Progress 09/01/20 to 08/31/22
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience for Next Generation of Midwest Beekeepers program was beginning or aspiring farmers with an interest in beekeeping from communities with few resources for new beekeepers. This included communities with no local beekeeping clubs or associations. By providing bilingual English/Spanish beekeeping classes and extension materials, the project emphasized outreach to Latino Spanish-speaking communities. These farmers typically had fewer than 10 years of experience, some cash or credit limitations, and travel or time constraints that restricted their access to new and scientifically-based information for getting started. All participants were located in Iowa or Nebraska. Changes/Problems:When the project was developed we did not anticipate the lingering delays from Covid-19 and the effect it would have on our timeline. This resulted in needing an extension and in revamping how our field days were conducted.We tried to have more hives at in-person field days for increased social distancing and to spend less time indoors in a classroom setting.A few of our in person deliverables were moved online. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?
Nothing Reported
How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Two case studies on new successful beekeepers were posted to the Center for Rural Affairs website, with 23 total downloads as of December 2022. These case studies were publicized on the Center for Rural Affairs' social media, and shared with Latino communities through partnering organizations such as Latino Farmers of Nebraska. The Two Bees in a Pod podcast episode was put online and is still available to the public. The IPM4Bees seminar on bilingual beekeeping education was attended by 12 individuals via Zoom. Handouts, recorded seminars, and the market study are currently available online or will be in January 2023. All the materials created through the project will continue to be used by both ISU and the Center for Rural Affairs in the coming years. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
IMPACT STATEMENT: In Iowa and Nebraska many beginning farmers interested in beekeeping do not have access to scientifically-based beekeeping resources to successfully initiate a beekeeping enterprise due to a lack of local beekeeping clubs and resources. This is especially true for Spanish-speaking Latino communities as there is a dearth of Spanish-language resources on beekeeping. The Next Generation of Midwest Beekeepers (NGMB) project sought to expand beginning beekeeping offerings by leveraging resources to provide updated Explore Beekeeping classes, field days, and extension materials in English and Spanish across the region, emphasizing beekeeping as an enterprise. 425 individuals participated in the classes and field days, online resources were developed including a beekeeping enterprise handout and an online Explore Beekeeping seminar in Spanish, a market study was created to demonstrate the profitability of beekeeping in Iowa, and case studies of successful new beekeepers were published online. However, additional unforeseen impacts included the formation of a new community of beekeepers in Muscatine, Iowa and an emerging interest in beekeeping educational materials in Spanish from beekeeping educators across the country. Objective 1. Leverage existing regional resources to provide science-based Explore Beekeeping courses and beekeeping extension to underserved and Latino Spanish-speaking communities in the Midwest. Major Activities The NGMB updated and translated the existing Explore Beekeeping curriculum to host 5 classes in English, 2 bilingual Spanish/English classes, and 2 bilingual Spanish/English hands-on beekeeping field days. A recording of the Explore Beekeeping class in Spanish was also produced to be shared online. Additionally, a beekeeping enterprise budget extension handout was also created, translated, and made available online in the ISU extension store in English and Spanish. Key Outcomes and Accomplishments In total, 425 participants attended the 7 Explore Beekeeping classes (online or in person) and 2 in-person field days. The 2 bilingual English/Spanish class events were held on the same day as the 2 bilingual field days. After these events participants were asked to fill out a survey provided in both languages, with nearly half returning the survey (n=12). The survey asked participants to rank their knowledge of specific beekeeping topics before and after the event using a 5-point Likert scale. Across topics participants reported an average positive change in knowledge: beekeeping in general (1.25 increase), honey bee pests and disease (1.5-point increase), conservation for bees (1.4-point increase), honey bee biology (1.2-point increase), beekeeping equipment (1.25-point increase), and honey and bee products (1.2-point increase). A four-page downloadable handout titled Economic Enterprise: Beekeeping was created with the assistance of the ISU Agriculture and Natural Resources Communications office. The handout explains what tools, supplies, and equipment are necessary to begin a beekeeping operation for profit. It also outlines labor expectations and includes a budget template for estimating the cost of purchasing new equipment. The handout is available in English and Spanish to be downloaded from the ISU Extension Store website. As of December 2022, there were 834 downloads. Additionally, as a result of the Explore Beekeeping class and field day held in Muscatine, Iowa, the community has now come together to begin creating their own bee club, a group that did not exist prior to the event. Objective 2. Evaluate market for beekeeping products and services in Latino community and surrounding region. Major Activities A market analysis of the profitability of beekeeping as an economic enterprise in Iowa was created with the support of the ISU Farm, Food and Enterprise Development Program (FFEDP). The study provides information on the long-term profitability of beekeeping enterprises of multiple sizes (10 hives to 500) and incorporates revenue generation from honey sales, pollination services, and other beekeeping related activities. A two-page summary of the study was also created. Key Outcomes and Accomplishments The economic study and a two-page summary will be made available online through the ISU Extension Store website. The study has already been shared with beekeeping education colleagues in other states to validate the findings and share key ideas they believe should be included in the two-page summary handout. Both documents will be made available next month. Objective 3. Share findings and assess the viability/replicability of the program Major Activities Case studies were posted to the Center for Rural Affairs website highlighting success stories of new beekeepers. Additionally, Randall Cass shared the experience of developing and implementing the project on a popular beekeeping podcast "Two Bees in a Pod" (Episode 48: Extension & Time Dedication to Beekeeping). Cass also presented about offering bilingual beekeeping programming as a seminar speaker through the IPM4Bees Extension Exchange Seminar, a zoom seminar series for professionals in beekeeping extension and education. Key Outcomes and Accomplishments Two case studies were posted to the Center for Rural Affairs website, with 23 total downloads. After the Two Bees in a Pod podcast episode aired, multiple individuals reached out to Cass wanting to learn more about Spanish outreach, including beekeepers in Puerto Rico and a beekeeping technology company called Nectar.buzz. Cass shared the NGMB handouts with both groups. The IPM4Bees seminar on bilingual beekeeping education was attended by 12 individuals via Zoom. As a result, Cass is working with colleagues from Michigan State University and Oregon State University to develop a project proposal for the creation of a bilingual commercial beekeeping worker certification program. There are many Spanish-speaking commercial beekeeping workers and currently there are no certification programs that provide workers with standardized information on migratory beekeeping best practices, apiary management, and laws regulating the movement of hives across state borders.
Publications
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Progress 09/01/20 to 08/31/21
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience for our project is beginning farmers fromcommunities in Iowa and Nebraska that are not currently being served with extension and outreach about beekeeping. By offering resources and programming in both English and Spanish, the project emphasizes outreach to Spanish speaking communities in our region. The project efforts include bilingual beekeeping classes, in-person field days, handouts and educational materials translated into Spanish, and a market study to investigate the profitability of beekeeping as an economic enterprise for Iowa and Nebraska's beginning farmers. Due to concerns about gathering in-person as a result of the covid-19 pandemic, ISU and our partner organization on the grant, the Center for Rural Affairs (CFRA), have postponed the majority of our efforts requiring participants to meet in-person until next year (2022). Changes/Problems:Our team intended to implement this project in 2021. However, due to restrictions related to gathering in-person as a result of covid-19 our team was unable to hold the in-person classes that are the core of the project. For this reason, the project was granted an extension and will now be completed in 2022. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?
Nothing Reported
How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?
Nothing Reported
What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Objective 1 To meet the objective of providing beekeeping resources to underserved Latino communities in Iowa and Nebraska, in 2022 our team will host 4 Explore Beekeeping classes, 2 bilingual English/Spanish Explore Beekeeping classes, host 2 bilingual English/Spanish field days for hands-on beekeeping experience, record a Spanish Explore Beekeeping webinar that will be available online, and produce a Beekeeping Basics extension video in Spanish. Objective 2 To meet the objective of evaluating markets for beekeeping, our team will make the Iowa Beekeeping Market Study it has already developed available online for beginning farmers to have easier access to it. We have also produced a companion handout, a Beekeeping Enterprise Budgetthat explains the costs of getting started beekeeping, and it will also be made available online and translated into Spanish. Objective 3 To meet the objective of sharing our findings of our project, our team will produce two case studies that highlight the successes and challenges of the project. These case studies will be available online to download. Additionally, we plan to make all of our extension materials that we translated into Spanish available on our website so they can be accessed by both beginning farmers and beekeeping educators and extension professionals across the country.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Objective 1 To meet our objective of providing beekeeping extension and resources to underserved and Latino communities we made small strides. Our team revised and translated the Explore Beekeeping curriculum and translated one beekeeping extension handout (currently available on the CFRA website). Our team was able to hold one in-person bilingual English/Spanish Explore Beekeeping class, 6 people registered and 3 attended. Impact As a result of these activities, our project has started to provide Spanish speaking beginning farmers with information about becoming beekeepers, albiet a small group. In 2022 we will offer more bilingual classes as well as hands-on field days to get this information to more members of communities that do not currently have beekeeping classes and field days available. We will also continue to translate beekeeping extension handouts and make those available, such as our eonomic enterprise budget that was produced this year. Objective 2 To meet the objective of evaluating the market for beekeeping for beginning farmers in the region, we worked with the Farms, Food, and Enterprise Development Program at Iowa State University to develop a market study on beekeeping. The study looked at market trends and economic data to model the profitability and expected net income of for new beekeepers of different sizes. This study will be made available to download on the ISU website next year. Impact The market study shows that beekeeping can be a profitable enterprise. This will be useful information to share not only with our Spanish-speaking stakeholders, but also beekeepers across the region. The project is framed to reccommend beekeeping not as a hobby but rather an economic enterprise for beginning farmers. By making this data available to beginning farmers and demonstrating the investment and time required to have a profitable operationwe will inform their decision to begin beekeeping. Objective 3 To meet the objective of sharing and potentially replicating our findings, there is still work to be done. Some of our bilingual outreach material has been made available online (the handout from Objective 1) and there is tremendous enthusiasm in the national beekeeping community for the creation of more extension materials in Spanish. This was heavily discussed in the University of Florida podcast, Two Bees in a Podcast, where the project PI, Randall Cass, was interviewed about the goals of the project. The podcast talking about the goals of this BFRDP project isavailable online. Impact In conversations with extension colleagues in different states, we realized that there is a high demand for presentations and handouts on beekeeping translanted into Spanish. Our plan is to share the successes and challenges of this project, as well as the materials we produce in Spanish, with our colleagues working in beekeeping education across the country.
Publications
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