Dear Subscribers,
We've had some cooler weather on the heels of the downpours that happened in the panhandle. Talk about a gusher; 26 inches of rain in 24 hours. Yikes! Reminds of Florida's record, which I still think stands at 38.7 inches in 24 hours in Yankeetown, FL (I wonder who measured it?). I've heard estimates of even more!
It turns out Hurricane Easy belied its name. Nothing “easy”about this “double header” of a hurricane.
“Hurricane Easy produced hurricane force winds across large portions of western Florida, including over 100 mph (160 km/h) winds in Cedar Key for 9 and 1/2 hours. The town, which reported a minimum pressure of 958.3 mbar(28.30 in), experienced the eye of the hurricane for 2 and 1/2 hours[5] while strong waves hit the coast. The tide in Tampa Bay rose 6.5 ft (2.0 m), the highest since 1921. While looping twice along its path, the hurricane dropped heavy amounts of rainfall of 10 in (250 mm) to 20 in (510 mm) in large portions of northwestern Florida. Rainfall totals include 24.5 in (620 mm) in Cedar Key in 3 days[5] and 38.70 in (983 mm) in Yankeetown, Florida, in 24 hours, which easily became the largest 24 hour rainfall total on record for the United States. The record has since been broken by Tropical Storm Claudette in 1979 with 43 in (1,100 mm), though Easy's total remains the largest 24 hour rainfall total on record for the state of Florida."
My comments about Noah last month netted a couple of replies, including the following raft of pictures sent by loyal reader Jimmy Mahuron:
I am just back from checking our bees in the neighborhood. We created a split from a nuc using a ripe cell; it was hopelessly queenless and appeared to be on the verge of collapsing. The split requeened itself nicely and we have a good population of bees. But the one we split from has gone queenless (no brood and no eggs!). Lots of drones flying out of the colony and a big worker population. We are trusting that the queen might have been replaced and the replacement is out on a mating flight. If not, our new split will provide some brood to replace the queen from the original nuc. Bee management always surprises.
A Catch the Buzz says it all. All life is connected if you look deep enough! We shouldn't have to be saying this, but it is all too true as we look into ecosystems, which includes the whole food chain: “... the return of wolves to Yellowstone National Park is beginning to bring back a key part of the diet of grizzly bears that has been missing for much of the past century – berries that help bears put on fat before going into hibernation.
“It's one of the first reports to identify the interactions between these large, important predators, based on complex ecological processes. It was published today by scientists from Oregon State University and Washington State University in the Journal of Animal Ecology.
“The researchers found that the level of berries consumed by Yellowstone grizzlies is significantly higher now that shrubs are starting to recover following the re-introduction of wolves, which have reduced over-browsing by elk herds. The berry bushes also produce flowers of value to pollinators like butterflies, insects and hummingbirds; food for other small and large mammals; and special benefits to birds.”
The North American Bayer Care Center opens this month with a big splash. Editor Flottum will bee on hand. We no doubt will read about this in the next issue of Bee Culture. Meanwhile take a look at the facility on the web.
The North American Bee Center, located on the Research Triangle Park campus in North Carolina, is designed to serve as a focal point for existing and future bee health initiatives, including: Full laboratory and research apiary, as well as honey extraction and workshop space needed to conduct bee health research; sactive promotion of bee-responsible use of Bayer products along with communication activities worldwide; State-of-the-art meeting, training and presentation facilities for beekeepers, farmers and educators to provide resources and an interactive learning center; Pollinator-friendly gardens and a LEED Gold certified facility that will produce a surplus of energy.
"We are also actively involved with North Carolina State University in conducting research that will improve bee health, such as: Supporting research efforts surrounding the small hive beetle; sponsoring of a grad student for research and review of chemistries and natural oils as potential new miticide applications in 2014 in conjunction with activities at the Center
Funding research on AFB (American Foulbrood)."
The fact that Bayer (and also Monsanto) are funding bee research based on concerns of bee health is exciting stuff, although there continue to be huge controversies about how much beekeepers and scientists should get involved. I believe, however, that the worm may be turning. Like Google and Apple, the U.S. Public is in bed with corporations to a huge degree. It's no longer possible to fully demonize the Monsantos and Bayers of the world. Things are much more complex. So beekeepers are better off to bring a more nuanced view to the “problem” of colony demise, and cooperate with the regulators whose mission is to sort out much of science from the hysteria. Here's one view on the matter from a beekeeper. This reminds me of Marla Spivak's Ted talk, which emphasizes some of the same things and is worth viewing more than once.
The response to Bayer's Bee Care center is all too predictable from some quarters, as noted in Friends of the Earth's report entitled: “Follow the Honey.” It plays on the fact that the campaigns of big agriculture are to sow doubt, the same way the tobacco industry did for its toxic product. But taking a page out of that book, the report then uses the same strategy. fueling more doubt about the motives of Bayer. This kind of “debate” is becoming unproductive. The “extremism” on both sides doesn't get us very far in resolving the basic issues. Finally, I call your attention to the fact that so-called “bad science” cannot be ruled out as contributing to the confusion.
It looks to be more and more official. Dr. Eric Mussen at the University of California, Davis is retiring. He still has a few more newsletters in him to add to his cache, however. Take a look at the latest one via this site.
I recently received a message concerning the programmed activities of an outfit known as Genome Canada : “In this section you will learn how genomics and proteomics research is affecting our society, influencing our lives and, potentially, changing our world. You will examine some of the history of DNA science – how it was discovered and what it has meant for all of us. You will get to know some of the more successful projects that Genome Canada has yet funded and discover how genomics research touches areas as diverse as agriculture and human health. Finally, you’ll see how this research is becoming part of exhibitions, film and competitions that recognize today’s innovation and tomorrow’s possibilities.”
This topic, like the pesticide issue, is often shrouded in mystery and doubt. See my report published some time ago. Things have move quickly in the field so some of what you read in my articles may be out of date, but the basics and history remain the same.
Bee venom therapy may go mainstream if recent events are an indication. A company is attempting to make a venom analog that doesn't require a honey bee. If this can be done, one of the major stumbling blocks (dose standardization) in determining the effectiveness of bee venom might be overcome. Stay tuned!
The International honey market is in dissaray according to Ron Phipps: “The International Honey Market is approaching a crisis due to a shortage of honey, especially genuine white honey and low priced light amber honey. The shortages and high prices of 2013 are finding more acute expression in 2014. But the shortage of honey in 2014 is also rapidly and substantially narrowing the traditional price gaps among white, extra light amber, light amber and amber honey.
“Behind these shortages and escalating prices are negative climate events, especially the droughts in Argentina and Brazil. These droughts are affecting not only honey but also coffee as their impact is relatively indiscriminate. For example, Brazil’s drought has caused coffee prices to spike during the past 5 months from $1.20/lb. to $2.10/lb. The extended and persistent drought in California is contributing to rapidly increased prices for citrus fruits and nuts.” Read the full report .
Thanks again to joe Traynor for shipping me hisMay Newsletter. He's already looking forward to the 2015 pollination season in California. Along with that document came his vision of how conventional wisdom has changed in the almond groves. I mentioned to hiim that the same kind of thing was also occurring in beekeeping.
Storey's Guide to Keeping Honey Bees ,which has been adopted as the text for the Montana apprentice course continues to move off the shelves. Amazon.com reports 85 units were sold from April 14, 2014 – May 11, 2014.
As always, see the latest on bee extension efforts at the Bee Health Extension site.
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Gleanings from the May 2014 Bee Culture:
Remember that Bee Culture now has a digital edition.
The Russians are coming to Medina October 25-26. Bee Culture his hosting the annual meeting of the Russian Bee Breeders Association. I don't believe you will see Vladimir Putin there, but maybe some Ukrainians will check out the meeting. Registration is now in full swing, $100/individual; $175/Couple, Contact Amanda Ashaffer@rootcandles.com or phone 330-725-6677, ext 3255 or Editor Flottum ext. 3214, kim@beeculture.com
Greg Carey reflects on Jim Tew's recent article “Winners and Losers.” He proclaims it a winner. Hubert Hudler, Abilene, Texas thinks there out to be a national honey bee week instead of only a day. Ray Cashion reports big problems getting Russian bees for his outfit. John McKelvey, Jr. says he “loves Bee Culture.” Rhonda Henning reports great customer service from Blue Sky Beekeeping Beekeeping Supply in Navarre, OH.
Editor Flottum reflects on what we don't know about the national honey report in his Inner Cover article. See the whole 2013 report, along with some dynamite conclusions. Especially interesting are those associated with imports, as also reported by Ron Phipps referred to elsewhwere in this newsletter. Finally, catch up on those things he says you musn't forget, including the 2015 calendar photo contest and the importance of being a metnor.
In “It's Summers Time,” read about Kathy's birthday bash. She even reports how old she is and her time spent in California with an old friend from Junior High. Yikes. Those were the days my friends.
Clarence Collison looks at the “other” foulbrood, the European variety (EHB). It's not nearly as scary as the American Variety (AFB), but should not be discounted entirely as a threat.
Larry Connor says there is much more about the value of protein in the hive than at first glance. Read what he says are beekeepers most common mistakes when assessing how much pollen a colony might need.
Diane Yost is researching a better way to treat AFB than the traditional way (antibiotics) using something called “phage therapyr” at the university of Las Vegas (UNLV). Read how this technology is developed and what it might mean for the future
Dewey Caron looks toward a time of “treatment free beekeeping.” Read how this appears to be something small-scale beekeepers can do using alternative technologies like top-bar hives, better-selected stock and employoing smaller, growing populations with less intervention by the beekeeper.
Jim Thompson sees too many drones in his colonies. Read what that might mean and why this concern is not new among beekeepers. In the very next article Jim Tew “speculates” about drones, because it turns out knowledge about the male gender in honey bee colonies is mighty sparse.
Ed Simon is making a list and checking it twice. This is a big project called "things your mentor forgot to tell you." Predictably this ranges pretty far afield from interactions with cows/horses, ant control, and not using plastic pails that previously had pickles in them for honey storage. Send him more ideas ed@thebeeshed.com.
Randy Ferguson looks at the makeup of a meadow and then describes how to make one of your own. Read about the possibilities. There are many.
Toni Burnham looks at several ways to install a bee club apiary in the city. Read about the exeriences of Chicago and Pittsburg, each forging a different path.
Phil Craft answers questions about a hive full of drones in Washington state and using top bar hives in Kentucky. Read what he says about these two very different situations.
Jeff Harris writes about honey bees measuring time. Speedand profitability. Read about their circadian rhythm and his ideas about the infamous “dance language.”
Ross Contrad finds that some things he thought he knew, were not true. Read what came out of his small-cell experiment that he didn't expect.
Alice Eckles writes about being a honey connoisseur. Read her analysis of honey types and how they relate to wines (terroir and artesan). Heady stuff!
Lucian Costanzo makes a snelgrove board. Read why, where he got the idea and what happened.
Bethany Caskey discusses storing and dispensing pollinator seeds. Read the ins and outs of being a seed keeper. Why is seed keeper two words and beekeeper one? Also check out the history of “seed bombs.”
Connie Krochmal looks at cuphea plants for bees. There turn out to be lots of varieties of this plant group to choose from.
Jessica Louque is “berry crazy” about bees. Read her analysis of the Einstein quote being thrown around in conjunction with colony loss. She also provides tips on growing “berry-ish” fruit.
Al Avitable talks about catching a swarm. Read his descripton of the events leading up to and subsequent to swarming.
Ann Harman looks at food and asks the thorny question: “What will the label tell us?” Talk about opening a can of worms! This is a fast-moving field. She urges all to keep track of the “progress” at the USDA. Food is more political than many might think .
In all the newst that fits read about the 2nd International Workshop on hive and bee monitoring in conjunction with the Western Apicultural Society meeting in Missoula Montana see also the hive monitoring site. Also see reports on glyphospahe resistent wild radish, honey as antibiotic, preppers on sterorids, standardized manuka honey labeling and programs on installing wild bee habitat and what that means for honey bees.
Ed Colby on the Bottom Board looks at liabiity insurance and discusses his bees return from the almonds. Read what happened when his dog encountered his copy of Honey Bee Democracy.
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Malcolm T. Sanford
beeactor@apisenterprises.com
http://apis.shorturl.com