Association president Carla Farmer welcomed newcomers, introduced officers, and reminded the room that the group is a volunteer-run 501(c)(3) that relies on local support. Then came the heart of the night: a plainspoken, practical talk by Guest Speaker John Martin, Agri Inspector with the Arkansas Department of Agriculture (and Apiary Inspector for the southern half of our state) about safeguarding colonies from Varroa mites, the parasitic pest behind much of the damage beekeepers see each year.

If you haven’t heard of Varroa destructor, you should know what they are if you care about bees. These sesame-seed-sized mites weaken bees by feeding on them and by spreading viruses that leave bees with deformed wings and shortened lives. Once inside a hive, mites multiply fast. Left alone, they can turn a thriving colony into a stressed one, and a stressed colony into a lost cause. Martin didn’t sugarcoat it: bees are resilient, but Varroa is relentless. The message was sober, but hopeful, though. if beekeepers act early and consistently, they can shift the odds back in the bees’ favor.

One bright spot: oxalic acid. It’s a naturally occurring organic acid found in plants like spinach and sorrel, and when used correctly, it’s a tool in the beekeeper’s kit. Martin emphasized the basics without drowning anyone in jargon: oxalic acid is inexpensive, widely used around the world, and effective at knocking mites down, especially during windows of time when colonies have little or no capped brood (meaning few developing larvae), when mites are most exposed. It's also much safer for humans, bees and other animals than alternatives.

He also underscored responsibility. “The label is the law,” he said, reminding beekeepers to read labels closely, purchase registered products, follow directions, and protect themselves with appropriate gear, like respirators and eye-protection, when applying the pesticide using the vapor method. (Another method involves dripping liquid into hive frames.) The goal isn’t just saving bees; it’s doing it safely, legally, and in a way that keeps honey clean and neighbors comfortable. For those curious—not just keepers but the bee-curious—Martin’s “show-and-tell” table drew a crowd after the talk. He’d brought various tools, sample products, and protective equipment—tactile proof that this work is hands-on but learnable.

The evening wasn’t just technical.  A man from Lockesburg said he’s building his first hives through the Heroes to Hives program, which helps military vets set themselves up as productive beekeepers. Veterans and beginners swapped stories. Members compared notes on nectar flow. Questions ranged from “When should I treat?” to “Can you really see mites?” and “Are they worse in some places than others?” Martin’s answers pointed toward a discipline that looks a lot like devotion: monitor first, treat as needed, check again, and repeat—not once a year, but throughout the season.

The association also spotlighted larger efforts. Several members participated in the USDA National Honey Bee Survey, which samples hives to track pests, pathogens, and trends. Results will take time, but they’ll help draw more specific conclusions about bee health.  The data will help everyone, from backyard keepers to commercial operations.

Late summer is when colonies can look full and buzzing—but also when greater numbers of Varroa can feast. That’s why meetings like this one matter. They put tools in people’s hands before the first cool nights arrive, when colonies start raising their long-lived “winter bees.” If those bees are born from healthy brood, the whole colony stands a better chance of making it to spring. And while the talk focused on beekeepers, the stakes touch everyone. Bees pollinate much of what we eat and the wildflowers that hold soils, feed birds, and color our roadsides. 

Here are five simple ways anyone can help bees: plant nectar- and pollen-rich natives that bloom from early spring through late fall; leave a patch of your yard wild with clover, dandelions, or asters; provide a shallow water source with pebbles so bees can drink safely; avoid insecticides, especially on blooming plants; and support local beekeepers by buying honey or donating to associations like the Southwest Arkansas Beekeepers. You would help fund training, monitoring, and treatments that keep hives healthy.

As the meeting wound down, members milled around the equipment table.  So many attended that they filled about 90 percent of the seats in the room.  If I were a Verroa mite, I’d be worried.

The next meeting of the Southwest Arkansas Beekeepers Association will take place December 8, 2025, starting at 5:30 p.m. with sign-in and refreshments and then at 6:00 p.m. hear more about Hives for Heroes, a program that according to the association’s web page “is a national nonprofit that partners with beekeepers to provide mentoring for military service members, veterans and first responders.” The meeting, which happens again at Hempstead Hall’s Spring Hill Suite, is also the association’s Christmas social.