something else, always
more work to be doneExpediency – getting things done when
they need to be done.
Levels of BeekeepingHobbyist 1 – 24 (perhaps 49)
(Recreational, Backyard) - no regard to cost200,000 beekeepers
Sideliner 25 - 299 hives (perhaps 50)(Small Scale) – added income potential10,000 beekeepers
Commercial 300+ hivesDoing it to make a living – profit potential2,000 beekeepers
Getting Bigger…why?Is it greed or opportunity?
Supplemental Income Potential Return on Investment
Three types of beekeeping**Honey productionQueen rearing, nucs and packagesPollination (largely migratory)
**Removals and cut-outs**Educational opportunities
One will prevail… …others may overlap.
Pollen
Honey Bee Removals and Cut Outs
Three Keys to Success1. Understand honey bee biology
Seasonality, swarming, honey production
2. Determine your priority, purpose or quest
3. Fold #2 into #1We work with the bees,
the bees don’t work for us.
Is there a downside?Less TLC and personal attentionMore “herd mentality”Always something to doAlways something to fix and repairAlways someone who stops by the
shopCertain seasons demand your full
attention (swarming, queen rearing)You have to attend hives in all kinds of
weather
Getting bigger…how?1. Buy (and move) existing hives2. Buy nucs and packages3. Split everything - OTS“Innovative Beekeeping”
https://www.createspace.com/59663744. Collect and trap swarms5. Bee rescues and cut-outs
Each one is a trade-off of time and labor against out of pocket costs
Acquiring EquipmentMake your own from scrap and cull wood, packing cratesMake your own from purchased lumber (Home Depot)Buy used and clean it up, repaintBuy new and assemble
Each option is a trade-off of time and labor against out of pocket
costs
Buying (and moving) existing hives
Does everything fit Langstroth?
Tailgate winch
Growth rate – rate of expansion
1 2 3 4 5 6 70
20
40
60
80
100
120
Series1
The need for more apiaries“Where Can I Keep My Bees?”
https://www.createspace.com/4044187Finding suitable locations, placement (LP tank)Distance from homeHow many hives can I bring, what’s too many?Diversity of floral sourcesAccess: 24/7, by truck, farm gatesWater, full sun, shelter from windsNeighborsAdjacent crops, pesticide application, mono“Social Rent”
Legal StuffWritten leaseRental agreementLandlord relationships – communicationDamage to landlord’s propertyDamage to your bee hivesLegal structure, LLC “individuals acting on behalf of
a company are personally liable for their tortious conduct, even if they did so on behalf of the company.”
Business Insurance, not home owners, basic liability
Record Keeping
The biggest lie we tell ourselves is…
“I don’t need to write it down. I’ll just remember it.”
Low-Tech Record KeepingJust remember stuff…sure.Bricks…but what do they mean?Writing on the lid
(Sharpie, permanent marker, pencil)Writing on the side of the brood boxNote card
in between the inner/outer coversPocket calendarsSpiral notebooks
Record KeepingSeveral on-line “in the cloud”
systems and “smart phone” apps Less details with more hivesWritten, accessible notesNeed to be reviewed before each day
Where do I need to go?What do I need to do?What do I need to get it done?
Outyard managementEverything you need for that day is
on the truckSome centralized storageOrganization and time
management
HarvestingHarvest early and often, vs one big blastUse of queen excluders three weeks priorUse of fume boards
Honey Robber (Bee-go)Honey Bandit – Mann LakeBee Quick
Fume boards to reduce robbing
Evolution of ExtractingLaundry room (floor drain and sinks)Kitchen BasementGarage (but not bee tight)Converted greenhouse2011 – built honey house
Separate warming room with dehumidifier
Separate extracting roomSeparate bottling room
A Word About Health InspectionsCounty Health Department trumps the state“Jelly Law” Section 261.241.1 (State Statute)
Only for direct-to-consumer salesBasically removes the commercial kitchen
SB500 – 2015, State Legislature Allows honey to be processed in the domicile where it is produced, then sold to a third party. No commercial kitchen.
If you have a separate honey house, unattached, SB500 does not apply, must be inspected by state…but they are easy to work with.
MarketingRetail – Direct to consumer
Farmer’s Markets*Driveway (honor box)What sizes?
Wholesale – to third partySell to a “reseller” bottled (Health Food)Sell to other beekeepers(buckets or barrels)
*politics, rules and regulations
Hired Help?Seasonal, hire some teenagerCash under the table, or legally
reportedInsurance, taxes, etc.Honey house needs rest roomsRest rooms need septic or sewerBarter with other beekeepers and
trade for nucs or used equipment
Business StructureLLC (still liable)Partnership
Do you keep your day job?Health insurance, pension
Conflicts and Challenges– only 24 hours each day
12345
Weather and mud
Work Commitments Family ObligationsDay light runs out
PersonalEnergy*
*heat, humidity, Facebook
Where to?
Secrets to Success: (with just about anything)
Identify your purposeWhat do I want?
Make appropriate plansHow am I going to get there?
Rearrange your prioritiesWhere do I invest my energy?
Pursue it with passionHow much do I want it? (Hunger
Factor)
