Commercial Queen Rearing and Package Production
| Dates | January 8-February 16, 2024 |
|---|---|
| Instructors | Scott Debnam (primary) and Jerry Bromenshenk (co-instructor) |
| Registration Fee | $395 |
| Location | Course meets fully online. |
Course Description
The Commercial Queen Rearing and Package Production course is a six-week program that teaches students how to rear honey bee queens for individual retail sales and package production. The course covers a range of topics, including queen and larval nutrition, techniques for grafting queens, mini-mating nuc establishment and management, and a detailed discussion on the different types of colonies required for queen rearing. Additionally, the course provides detailed instructions on mating flights and the best practices for taking advantage of nuptial flights with mating nuc and drone yard placements. Students will learn how to prepare honey bee colonies for package production, produce honey bee packages for retail sale, and conduct large-scale package installation. The course will also provide instruction on queen banking and shipping. By the end of the course, students will have the knowledge and skills to incorporate queen-rearing and package production into their beekeeping operation.
The course is structured with weekly topics, discussion forums, assignments, and quizzes. However, there are no scheduled class meeting times when all students need to be logged in and “attending” the course at the same time. Instead, students work on the course at whatever times best fit their schedule. Instructions for logging on to the online course will be sent to registrants about one week before the class begins. Participants must have access to an internet-connected computer and should allow for 7-10 hours per week of study time. The course is taught online through Moodle, the University of Montana’s online learning system. View the computer system requirements.
Upon successful completion of the course, 5.0 CEUs (Continuing Education Units) will be awarded and a certificate issued.
Prerequisites
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Successful completion of UM's Apprentice Level Beekeeping Course (or test out of the Apprentice course)
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Successful completion of UM's Journeyman Level Beekeeping Course
Required Course Materials
The Hive and the Honey Bee
Joe Graham, Editor, 2015 Revision
ISBN 978-0-915698-16-5 (Hardcover)
Available through Dadant.
Beekeeping in Western Canada
John Guszka, Editor. Information Services, Agriculture Canada in Ottawa, Ont.
ISBN 0-7732-6139-7 (pbl.: alk.Paper). The 1998 edition or newer is required.
Printed version available through Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development.
Free, electronic version available through Biodiversity Heritage Library.
Course Policies
Beekeeping courses are dependent upon a minimum number of registered students to run. If the minimum enrollment is not met, the course will be cancelled and registrants fully refunded. Courses are limited to a maximum enrollment with registration on a first-come, first-served basis. Once a course is full, students will be added to a waitlist and notified if an opening becomes available.
Registration fees vary by course and full payment is required at the time of registration. If your payment is not received by one week before the course start date, you will be dropped from the course.
Students will receive full refunds for cancellations received up to one week before the course start date. To cancel a course, students should call Student Support Services, (406) 243-6495.
Refunds are generally not provided for cancellations received after a course begins. Please note the University of Montana requires a "Substitute W-9 Form" in order to process refunds for payments made by check. The "Substitute W-9" form requires the student’s Social Security Number.
UM will provide reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities. To request an accommodation, students should contact Student Support Services, (406) 243-6495, at least two weeks before a course starts.