Do We Treat Our Bees?

Yes.  We do treat our bees but only when necessary and we try to use natural products.

We normally only need to treat for  varroa mites.

Varroa Mites:
​We perform a sugar roll test to determine the need for treatment.

Sugar Roll Test Instructions

We currently treat around February, when there is little or no capped brood, with oxalic acid vaporization. We then monitor during the warm months and will again treat, as necessary, usually using a product such as Formic Acid Pro in the fall.

"Oxalic acid dihydrate (the crystalline form) is a dicarboxylic acid, which is a relatively strong organic acid. Oxalic acid is ubiquitous in the environment being found naturally in many plants and vegetables, as well as in honey.
​It occurs naturally as the potassium or calcium salt in sap, notably in plants of the Oxalis and Rumex families. It is also a product of the metabolism of mold." (https://www.dadant.com/epa-okays-oxalic-acid-for-varroa-mite-control/)