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TheBeeBrief: Sample Issue #1 (North Georgia, Late October 2026)

SAMPLE / UNPUBLISHED. Not sent to anyone. Every fact below comes from a public page, all checked Oct 15, 2026. Anything we couldn't confirm is marked Unconfirmed. We only list prices and dates shown on the source page.

Lead: Queens, nucs and packages in North Georgia

Mid-October is the off-season. Most 2026 bee stock is sold out or past its pickup dates, and the sellers that are taking orders are taking 2027 pre-orders.

Barnyard Bees (Chatsworth, GA): Open for 2027 pre-orders. Overwintered 5-frame nuc deposits for the 2027 season cost $80–$85 and are in-store pickup only. 2027 packages with a marked queen cost $165. 2027 "Super Package Kits" (one marked queen with 2 or 3 packages) cost $310–$455. Queens cost $42, shipped by date. The 2027 pickup window isn't posted: Unconfirmed. Source: barnyardbees.com live bees, checked Oct 15, 2026.
Lanier Bee Barn (742 Lords Mill Rd, Commerce, GA; call ahead): The site lists 5-frame Italian nucs and 3 lb packages with a mated queen, and says it is "now taking 2026 orders (call or email)." That wording looks stale for this time of year, so current status and prices are Unconfirmed, and no price is posted. Source: lanierbeebarn.com, checked Oct 15, 2026.
Blue Ridge Honey Co (pickup only): Sold out. All live bees show "Currently Out of stock." That covers Southern Appalachian packages with Indian Summer queens ($145, 2026 pickups were Mar 28–Apr 14), Indian Summer queens ($33), and Olivarez Golden West and Italian queens ($40, phone order only). No 2027 dates are posted. Source: blueridgehoneycompany.com/collections/bees, checked Oct 15, 2026.
Mountain Sweet Honey (local pickup): Not currently available. The listed 2026 queen pickup windows (Buckfast, Carniolan and Caucasian at $45, Italian at $42) ended July 29–31, 2026. The overwintered Italian nuc ($225) and the seasonal nuc ($182, Apr 2–4, 2026) are out of stock, and so are most packages. 2027 dates are Unconfirmed. Source: mountainsweethoney.com local pickup listing, checked Oct 15, 2026.
North Georgia Bee Farm: Sold out. The 2026 overwintered 5-frame nuc ($120 deposit plus $100 at pickup, local pickup 8am–12pm on Sat Mar 28, 2026) shows "Out of Stock." No 2027 listing was found: Unconfirmed. Source: northgeorgiabeefarm.com nuc page, checked Oct 15, 2026.
Mann Lake / Betterbee / Dadant packages: Not checked in this sample. They aren't local pickups, so they're out of scope for this lead.

Deals

None confirmed. Barnyard Bees posted a sitewide 10%-off weekend coupon on Aug 2, 2026, but that offer has expired. Mountain Sweet Honey shows "Sale!" tags on bee packages that are out of stock. Source: Barnyard Bees posts (third-party mirror) and the Mountain Sweet link above, checked Oct 15, 2026.

Classes and club meetings (late Oct to Nov 2026)

Northwest Georgia Beekeepers: Wax & Candle Making Workshop, Sat Oct 17, Walker County Ag Center (tickets). Fall Conference & Honey Show, Sat Nov 14, Walker County Civic Center. Monthly meeting on the 2nd Monday, which is Nov 9: 6:30pm new-beekeeper session, 7pm speaker, 10052 N Hwy 27, Rock Spring. Source: nwgabeekeepers.com, checked Oct 15, 2026.
Beekeepers of Gilmer County: Mon Nov 9, 6:00pm for new members and 6:30pm general meeting, Burger King, Hwy 5 Appalachian Pkwy, East Ellijay. Source: Gilmer Chamber calendar, checked Oct 15, 2026.
Northeast Georgia Mountain Beekeepers: annual meeting and elections with Dr. Lewis Bartlett (UGA) on oxalic strips, Nov 17, 6pm dinner ($10) and 6:30pm program, North Georgia Technical College, Clarkesville. The page doesn't state the year: Unconfirmed for 2026. Source: negabeekeeping.com, checked Oct 15, 2026.
Georgia Beekeepers Association: the 2026 Fall Conference already took place on Sep 11–12 in Gainesville. No GBA event for late Oct or Nov was found. Source: gabeekeeping.com, checked Oct 15, 2026.
UGA Bee Program: no late Oct or Nov class found: Unconfirmed.

This week in the hive (North GA, late October)

UGA's Bee Program guidance for August through October:

Mites come first. If an overnight sticky sheet shows roughly 60–180 mites, it may be time to treat with a labeled product such as Api-Life VAR or Api-Guard, following the label. Never treat during a nectar flow.
Stores. Colonies should weigh at least 100 lb by late fall. Feed light hives 2:1 sugar syrup (2 parts sugar to 1 part water).
Queens. Fix queen problems now. Combine weak colonies using the newspaper method.
Robbing. Work carefully and keep entrances reduced.

Sources: UGA, A Synopsis of Bee Management in Georgia; UGA, Honey Bee Management; UGA, Honey Bee Parasites. All checked Oct 15, 2026.

Supplier spotlight

Planning for spring? Barnyard Bees is already taking 2027 nuc and package deposits. Lanier Bee Barn takes orders by phone or email.