Twenty four trainees were selected into the 2021 program and paired with 17 mentors.
Trainees have an average (median) of two and a half years beekeeping experience and 6 hives. Mentors have an average of 10 years experience and 54 hives.
Unfortunately we were not able to included everyone who applied into this program. Biggest constraints were funding and difficulty finding mentors.
Mentoring materials to be used to teach hive assembly and colony splitting are being distributed to mentors and trainees now. Deliveries should be complete by end of next week.
Trainees are also asked to respond to a short survey, to capture baseline data on the program.
Mentors are urged to invite their trainees into the apiary as much as you can this year. Plenty of time with the bees is a key to successful beekeeping.
And most of all – have fun in the bee yard!
This program is supported by the European Union and Australian Centre for International Agriculture Research (ACIAR).
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