Dear Subscribers,
We are getting some afternoon thunder showers, which are most welcome. However, conditions are so dry that even after our recent tropical storm event, dumping close to five inches of rain, a record-setting drought continues in this . Honey flows in this part of the world are now pretty much over and we wait until the fall in North Central Florida, which some times can give us substantial honey flows.
I have a couple of speaking engagements this summer and hope to see some readers there. I will be in Lumberton, NC for the July 12 meeting of the North Carolina Beekeepers Association in
Lumberton, NC and the Betterbee field day on August 4 in
Greenwich, New York
I also may be traveling to Nicaragua in August as part of Farmer to Farmer program. A colleague, John Gamache, has also been to the country to look at
conditions first hand. We are considering a longer-term project in the country if possible. Those active in the Florida State Beekeepers Association and Master Beekeepers trained by Jamie Ellis at the University of Florida are also becoming more engaged in the region. Look for a major event in the Caribbean with Florida participation. There have already been visits by member Bo Sterk, who published an article in the Australasian Beekeeper about beekeeping in
Haiti. Finally, there is an initiative to d organize an association in Jamaica to be affiliated with the State Association. Expect to see some reporting of all this at the next convention in Tampa, November 1-4, 2012.
Other Florida news includes a revamping of the Florida Bee Inspection program with departure of Jerry Hayes, now employed by Monsanto via Beeologics. Long-time inspector David Westervelt has taken over and will be part of a major effort in the state, dubbed “beekeeper protection.” A so-called “cottage food” law has now been passed that will allow small-scale beekeepers to market their honey directly and beekeeping has now been formally designated an “agricultural enterprise,” meaning it now comes under the “right to farm act.”
Two
newsletters from the pen of Dr. Eric Mussen deserve further consideration. The March-April edition of From the UC Apiaries discusses among other things the carbon footprint of honey. I also wrote about that in a previous article in the
2008 volume of Bee Culture. Now it's been taken to another level and there's actually a
calculator available
In the May-June issue, Dr. Mussen takes on a hotter topic, which has recently been discussed on Internet sites concerning neonicotinoids and their effects on honey bees. He references the latest Xerces society's
report on this. The conclusion: “There is no direct link demonstrated between neonicotinoids and the honey bee syndrome known as Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD). However, recent research suggests that neonicotinoids may make honey bees more susceptible to parasites and pathogens, including the intestinal parasite Nosema, which has been implicated as one causative factor in CCD.”
Unfortunately, some bloggers and media outlets have not taken this to heart, and a recent study in the Journal of Insectology by a Harvard group that directly links the new class of pesticides to CCD has further inflamed the issue. The Harvard name carries a lot of weight and this is probably the reason for all the media attention, but it appears to have been overblown and not realistic.
A beekeeper-researcher in California (
Randy Oliver) has written: “A recent press release by the prestigious Harvard School of Public Health claims that one of their researchers has found that Colony Collapse Disorder was caused by a common insecticide used on corn. As an informed beekeeper and environmentalist, I feel that this study calls for standard scientific scrutiny to see whether their claims actually have merit.”
Many agree with one blogger's assessment that this study has lots of problems and is “
sloppy science,” especially when it is revealed the bees were given the pesticide in high fructose corn syrup.”
Also the role of genetic engineering and use of neonicotinoids is being confused, especially in
corn. This does not help when beekeepers and others are looking for solutions to perceived problems.
All this appears to have gotten EPA's attention, however, and so we could see some major reshuffling of the labeling requirements for new chemicals. The Canadians are also getting into action, notifying "...registrants, pesticide regulatory officials and the Canadian public of Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency’s (PMRA) decision to initiate a re-evaluation, under section 16 of the Pest Control Products Act (PCPA), of the nitro-guanidine neonicotinoid insecticides, clothianidin and thiamethoxam, and their associated products registered in Canada. ”
Dr. Mussen also looks at the role of epigenetics. Again, something I wrote about in
Bee Culture in 2008.Now new information has come to light based on study of pseudoscorpions exposed to antibiotics, particularly tetracycline. Low sperm count might also be a problem in honey bees and other organisms exposed to broa d sprectrum antiobiotics, including
humans? Yikes!
Sales of
Storey's Guide to Keeping Honey Bees at Amazon.com continue. "154 copies were sold betwee
n April 16, 2012 and June 10, 2012." Portland and Spokane, Washington top the list at over a dozen copies.
Always check out what's new at the Extension Bee Health
site. Finally take a look at selected links found at
Publish2.com
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Gleanings from the June, 2012 Bee Culture:
Remember that Bee Culture now has a
digital edition.
Renée David, Forge, WI writes about an innovative hive stand using pvc pipe. Greg Smela in Vermont writes about his chicken-raising efforts, calling them “goats with feathers.” Jim Cowan, Aberdeen, WA says his bait hives appear to be making a come back from being completely out of action since arrival of mites. Dr. Vaughn Bryant, Texas A&M University weighs in on filtered honey. There's no filtered substitute for honey containing pollen.
In the Inner Cover, editor Flottum visits Beltsville's new facility and leader Jeff Pettis, Bart Smith and Judy Chen among others. He also writes a letter about Maine beekeeping and its reliance on commerical pollination.
Kathy Summers travels to Washington and is treated to a great meal containing lots of honey. She's a fan of the D.C. Public transit system.
New for summer is
Dr. Larry Connor's, Bee-Sentials , A Field Guide, Farmstand Favorites (Honey Recipes), Major Flowers Important to Honey Bees in the Northeast and Atlantic States and two innovative products (screen bottom board and robbing screen) from
Country Rubes.
Clarence Collison and Audrey Sheridan take a closer look at brood pheromone and E-β Ocimen. Read in depth what both these substances do.
Editor Flottum continues his almond odessey by visiting the “almond brothers,” two different outfits with specialized styles in California. Read how they are navigating the modern beekeeping environment.
Steve Sheppard reviews another in the increasingly important studies showing the importance of protein consumption by bees.
Jeremy Barnes writes that it's time to be outraged. Read why he says it's time to examine habit and haste in our lives for the bees' sake.
Ann Harman looks at
West Michigan Farmlink. Read how to create, connect and cook.
William Blomsted gets a Facebook name, Apis mellifera mellifera. Turns out there are a lot more folks with this moniker. He clicks on a few “likes.” Read what happens as he delves deeper into social networking.
William Hall describes two pioneering beekeeping females in Seattle, WA who moved into the then wilderness to manage Caucasian bees. Read about their hardships and successes. Most interesting today is to know the actual source of the bees.
Judith Adamson is a rogue beekeeper in Kensington, CA. Beekeeping is illegal there, but she does it anyway. Read how and the
rest of the story.
Michael Hegedus attends a honey tasting in Brooklyn, NY. Read why this was special and what might be in store for the 5th annual event.
Michael Smith writes that
College Beekeeper is both a blueprint and support system. Read how this operates. Much different from Florida's well-attended
Bee College.
Yours truly gives a rundown on what was presented about bee science at the American Beekeeping Federation in Las Vegas. Read what might happen at the
next event in Hershey, PA.
Larry Connor urges a rethink on how to use queen cells. Read some possible innovative uses of the “royal” cell.
Jim Tew describes “package bee anxiety,” and what to do about it. Read why what mostly will go wrong, will!
Stephen Engel
records honey bee music. Read about seasonal variations in sounds and the difference between initiator and responder signals.
Jim Thompson writes that drones have a use, but “aren't perfect.” Read when there might be too many and why.
Ann Harman lists what you can do to take care of those folks who are supporting your bee meeting, the vendors. Read her tips and especially about the use of a vendor coordinator (VC).
In all the news that fits, the National Honey Board lists its funded bee research projects in 2012 and the White House's beekeeper Charlie Brandt hangs up his veil, but will still be around in case of emergency.
Sincerely,
Malcolm T. Sanford
beeactor@apisenterprises.com
http://apis.shorturl.com
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