Fairview Farms Apiary, LLC

Application Date:

City: Fairview, MI

Please briefly tell us why you are applying to have your apiary be part of the Certified Naturally Grown (CNG) program.
Fairview Farms Apiarys priority is to keep the health and wellbeing of the family in mind by using environmentally friendly methods of operation. We manage our apiary using organic methods providing a safe and trusted source of honey to our customers, family and friends, keeping the honey bees environment as natural as possible. The certified naturally grown program will be an acknowledgment of our commitment of providing a trusted source of honey and providing the opportunity to leverage the experiences of other CNG network beekeepers with the similar goals.

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). To locate Fairview Farms Apiary honey, please visit our web site at www.fairviewfarmsapiary.com. We list all the establishments that carry our honey and you have the option to order on-line. Golden Walsh Nursery Pontiac MI

How many hives are in your apiary (or apiaries)? One Apiary 28 hives

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 Fairview Farms Apiary, LLC 3121 Finch Rd, Fairview Michigan 48621

Briefly describe the landscape where this apiary is located. What surrounds the apiary? What are the nectar sources? Fairview Farms Apiary is nestled in an area of natural wildlife habitat, idle farms, woodlands, meadows and open pasture fields consisting of many nectar and pollen producing foliage. The bloom densities and duration are dependent on weather influences and fluctuate from year to year. The following are important nectar producing foliage in the forage zone 1. Dandelion 2. Basswood (Seasonal) 3. Clover 4. Brown Knapweed 5. Goldenrod The current apiary has the foliage capacity within the forage zone to accommodate 30 – 40 colonies. Colonies are isolated on 120 Acers, placed on high grounds surrounded by trees to provide wind break but allowing plenty of sun.

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. All frames are marked indicating the year drawn and introduced into the colony. Frames/Combs are randomly monitored at the time of each inspection for any signs of disease or irregularities on brood patterns and replaced at the time of inspection with new frame and foundation. Frames 4-5 years old are removed from production during spring build up and replaced with new frames consisting of foundation.

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? We are self sustainable having a high over wintered survival rate. We do purchase Queens from reputable breeders that are used for requeening, splits or to made up nuclis . Survivor nucli are the basis of colony expansion and replacement.

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. Supplemental feeding is limited to three situations: 1. Spring feeding of colonies if winter storage is depleted before natural foliage is available to handle high colony growth. Granulated cane sugar syrup and/or pollen is used. 2. Fall feeding of colonies if fall foliage does not supply adequate honey flows to build a winter honey storage that will not support colony through the winter. 3. New nucleus (Colony splits) are fed granulated cane sugar syrup to stimulate growth and to ensure winter survival. No feeding does take place to any honey production colonies outside the above criteria.

Describe what measures you take to suppress the Varroa mite population in your hives. Suppression of Varroa mite population; 1. Capturing and holding of queens seven to ten day periods to break brood cycles 2. Varroa Mite tolerant breads such as Russian or VSH 3. Essential oil mixture 4. Highly ventilated Hives 5. Placement of Hives to get the maximum direct summer sun.

How do you monitor mite population levels? When and how often? Visual inspection of Mite levels are reviewed at each inspection.

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). 1. Colonies are visually inspected for disease at every inspection. 2. High levels of precautions are taken to prevent any robing or honey/wet suppers being available. 3. Honey suppers are not used for brood rearing. 4. Remove brood combs every five years of service and replace with new foundation. Frames are marked with the year of in-service date and marked for years of service. After five years of service the frame is removed and rendered. 5. Suppers of winter die outs or soaked in bleach solution and dried prior to putting in service. 6. Colonies affected with American Foulbrood are removed from service and all brood combs burned. Suppers are fire scorched and soaked in bleach solutions before putting back in service. 7. Colonies affected with European Foulbrood are re-queened and monitored for improvement. If EFB does not clear up than all frames burned, hive suppers scorched and cleaned in bleach solution. 8. Colonies may be shaken on to new frames with clean foundation and fed granulated cane sugar syrup to stimulate recovery. Strictly monitored with high level of inventory control on suppers.

How do you prevent and treat Nosema? (Even if you have not encountered this disease before, you must have a prevention plan). 1. Assure good ventilation in overwintered colonies and avoid late fall feeding of liquid syrup. If Nosema is identified, the colony hive supers are washed and put back in service.

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? Colonies are visually checked minimally every three weeks throughout the summer season to monitor colony health and conditions. This visual check includes monitoring for all disease and pests. 1. Chalkbrood assure good ventilation, nutrition and young queen. Queens are eliminated if Chalkbrood is highly prevalent in colony and new queen introduced. If low levels of Chalkbrood present in a colony or nucli the symptoms are monitored thoroughly; addition ventilation and proper nutrition are provided if condition warrant. 2. Wax moths - Menthol Crystals used to manage Wax Months when storing supers for extended periods. Remove any abandoned or weak hives from the field immediately. 3. Hive beetles - Monitor for infestation and use traps if necessary.

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? Bears and Small Mammals: The apiary is surrounded by 48in high fence under two strands of barbed wire with solar powered electric fences surrounding the parameter. Mice - Hive entrances are reduced to 3/8in in the fall to limit access to mice.

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.

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. Sam P Parise

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

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. Sam P Parise

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. Sam P Parise

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