Don't forget that the annual mead competition will take place in July. Refer to the minutes of the May meeting (page 2) for competition rules. You should be preparing your mead samples now. If you need a recipe, refer to the February newsletter (or www.beehive.org.nz/tips-and-advice/taa-mead-recipe.htm)

The annual NBA conference will be held in Ashburton, from July 12^th – 15^th. Contact Paul Bartrum on 03-614 7790 for additional information or registration details.

These returns are now overdue. If you have not yet completed yours and sent it to AgriQuality, then do it NOW. The return for each year must be completed and sent back to AgriQuality as agents for the National Beekeepers Association, on or before 1^st June 1999. You are legally obliged to make this return under the PMS regulations. Murray Reid (AgriQuality) reported at the end of May that the number of returns received at that point had been "disappointing". Don’t wait to be chased up – get your return in now!

Now is the time to think about re-queening your hives in the springtime. Order queens from a queen breeder, but be prepared to manage your hive through the early part of the buildup as fickle weather in spring may delay or prevent queens from mating. A list of Queen breeders is available on the club's website.