Dear Subscribers,
Happy Fourth of July to those readers in the United States of America. The latest opinion rendered by the Supreme Court seems to be a wonderful gift on this momentous day. Not because of the a specific opinion on the affordable care act, but because it shows that judges are human, and can indeed change their minds based on specific circumstances and reason, rather than ideology.
Thanks to tropical storm Debbie, we had over 10 inches of rain in Gainesville since the last issue of the Apis newsletter. Local areas got a lot more and all of a sudden we have gone from
famine to feast, to darn much water in too short a time. Since that event the heat that has bedeviled the central part of the county has come with a vengence. Fortunately, the storm did not put out of commission the electric grid in this part of the country. Those up on the east coast are
not so lucky; they still wait for relief, and more severe weather may be on the way.
Honey bees can take the heat generally, but like any organism, they suffer in extremes. Beekeepers must be sure there is water available to colonies for their cooling efforts. It is possible to put shade cloth over colonies that are exposed in small-scale operations. Those that have taken to putting their hives in the shade (forests) will have happier bees no doubt, but there's always a tradeoff. Colonies in the shade are often more temperamental and appear to be more at risk from small hive beetle depredations.
One thing to keep in mind. After large rain events, mosquito populations tend to explode. So beekeepers in areas exposed to floods should begin planning now to protect their insects from the inevitable spraying that will result. Start by informing local mosquito control agencies about your colony locations and work with them to ensure the
best possible protection is in place for them.
.
Further discussion of Neonicotinoids: Thanks to John McDonald for responding to my remarks about the new class of pesticides used in corn. He graciously gave me me permission to use his remarks in the following exchange.
“Of course you can use my comments, and ,as a biologist I understand the role of objectivity in decision making, but this has gone on long enough and demands some serious , unbiased research, if that is possible in today's world. Thanks for your prompt reply...John”
Date: Mon, 18 Jun 2012 15:19:36 -0400
From: beeactor@apisenterprises.com
To: mactheknife70@hotmail.com
Subject: Re: apis newsletter June 15, 2012
John,
Thanks for the thoughtful reply. The Apis newsletter seeks to be objective when discussing various issues. While it is certainly probable that honey bees on heavily-farmed land are not doing as well as on the borders of nearby forest, that in itself does not condemn a specific practice, such as use of neonicotinoids in corn. Correlation with corn-planting season also does not prove that honey bee dieoff was caused by pesticide use; other factors may be a play that are coincident. In no way does relating these possibilities to the Apis readership mean it is "carrying water" for any particular commercial entity. I would, however, like to use this comment in the next issue of the newsletter if you will permit it. Thanks for your support of the Apis newsletter.
Malcolm
On 06/18/2012 01:52 PM, John McDonald wrote:
Malcolm;
Here in Central Pennsylvania we are witnessing another severe die off concurrent with the corn planting season verified by PSU bee scientists. Mussen's and Oliver's comments are basically a white wash of the role of corn seed treatments in killing honeybees and ALL other insects. I must admit that the Harvard study was very poor science and got publicity only because of the cachet of the schools name.
For several years now I have observed that the survival and honey production of two sets of colonies that I maintain, usually 10 to each group , have differed consistently. The home colonies are situated in a lovely rolling Appalachian Valley with agriculture while the others are situated in Forest County 120 miles to the north in unfarmed semi-wilderness bordering on the Allegheny National Forest. While the farm land bees struggle ...the bees to the north thrive.
I came to this valley many years ago and at that time and produced large honey crops only to see them dwindle with the intensification of chemical assisted agriculture to the point of collapse with the introduction of clothianidin.
I ask of you and your associates to quit carrying water for those corporations that are responsible for this state of affairs.
John McDonald, Spring Mills, PA.
Lest we all think this debate is somehow confined to the United State of America, I have received notice from my friend and colleague,
Martín Braunstein, in Argentina concerning his opinion of comments by the news aggregator, Api-News. I have chosen not to translate it fully, but only here provide a couple summary paragraphs:
"La debacle en la cual se encuentra inserta la supervivencia de la apicultura profesional a nivel mundial, tiene varias causas, a saber: desaparición de praderas, cambio climático, resistencia de la varroa a principios activos, agricultura intensiva, uso incorrecto de agroquímicos y la lista podría seguir... ”
The causes of losses in commercial beekeeping in recent years has a number of causes, including reduction in bee pasture, climate change, resistence by Varroa to chemical treatments, intensive agriculture, and incorrect use of agrochemicals among others....
"Los neonicotinoides han sido la excusa perfecta, para que muchos apicultores mediocres, buscaran un chivo expiatorio a la mortandad inusitada de colmenas, que tuvo lugar desde fines de la década del 90. "
The neonicotinoids have been the perfect excuse for mediocre beekeepers to use in search for answers to colony losses occurring since the decade of the 90s.
"El reemplazo de los tradicionales plaguicidas organofosforados (paratión, malatión y clorpirifós) por los neonicotinoides, ha sido uno de los cambios más impactantes y beneficiosos para la apicultura contemporánea."
Replacement of traditional organophophates (parathion, malathion y chlorpyrifos) by neonicotinoids has been one ot the most impactful and beneficial changes for contemporary beekeeping.
A
Catch the Buzz release discusses the latest figures on the honey bee's pollination value. “The value of directly dependent crops attributed to all insect pollination (2009 USD) decreased from $14.29 billion in 1996, the first year for value data in this study, to $10.69 billion in 2001, but increased thereafter, reaching $15.12 billion by 2009."
"The values attributed to honey bees and non-Apis pollinators followed similar patterns, reaching $11.68 billion and $3.44 billion, respectively, by 2009. The cultivated area of crops grown from seeds resulting from insect pollination (indirectly dependent crops: legume hays, carrots, onions, etc.) was stable from 1992 through 1999, but has since declined. Production of those crops also declined, albeit not as rapidly as the decline in cultivated area; this asymmetry was due to increases in aggregate yield. "
"The value of indirectly dependent crops attributed to insect pollination declined from $15.45 billion in 1996 to $12.00 billion in 2004, but has since trended upward. The value of indirectly dependent crops attributed to honey bees and non-Apis pollinators, exclusive of alfalfa leafcutter bees, has declined since 1996 to $5.39 billion and $1.15 billion, respectively in 2009. The value of alfalfa hay attributed to alfalfa leafcutter bees ranged between $4.99 and $7.04 billion."
This is just in time for folks to trumpet pollination value as part of National Honey Bee Day, scheduled for Agust 18, 2012 See details at the
national site dedicated to this.
My speaking gig at Betterbee on August 4, 2012 has been cancelled for “unexpected reasons.” I am still due to speak in
North Carolina, however, so hope to see some of you there.
Sales on
Storey's Guide to Keeping Honey Bees at Amazon.com: 147 copies were sold between April 30, 2012 and June 24, 2012. Portland, OR and Spokane, WA continue to top the list at over 10 copies.
Bee Health: Finally take a look at selected links found at
Publish2.com. This site is going away and I can no longer update it so I am going to have to figure an alternative. Anyone got any ideas?
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Gleanings from the July, 2012 Bee Culture:
Remember that Bee Culture now has a
digital edition.
Tom Goebel, New York, sends kudos to Dave Middleton for his article on a novel dual swarm bucket. Ed Simon also used the idea in Minnesota. Hans Martin, Kings City, Ontario. Jim Cowan, Aberdeen, WA describes himself as lucky after no one got stung inserting their hands into a swarm. The Skep-tick writes that although the EPA's cup overflows with amitraz, the number of exposures is highly underestimated, and the results are not to the honey bee's advantage.
This author (M.T. Sanford) uses a flea comb on two cats every night, rather than chemical control. This reduces the level of the amitraz “risk cup,” but the bees are still victims of amitraz's success.
Phil King, McHenry, IL finds money minted in 1863 by the Confederacy with skeps pictured on them in the family archive. Howard Christian is concerned because he sees a lot of honey bees foraging in the nearby dump for the dregs of sweets thrown away by humans. He wonders if this makes its way into honey?
Summer reading continues with Michelle Obama's book American Grown, The Story of the White House Kitchen Garden and Gardens Across America, Crown Publishing and Tales of an African Beekeeper by Peter Clark, self-published. (Editor Flottum says, “You will be very glad you have the bees you have.”) Both are available at amazon.com
The e-book
Eating Planet is a report released by the Barilla Center for Food and Nutrition. Finally take a look at the innovative concept call a
camlock.
Kathy Summers continues her time in the garden writing about tomatoes, meetings (the big one in
Vermont ) and chickens. Read what she considers the most important ingredient in raising chickens, bees or even little boys/girls.
Clarence Collison and Audrey Sheridan take a closer look at larval care and nutrition. Read how bees regularly inspect for adequate nutrition and the role of what some call a “hunger signal.”
Editor Flottum describes the different ways almonds are pollinated in California as his odyssey continues in the Bear Republic. Read why nutrition continues to get the spotlight in this activity.
Dan Conlon begins a three-part series on planning a beekeeping business. Read why he says 100 colonies is the level to start with and the importance he places on record keeping, business plans and naming the enterprise.
Ross Conrad writes that large corporations are taking a page out of the classic book The Art of War. Cosying up to the beekeeping industry he concludes provides good cover for these outfits, and also encourages the beekeeping house to divide itself to its own detriment. He urges beekeepers to report possible pesticide kills. Read the list of possible places he provides that will receive them.
Peter Sieling tells a common story about those involved with beekeeping groups. After two years in a leadership role, he is ready to give the reins to someone else (“burned out?”). He says he's looking forward to “not volunteering for anything ever again.” His leadership gig did provide enough ideas for this article at least. I bet we see him again writing about his bee club's challenges with bylaws, constitution, etc.
Jim Tew takes up a topic that is more and more in vogue, urban beekeeping. Read his own experiences in this area for tips on navigating the suburban/urban beekeeping scene.
Larry Connor invents what he calls a “Doolittle Nuc.” Read how this came about and what it means to the urban queen producer.
A summer 1917 letter from a beekeeper's wife reveals some historical information on beekeeping. Much has not changed over the years this letter shows.
Pat Driscoll describes construction of a gabled roof. This traditional British design incorporates some modern building materials.
William Hall reflects on his father's assistant to a Louis Harbin during World War II. It was through the Hall's efforts that Mr. Harbin was able to get back on his beekeeping track. The rest is as they say "history."
Ann Harman provides more tips on vendors in her part II article on the subject. Read about the critical role of the Vendor Coordinator (VC)
and what his/her efforts can mean to the success of a meeting.
Dal Allan photographs the results of a swarm taking up residence in an empty super. Take a look at how the frames the bees built came out.
Duane Waid visits Florida's Renaissance Man, Bill Carpenter in Frostproof. Read about this queen rearing operation and philosophy to satisfy his customers.
Connie Krochmal describes the many shrubs to choose from that will work in a bee garden. Read about plants like beautyberry, butterfly bush, skimmia and summersweet, among others.
In all the news that fits, read about California's challenges in terms of agricultural inspection and France's banning of Cruiser OSR, a neonicotinoid. Winter losses are reported were lower than last year but still too high, according to the
Bee Informed Partnership.
In The Bottom Board, Coloradan Ed Colby finds his honey became fermented. Read how he dealt with that situation and why asking several experts got difference opinions. Welcome to beekeeping.
Sincerely,
Malcolm T. Sanford
beeactor@apisenterprises.com
http://apis.shorturl.com
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