View Full Version : Saw the White House beehive on tv last night.
magnet-man
10-20-2009, 06:30 AM
Did anyone see the White House beehive on TV last night? They were talking to the grounds keeper who also takes care of the presidential dogs. Well they were standing by the hive and shot a quick picture of it. Had some dead bees on the porch and didn't look like there was much activity. Production was around 10 gallons.
Dave W
10-20-2009, 10:00 AM
I understood the man to say, "100 gallons". :)
Tom G. Laury
10-20-2009, 10:06 AM
re: 100 gallons
He must have been talking to a beekeeper.
They are just like Fishermen.
Romahawk
10-20-2009, 10:09 AM
:no: :lpf:
Dave W
10-20-2009, 10:32 AM
Well, the 100 part may be correct, and "pounds" might be a better choice of words. Even that might be wrong :)
sqkcrk
10-20-2009, 03:41 PM
Presidential DOGS? I thought that there was only one. Did I miss something?
100 pounds seems like quite a lot of honey from a hive in DC in its' first year, what w/ all of the foundation to draw. Maybe there was alot of feeding done?
Darrell Haynes
10-20-2009, 03:51 PM
No, he actually said 100 gallons. If I figured right, useing 5 gallons weighing 60 pounds, that would be around 1200 pounds of honey. I would like to have a hive like that. He must be a politician too. lol
sqkcrk
10-20-2009, 03:54 PM
So maybe the production of 10 gallons was the reported production. Still seems kinda high to me. But maybe I'm just jealous.
soupcan
10-20-2009, 04:22 PM
Did anyone check if this bee hive is on the Bama health care plan or is it just another of the millions of bee hives in the states with out health coverage?????
bradkeskey
10-20-2009, 05:22 PM
I started a five frame nuc this spring in Michigan, they had to draw out all the frames in the brood boxes and supers (minus nuc frames), and I just finished up a few weeks ago, harvest was 57 lbs of honey. I'd say close to five gallons of honey volume wise.
Brad
Michael Bush
10-20-2009, 06:56 PM
100 gallons would top the world record. By a long ways...
soupcan
10-20-2009, 07:18 PM
Yup just another one of this groups " stretching of the truths "
I have to wonder if I bought my own airline ticket, contacted my congressman & senator to see if I could get to do a " dig thru " of this bee hive????
tecumseh
10-20-2009, 07:29 PM
I seem to recall the world record for honey production in one year from one hive is something like 900#. I suspect this was accomplished with multiple queens in the hive and perhaps employing a few tricks (hive population boosting at critical times) here and there.
One of my wives students got to shake the president's hand this past week. She has now decided to undergo a 120 day security check and plans to go to the white house with her dad (retired military) to shake his hand again and to get photos. Perhaps I can encourage her to get me a personal photo of the white house beehive.
I seem to recall the world record for honey production in one year from one hive is something like 900#. I suspect this was accomplished with multiple queens in the hive and perhaps employing a few tricks (hive population boosting at critical times) here and there.
I read it was done in Africa using the dreaded African honey bee (Apis mellifera scutellata) the father of our africanized honey bee. That is why they where chosen for Brazil, tropical species, and good honey production. there was a recent article about the history of our AHB not long ago, The two queen hive in the same apiary did an amazing 1200 lb if I am not mistaken.
RKR
Tom G. Laury
10-20-2009, 09:25 PM
Maybe someone could promote pro honey production competition, like fishing tournaments where all the weights have to be certified. The top pros would have bee supply & feed sponsors. Like stock car racing,...THE KJ 94 or ML09 colony ( or yard ) ...big money prizes...webcast the activities and management, rules committee would provide at least six full time jobs...
Laurence Hope
10-20-2009, 10:21 PM
Tom, not a bad idea. What are you going to name this competition?
Tom G. Laury
10-20-2009, 10:28 PM
Biggest sponsor gets to choose that.
The MannLake Challenge.
The Dadant Open.
The Nutra Bee Invitational.
Swobee
10-20-2009, 10:37 PM
A speaker at our state association meeting last week was at the White House along with other bee keepers a few weeks ago. He said there was a harvest of "approximately 100 POUNDS" not gallons of honey in the hive that had not been taken off before their visit. The 'keeper' is a staff carpenter at the White House who has been there since the Carter administration and knows little about bee keeping. The speaker said the WH beekeeper was excited to have their contigency visit and asked a lot of good questions.
Tom G. Laury
10-20-2009, 10:42 PM
If you ask me, 100 lbs is doing good. Thanks to the guy that is the bee keepers rep there at the White House, probably harder than it looks. :thumbsup:
NewbeeNnc
10-21-2009, 07:51 AM
I had read that the guy was experienced. More political flip flopping I guess. Is Pelosi a beekeeper now. :lpf:
Dave W
10-21-2009, 09:29 AM
The guy on TV was introduced as "the gardener", is he also the beekeeper?
Is there a "communication problem" here between two people?
winevines
10-21-2009, 10:20 PM
A speaker at our state The 'keeper' is a staff carpenter at the White House who has been there since the Carter administration and knows little about bee keeping. The speaker said the WH beekeeper was excited to have their contigency visit and asked a lot of good questions.
He knows plenty!
I believe they are selling the 1200 gallons to help pay for health care
NewbeeNnc
10-22-2009, 02:30 PM
Better the bees pay for it than me.