🔴Tom Nolan - FORMIC PRO for VARROA MITES (Even in the South)

Tom Nolan, the North American rep for NOD Apiary Products ( Formic Pro), spent a beautiful February afternoon with me checking some bees and discussing Formic Pro for varroa mite control and it's proper use. He is from Canada and I think it was difficult for him to believe that we were actually working bees this early in the year. This is the 2nd of 2 videos. In the first video we checked the bees and in this video we had an interview and addressed many of the concerns beekeepers have, especially southern beekeepers. Enjoy!

HIve Alive Link (Use code BRUCE10 for discount):

#brucesbees #alabamabees #beesarecool

[brucesbees]

I had a great time going through bees and discussing Formic Pro use with Tom. If you have any additional questions about the product you can ask them here. Hopefully Tom will see it and be able to address your concerns.

[aCanadianBeekeepersBlog]

Tom is a stand up guy, he dosent hide anything, straight talk. That’s what beekeepers want 👍

[johnconrad]

Thank you Bruce on allowing Tom to explain how to use Formic Pro
I used Formic Pro on one of my hives way past the temperature ramifications
southern Oklahoma it was in the high 90s probably around 96-98 degrees.
I kept the entrance wide open and vented the top. The bees definitely didn’t like it and hung on the outside of the
hive. Luckily I had a queen less than a year old.
After the 2 strip method between two deeps for 14 day a piece on the brood.
The hive took off and and I could have taken another 70lbs of honey off but left it for the winter
and this spring it is the strongest hive I have.

[stevenaamos]

The 3 day window below 85 was great info, there were multiple times that I could have used it here in NC in late spring. This fall we will test it out!

[CastleHives]

Good stuff Bruce. What an opportunity to sit and chat with Tom. I’ve used Formic Pro, and it does scare me. Our weather fluctuates so much in Ohio anymore it could be 68 one day and 88 the next. Definitely is a great product though if used in proper conditions.

[lagrangebees]

Educating people on more ways to treat mites. Doing beekeepers a great service with this video. And Tom being up front with the advantages and disadvantages of formic pro sure helps :)

[honeyandthecoop]

Great interview Bruce, we appreciate you taking the time!

[nancynolton]

Bruce this video has been so needed! Bless you for filming! Even I as a northern beekeeper using MAQS for years (no queen loss and queens live 3 years having had multiple treatments) I learned a thing or two from the discussion. Spot on with the issue of brood loss and perhaps the queen stopping laying I've witnessed this every time with applications but the good news is the hives are healthier, more productivity and brilliant (to steal a word from Ian) after treatment. Will be sharing youtube link with club members.

[Jkfarms-JustinJohnson]

Thank you for doing this interview. Been on the fence on even trying formic but would definitely feel comfortable trying it after this. Will definitely be adding formic to my tool belt! Thanks again Bruce!!

[keithfaithful]

That was a great video! Thanks so much for clearing that up Tom and Bruce. Great info.

[johniac]

The stuff works. Keep an eye of temps and you will be fine.

[kevinodonnell]

Another great video. Cleared up a lot of questions thank you and keep the videos coming.

[BrianCooper]

Great interview! I've always been nervous about using it but may give it a try this year. Thanks for sharing!

[lindseyhomesteadfarm]

Great educational video. If you put 2 pads in between a double deep and 1 or 2 pads on top of the other deep you will definitely create a brood break! Don't ask me how I know. Lol! What's crazy is I have been using Formic Pro for 3 years. This will be my fourth but completely had a brain malfunction and I was rushing when treating last year. One thing was certain is that I definitely cleaned up the mite issue. Geez. All of my hives but 2 made it through with a smaller colony but rebounded nicely by winter. Definitely a great product if all the guidelines Mr. Nolan discussed in this video are followed. Great queens, dead mites and great nutrition is key to success as Kamon Reynolds tells us.

[gingerbrimer]

First year Beekeepers and used last spring with success. I enjoyed video

[randallcarter-carterhillho]

Bruce, this is an outstanding interview in my book. This information has answered some of my questions. I am about to use formic for the 3rd time in a few weeks. Overall I love this product. I could see a clear difference in my colonies post application. There is another in our local club that has had great success with formic pro. We are about 70 miles north of tuscaloosa, al.

[charlesoneill]

Bruce, Tom, I used " MAQS" 10-12 years ago. Baton Rouge area. Bought enough to treat all the hives i owned. Mistake. Treated one yard first. Out of 30 or so hives I probably had 15 queen events. Threw away the rest of the treatments. It was many years before I tried it again. Been using "FormicPro" in the spring for 2 years. Ocasional 90⁰ highs during treatments. Offset 1/2" lives like Tom said . It works fine. I'm happy with results. From what Tom said I have been putting too much. If I had 2 brood boxes of bees I have been putting in 4 treatments. Thanks for info.

[josephrawls]

I think every question I have ever heard asked about this product just got answered in this video.

[GEEZBEEZ]

Really enjoyed the information. The superseding of queen and using Formica pro was interesting. This has always been a concern but it could be a good thing to cull weak queens especially used early spring. Thanks for the video. Take care.

[kcchastiel]

Formic Pro saved my apiary when Apivar failed in the late summer/fall 2021. FP is now part of our mite treatment program and our colonies looked awesome going into winter 2022-23.