Black Dog Bees and Maple Trees, LLC Apiary Application

Application Date:

City: Lebanon, NH

Please briefly tell us why you are applying to have your apiary be part of the Certified Naturally Grown (CNG) program.
We keep bees and use both cultural and natural means of mite treatment. It’s impossible to obtain organic certification for bees.

Is the land on which your apiary sits currently certified (by CNG or another organization)? No

Is the land on which your apiary sits currently certified (by CNG or another organization)?

Which agency is the certifier (for example CCOF, PCO, NOFA, Demeter)? What type of certification (Organic, Biodynamic, etc.) does the land have?

Has the land on which your apiary sits ever been certified in the past? No

Who was the certifying agency (CCOF, PCO, NOFA, Demeter, etc.) and what type of certification did they provide (Organic, Biodynamic)?

When was the land certified, and why is it no longer certified?

You may use this space to specify where customers can purchase your honey (this will be displayed on your profile to help customers find you). Direct to consumer/retail.

How many hives are in your apiary (or apiaries)? 7

For how long have you been keeping bees? How long have you been marketing your products? What has prepared you to do this successfully according to CNG standards?

Can you name one or two potential inspectors who you could ask to conduct your inspection?

Apiary Location Full Address 4 Woodland Rd, Lebanon NH

Briefly describe the landscape where this apiary is located. What surrounds the apiary? What are the nectar sources? Clearing in center of hardwood forest. Nectar sources include maple flowers, spring flowers such as dandelions, fruit trees, shrubs, and then fall flowers such as goldenrod and knotweed.

2nd Apiary Full Address

Other additional locations?

3rd Apiary Full Address

Any other locations?

How many total apiary locations do you have?

Do you own or manage the land on which your apiary is located?

Do you agree not to use on this land any synthetic materials that are not allowed under the CNG produce or honey programs?

Use this space to describe any land management practices you use to support the honey bee population.

Within each apiary for which you seek certification, do you manage any hives "conventionally" (using practices or substances that are not allowed under the CNG apiary standards)? No

Do your hives have any paint or chemical treatment on the interior surface of the hive? No

Do you have, or will you develop, a labeling system and schedule to ensure removal of at least 20% of brood frame per year, such that there is never brood comb present that is more than 5 years old? Yes

Describe your brood comb labeling and removal practices to date, and your plans for the coming seasons. I use 8-frame langstroth hives, 2 deep. I replace 3-4 frames per year.

Does your apiary contain brood comb that A) is from another beekeeper (including from purchased nuc), or B) has been exposed to Tylan, or C) has been exposed to three or more treatments of fluvalinate (Apistan, Mavrik) or amitraz (Miticur, Taktic, or Mitak)? No

Will you ensure that, through brood comb replacement or operation expansion, no more than 40% of the exposed comb will be present in the apiaries to be certified, AND that the exposed comb that remains will be marked and removed from your apiary within two years? Your apiary will have transitional status until all exposed comb is replaced.

Please indicate the month and year when you expect you will have replaced all marked brood comb (the comb that was purchased from another beekeeper, treated with Tylan, and/or exposed to three or more more treatments of fluvalinate or amitraz)?

Has any wax or comb in your apiary ever been exposed to coumaphos (CheckMite+) or fenpyroximate (Hivastan), or more than six indirect exposures of coumaphos (CheckMite+), hydramethylnon or fipronil (Max Force Gel roach bait) as closed trapping for SHBs? No

Describe how you maintain your bee population from one season to the next. Do you rely on survivor colonies, incorporate feral colonies, purchase new bees every year, or some combination of these and/or other practices? A combination of the above. I rely on survivor stock, splits, swarm catching, and installing new packages or nucs. This year will be a combination of this winter’s survivor stock and the addition of Russian (mite resistant) stock.

Do you sometimes feed the bees when honey supers are on the hive, or within two weeks before honey super addition? No

If and when your bees require supplemental feeding, what do you feed them? Please be specific and include all ingredients. Sugar syrup or dry sugar. Honey. Pollen patties or pollen substitute.

Describe what measures you take to suppress the Varroa mite population in your hives. Drone brood removal, resistant stock, regular mite counts, and treatment if indicated by count. Treatment is either formic or oxalic acid.

How do you monitor mite population levels? When and how often? Alcohol wash monthly

Before treating any hive for Varroa mites, will you monitor the Varroa mite infestation level to determine whether it exceeds the treatment threshold set by your local network? (If you run a survivor colony, and you never treat, please answer Yes). Yes

If you choose to treat colonies infested with Varroa mites, will you keep records of treatment methods, along with pre- and post-treatment monitoring results?

How do you prevent and treat American Foulbrood (AFB) and European Foulbrood (EFB)? (Even if you have not encountered these diseases before, you must have a prevention plan). Biosecurity measures, sterilization of tools, equipment. No outside equipment.

How do you prevent and treat Nosema? (Even if you have not encountered this disease before, you must have a prevention plan). Moisture management. Keep hive in sunny, warm location.

What has been your experience with other diseases (such as chalkbrood, viral diseases, etc.)? How have you dealt with them? How will you deal with them if they recur? Wax moths are prevented by careful management of equipment. Small hive beetles can be trapped with organic cooking oil. Moisture and temperature management are key to keeping hives healthy. I also don’t acquire any used equipment. I sterilize equipment with a torch after dead-outs before next use.

What has been your experience with pests such as wax moths and small hive beetle? How have you dealt with them? How will you deal with them if they recur? Electric fence, cargo straps, “red-eye” flashing lights, mouse/shrew guards.

What measures do you take, if any, to protect the hives against pests such as mice, skunks, possums, raccoons, and bears?

Please describe any other practices you follow to help strengthen the bee population under your care. Leave plenty of honey for winter.

Are your colonies engaged in pollination by contract? No

Are any crops on the land contracted for pollination managed with the use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides and fungicides during time of pollination or for the three months prior?

Do you agree to obtain a signed contract with the crop producer specifying that for the entire time the land is occupied by the bee colonies and for the three months prior, no prohibited pesticides herbicides or fungicides will be used?

Are any of your colonies moved more than three times per calendar year for purposes of pollination?

Are you a part of a local network of beekeepers using natural methods? This could be a formal network like a county beekeepers association, or it could be an informal network of beekeepers in your area with a commitment to using natural methods. Yes

If this is a formal network please indicate the name of the network below.

If this is an informal network, please indicate below the names of at least two other beekeepers who participate.

Please provide the name and contact information for at least one person in your local network who will vouch for your participation in that network.

I will only use the Certified Naturally Grown name and label on apiary products (honey, pollen, propolis) that are in fact from the CNG apiaries described in this application. Yes

I understand that CNG Apiary Certification applies to honey and sometimes pollen, but it does not apply CNG status to beeswax. Yes

I understand that I have to complete at least one Certification Inspection of another apiary in my area each year and will abide by the trading and repeat rules within the CNG Inspection Guidelines. Yes

I have reviewed the Certified Naturally Grown Apiary Standards, understand them, and will abide by them. I understand that if I have any questions I may contact CNG for clarification. Yes

You may use this space to tell us anything else you think we should know about your apiary: N/A