Fridays at the Farm: Creating a Distinction with Honey Bees

By means of Sydney Erickson, FSA, Nebraska

Meet Kirstin Bailey of Fox Run Farms, a various circle of relatives operation in Brainard, Nebraska. Kirstin and her circle of relatives reworked the farm within the early 2000s, planting the beginnings in their winery and including forte vegetation quickly after. Because the farm started to develop, Kirstin found out new alternatives for expansion and sustainability with honeybees, appearing that busy bees could make a large distinction.

Meet Kirstin Bailey of Fox Run Farms, a various circle of relatives operation in Brainard, Nebraska. Picture by way of Sydney Erickson, FSA.

Discovering a Resolution 

Strolling round Kirstin’s circle of relatives farm, it’s simple to peer the historical past of Fox Run Farms. Sheds, huge and small barns, and a winery exhibit the generations that experience helped it change into what it’s lately.

“We’ve 76 acres and out of that we have got a pasture and a few typical farmland we hire out,” stated Kirstin. “Then we if truth be told farm round 5 acres of forte vegetation, in addition to an orchard and a winery.”

Kirstin and her circle of relatives searched for methods to give a boost to the entire productiveness in their vegetables and fruit. What will be the resolution? Honey bees. Whilst Kirstin’s circle of relatives began by way of permitting a beekeeper to have a tendency bees on their assets, they briefly became interested in beekeeping themselves.

“My brother and I took categories in combination. He briefly discovered that he was once now not into bees, however I discovered that I cherished them, so I persevered preserving bees,” stated Kirstin.

Expansion and Restoration

In 2018, Kirstin found out microloan methods thru USDA’s Farm Provider Company (FSA) and implemented to lend a hand increase beekeeping on her farm. Microloans be offering extra versatile get entry to to credit score and function a mortgage choice for smaller farming operations. The microloan gave her the chance to develop from 4 hives to twelve, in addition to acquire beekeeping fits and kit she wanted to achieve success.

The microloan program supplied Kirstin the versatility to develop their beekeeping functions at the farm, together with beekeeping fits and different apparatus. Picture courtesy of Kirstin Bailey.

Harsh Nebraska winters can take a toll at the overwintering of bees, and Kirstin has used the herbal crisis help to be had thru FSA’s Emergency Help for Farm animals, Honey bees and Farm-Raised Fish Program to lend a hand with the restoration of bills related to iciness losses.

“Through the years with the losses and the way arduous iciness has been, we’ve scaled go into reverse to only preserving bees on our assets,” Kirsten stated. “At one level I used to be preserving them in 4 other places.”

The result of preserving bees on her farm are abundantly transparent.

“They’ve higher the manufacturing of our forte vegetation and our orchard by way of four-fold,” she stated. “It was once so wonderful after we introduced them at the farm. We noticed an enormous distinction within the high quality of produce, the uniformity of it and the volume. We will be able to at all times have bees at the farm for this reason, as a result of we would like that direct pollination by way of having them right here.”

Making sure Good fortune for the Long run

Past direct pollination, the bees have opened every other earnings circulation for the farm, permitting Kirstin and her circle of relatives to promote the honey wholesale, whilst her mother makes use of the beeswax to make candles.

Honey produced on Kirstin’s farm. Picture courtesy of Kirstin Bailey.

During the autumn months, they’ve a lot of occasions across the farm, together with U-pick apples at their orchard and grapes from their winery.

Kirstin notes the viability of her beekeeping industry is due partially to the help she’s gained from FSA over time and encourages others to succeed in out when they want it.

“One thing I love to worry is how vital conversation is,” Kirstin stated. “In case you have questions, don’t be afraid to name up your FSA workplace and ask them.”