Northeast Oklahoma Beekeepers Association

Brief Biological Regarding Beekeeping Experiences 

Ed originally got involved in beekeeping in southern France by attending an Agricultural College where he specialized in apiculture in the early 70's.  He then started a commercial beekeeping business in France that he ran for 5 years. 

In the late 70's he re-started his beekeeping operation in the Arkansas Ozarks and that business is still in operation.  He raises queens, fulfills pollination contracts and produces and sells honey. 

In 1984, Ed became Apiary Specialist and Inspector for the Arkansas State Plant Board and continues to work in that position.  This involves bee disease detection and identification, enforcing the State's Apiary Laws and Regulations and educating beekeepers about modern techniques and the public about the importance and protection of the honeybee.  Ed teaches classes, speaks to all different types of organizations in Arkansas and for beekeeping groups in numerous states.  He also writes a statewide newsletter, sits as Secretary of the Apiary Inspectors of America and publishes their Annual Proceedings.   

At the same time Ed has done and continues to do extensive consulting/advisory work for USAID's Farmer to Farmer program through Winrock International and other consulting for both Heifer Project International, and Development Alternatives Inc.  This has involved many trips to several of the former Soviet countries plus repeated trips to Nepal, India, Bangladesh , Guinea in western Africa and Armenia.  Ed has also worked with bees and beekeepers in several eastern and western European countries.