PRINCESS ANNE — The dog days of summer are here along with the notorious heat and humidity the season brings. UMES Extension is offering a workshop Saturday, July 25 to equip beginning and improving beekeepers on the Eastern Shore with the know-how to manage their colonies through the summer nectar dearth.

University of Maryland Eastern Shore’s Research, Extension and Teaching Farm on Stewart Neck Road is the site for the hands-on event. Participants can get strategies and tips for hive inspections and more from the university’s apiary manager Stephen Goewey.

“Beekeeping is dynamic, ever-changing with the seasons and the needs of your colony to keep bees thriving. Regular hive inspections are an important way to check on the health of your bees and respond to any signs of trouble,” Goewey said.

Attendees will suit-up as Goewey shows them how to gently inspect bee boxes to check for mites, handle defensive bees and look for early signs of robbing. He will also cover how to prepare hives for winter survival.

The workshop, “Summer Hive Inspections: Strategies and Tips for the Dog Days of Summer,” is July 25 from 9 a.m.- 2 p.m. Registration is $20 per person at www.umes.edu/extension/events. Lunch is included with registration. 

— Gail Stephens is an agricultural communications specialist with UMES' School of Agricultural and Natural Sciences, UMES Extension.