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Dear Subscribers,

All of a sudden cool weather has come to Gainesville, Florida.  This is on the heels of an extremely hot spell, complete with fires, followed by a heavy downpour with strong winds, but not the really extreme weather that occurred in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.  Tonight conditions will give us a low  of 52 degrees F., not a record but close.  Historically, weather like this in the middle of any bloom is not good for a honey flow. Swarming season is just about over here and the fires continue to be a threat. Meanwhile, we start cocking our eyes to the tropics as official hurricane  season starts June 1.

I incorrectly referenced a fondant recipe in the last newsletter to Joe Stafford in a letter written to Bee Culture.  The correct link reveals that the article was in fact written by Peter Edwards. Thanks to both for sending me the correction.

Here's a message that I have had little success in finding an answer to:  "I have been studying articles about bee nutrition for the last three years and I believe one area has been totally neglected. I find that researchers of pollination and nutrition are working on differant pollens, but not hy-brid. I’m writing you because I need information. Do you know if the government or any university is working on the food value of pollen from Hy-brid seeds compared to the pollen from a natural seed?  In my research, hy-brids started in the early 1900 hundreds and reached the full potential in the late 1990s. I believe we have been destroying the immune system of honey bees by not giving them pollen with the nutrition they need for the last 40 years. Bees need pollen that supports their immune systems from plants and I don’t believe they can receive that proper nutrition from hy-brids.  As far as I can see there is no one analyzing or comparing pollens to see what’s missing from hy-brids." Charles Bennett, 8701 NE 159th Street, Battle Ground, WA 98604, 360-566-0455. If any reader can provide  some  insight into this issue, let me know.

Keith Nielson, klnielson@windstream.net, Nebraska Beekeepers Association, sent the following in response to my remarks about the Nebraska honey standard last month: "I was somewhat taken aback about your comments on the Nebraska Honey Standard. I want to set the record straight. First our situation is different than Florida’s in that we did not have a definition of honey already in Nebraska Department of Agriculture regulations. Second This has been an effort that I personally have worked with Nancy Gentry (Florida) on for getting our standard in place and will model the US Revised Codex with Nebraska Deviations. Third- Since there were no regulations to simply amend we had to go through our legislature to direct our Department of Agriculture to write our standards. We started out using the US Revised Codex in our bill but met opposition from some of our state legislators because it was putting international standards in Nebraska Law. Some did not like it because of World Health Organization (WHO) policies of population control and ignored the scientific part of the CODEX, even though population control is never part of the Honey CODEX. Then we amended the bill to use an already established standard. The Standard we plan on using will still be based off of the US Revised Codex. The Department of Ag has until January 1, 2012 to write such a standard for Nebraska. They can not start work on the regulations until 90 days after the legislature has adjourned.They also have to have a public comment period before the regulations are written and adopted. I have been assured by my senator who carried this bill for us that we will use the US Revised CODEX for our standard and we may have a few deviations since we do not have Orange blossom honey. Our moisture content level will be 18%." 

He followed up with the following: "I also must correct myself after I reread what I had sent. The bill as introduce to our Unicameral was worded using the Honey Standard from the CODEX Alimentarus, Then amended to use the US Revised CODEX which still met opposition from several lawmakers who would filibuster the bill. Then the third amendment that finally got the bill passed was to use an existing recognized standard. This then passed the Unicameral on a vote of 48-1 on final reading. Our Gov. Dave Heinman signed the bill on March 10th. The legislature is scheduled to adjourn June 8th, so the earliest the Nebraska Department of Ag can start a hearing is September 8.  I have been involved with the process of getting the standard in Nebraska for almost 2 years since I talked to my senator and went through the introduction of the bill, committee hearings in September of 2010 and January of 2011. It was sent from the committee to the first reading in the legislature which passed almost unanimously, It was then placed on select file when the concerns about WHO and FAO being part of the bill because of their input into the CODEX for honey.  It then moved from select file to final reading on March 4th where it was passed and sent onto the governor for his signature.

"I would be willing to consent to you putting this information in your Apis newsletter. I read it each month when it comes out and find it very informative. I just want to make sure that Nebraskan Beekeepers are properly recognized for our efforts in trying to get an approved national standard for honey. I welcome any further conversations you may have on the Nebraska Honey Standard or beekeeping in our state or any other part of the world."

Several papers reporting honey bee population dyamics have come to my attention.  Check out the links for this month  and note the award-winning paper from the UK.  "Prior to this study, there were a handful of local estimates of honey bee losses and a lot of speculation, but this paper now clearly presents the actual degree of honey bee declines across the whole continent. The health of our pollinators, as documented in our paper, has wide reaching implications for our health and our economy."  Another reports on population dynamics based on high forager death rates , which acts to accelerate colony failure. The model  suggests that colony failure can be understood in terms of observed principles of honey bee population dynamics, and provides a theoretical framework for experimental investigation of the problem. 

Catch the Buzz brings us more evidence of professional diagnostics for beekeeping.  This time from Canada.  Leave it to Alberta beekeepers to come up with a great model plan.  "Rural Alberta Development Fund Board of Directors has approved $925,360 in funding for a new centre designed to become a one-stop shop for all bee diagnostic services required by beekeepers, government departments and researchers from across the country. Development of Canada’s first National Bee Diagnostic Services Centre (NBDSC) will be led by the Centre for Research & Innovation, which is based out of Grande Prairie Regional College (GPRC).

“Alberta’s Peace Country is at the heart of Canada’s honey producing industry and this project offers great potential for economic growth in the area,” said Honourable Jack Hayden, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development. “Having the NBDSC located with the national bee research program and complimented by the renewed Beekeeper Technician Program at GPRC Fairview campus will create an internationally recognized research, diagnostic, education and training cluster in the Peace Country.”

“The one-of-a-kind National Bee Diagnostic Services Centre will provide a major benefit to Canada’s beekeeping industry,” said Jann Beeston, Chair of the Board of Directors, Rural Alberta Development Fund. “With the current crisis in bee health, this centre will contribute directly to alleviate the significant economic impact to the region’s and Canada’s beekeeping industry.”

Two other Catch the Buzz issues caught my attention. One is an uptick in attacks by black bears. "...the common belief that surprising a mother bear with cubs is the most dangerous kind of black bear encounter is inaccurate. Instead, lone male black bears hunting people as a potential source of food are a greater cause of deadly maulings and related predatory attempts. The study also found that fatal attacks do not typically involve bears that are familiar with humans, although some fatal attacks did."

Another discusses mining the honey bee genome.  The news is not good for those looking for simple anwers: "One thing the arrival of the honey bee genome has not done is hand bee researchers all the secrets of their favourite organism laid out in a convenient recipe book -- an often overused metaphor. Instead, says Patch, “the genome has opened up a huge vista that is seemingly unending.” 

Garrison publishing is offering free web site design and implementation to beekeeping clubs: "Garreson Publishing is committed to providing resources for bee clubs to get online quickly. Over the past few months we have started a pilot grant program with two bee clubs, to build out a compelling online presence. We’d like to expand this program, and are accepting applications for further online development for bee clubs, 4-H groups, and small businesses, anywhere in the world. The two clubs in the pilot program are the Steuben County Honey Bee Association http://www.schba.info/ and the Bwindi Beekeepers of Uganda http://www.bwindibeekeepers.info/. We’re providing the domain name, hosting, and graphic design, as well as assistance with site maintenance.

Joe Traynor, pollination consultant and author  also provided the following in his monthly report: Orange Honey Crop a Bust:  "Half or more of the 700,000+ bee colonies in San Joaquin Valley almond  orchards in February are placed in east-side citrus locations in April. Beekeepers expect to make $50/colony worth of orange honey and for many Valley-based beekeepers  this is the only honey income they will get all year. This year, the orange honey crop was a bust for two reasons: less nectar in fewer blossoms and over-crowding of  locations. Just as cattle will over-graze limited pasture, increasing numbers of bee colonies on a limited acreage of citrus is harmful to bees. This year, some beekeepers spent $25 to $30/colony feeding sugar syrup to their bees during orange bloom, an unheard of situation. The conversion of thousands of acres of Navel and  Valencia oranges to “seedless” mandarins has exacerbated the situation since mandarin growers either net their trees or don’t allow bees within a mile of their groves.  Bee colonies in the citrus belt are being crowded into smaller and smaller areas (refugee camps?) to the detriment of bees and beekeepers (and almond growers)." 

And Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) Still With Us: "Annual losses to CCD remain in the 30% range. This year two of our beekeepers (5,000 total colonies) suffered over 50%  winter loss. CCD losses usually don’t show up until January, creating a scramble for suitable almond bees for us and for other brokers and growers. CCD research is  proceeding on a number of fronts and a consensus is forming that one or more viruses is the root cause and that virus-spreading varroa mites must be controlled to minimize CCD. Trying to kill a bug on a bug without harming the host bug (honey bee) is a formidable task, made more difficult as mites quickly develop resistance to the few materials available for control.  In this age of CCD, the inputs necessary for beekeepers to provide almond growers with 8+ frame colonies usually exceed $200/colony. These costs are increasing due to increased costs of inputs, esp. sugar syrup and to costs also faced by almond growers, esp. fuel prices. Although we are holding the line on pollination prices, expect others to raise prices and/or to cut down on the inputs required to supply strong colonies in February."

Again, check out selected links for this month at publish2.com.

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Gleanings from the May 2011 edition of Bee Culture http://beeculture.com :

Remember that Bee Culture continues to be available in a digital edition:

Dr. Gary McCallister, Biology Department, Mesa State College, Grand Junction, Colorado writes asking for ideas on designing a beekeeping course. e_mail: mccallis@mesastate.edu, ph 970-248-1939. He might be surprised at the number of ideas he gets. I hope he follows up with readers on what he receives.  Mel Disselkoen, Wyoming, Michigan thinks CCD, which "started out as a honey bee problem is now clearly a human health and safety issue." Vernell Gillespie,e-mail: Jlkinyon@vnet.net, has donated a suite of books to a local library as his project "Bee Educated," which form much of the curriculum for North Carolina's Master Beekeeper Program. Frank Pendell, California State Beekeepers Association President describes the California Apiary Research Commission and its origins. Gary Reuter, University of Minnesota provides a picture of his automobile hitch receiver smoker box and Mary Ranker, New Sharon, Maine, shares a moment with Ed Colby's Bottom Board (January 2011).

Gary Shilling, economist turned beekeeper, provides a detailed review of the new volume, The Beekeeper's Lament by Hannah Nordhaus. Find out where the town of Gackle is and what it means to beekeeping.

Editor Flottum waxes on "swarms and swarming."  Read why May is the best month to be a beekeeper in Ohio if you want free bees, but bee sure to ask the right questions or trouble may ensue. Read why you should look, listen and would  you believe smell, and why it's good for you.

Clarence Collison and Audrey Sheraton are at it again, taking a closer look at division of labor in a honey bee colony.  An interesting twist is that much of the column describes shifts in cuticular hydrocarbon profiles based on what bees are doing and their genetic makeup.

Larry Connor looks at the research going on in Hawaii, along with the possible effects of the perfect honey bee storm (Noseama  ceranae, small hive beetle and Varroa) on various operators.  There is some optimism expressed, but much will need  to change from what is practiced now.  This read is worth the price of the magazine itself and should be obligatory for every beekeeper.

Tammy Horn, featured speaker at this year's Florida Bee College  helps lay out a plan to use natural resources for the greatest good, greatest number and longest time.  She reviews the 2010 session of the North  American Pollinator Protection Plan  and what's at stake.  Read how a new plan to help redefine President Theodore Roosevelt's national ethic  for the 21st Century.

Stephen Engle invites beekeepers to listen in. He explores use of vibroacoustic and seismic activity to monitor bee hive activities.  This work feeds off other pioneering studies employing what is called the "Apidictor," and experiments now being refined by Bee Alert Technology.

The tale of Johnny-No-More is obligatory reading for beekeepers.  Read why teasing other humans can harm your bees.

Two articles take up swarming in a slightly different way.  Jim Tew and Ross Conrad approach the subject and come to conclusions that are and are not related.  The one thing they both do is conclude that most of what can be done is based on manipulating the queen.

Marla Spivak lays the groundwork for a sustainable market based on genetically-selected queens.  Read about the "bee team" that will take on this difficult challenge and how it will be funded.

Walt Dahlgren imroves on his bee vacuum and Ed Simon makes a "swarm pail."  Both will improve possibilities of swarm capture.

Ed Schmiedlin describes what works for him when he sells and what doesn't.  Read his rules for positive profits; most important, "Don't give it away!"

Richard Flanagan provides some  no-nonsense advice on beekeeping's toughest job, removing bees from buildings.  His  list of supplies to take is as long as your arm, but the major thing he emphasizes is take along another beekeeper.  Don't go it alone!

Ann Harman writes the no brainer that Spring is the busiest time of the year for bees and beekeepers.  Read what happens in her neck of the woods, but don't expect the same conditions where you are.

Connie Krochmal urges folks to plant some buckwheat for bee forage.  Again, note the geographical location; it won't grow everywhere.

In All the News that fits read the obituaries of two prominent bee people, James Baxter of the Weslaco, TX laboratory and Richard Gannon of Royal Air Force Apiaries.
 
Note the resolution by the Apiary Inspectors of America in Galveston, TX to close the border to Australian queens and the continued challenges to regulators in the latter country faced with Asian honey bee (Apis cerana - Java strain) incursions.

Finally, Ed Colby takes a rest from his monthly Bottom Board, while Alan harman reports on Beltsville, MD research leader, Jeff Pettis' trip to London.  Read his analysis of losses in the U.S. and how they are somewhat at odds with what beekeepers and others are saying in Europe.  He downplays two major causes, neonicotinoid pesticides and genetically modified crops.

Sincerely,


Malcolm T. Sanford
beeactor@apisenterprises.com
http://apis.shorturl.com

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