Dear Subscribers,
My beekeeping partner returned from a visit out west to find a dead colony full of wax moths. We don't know what did it in; the wax moths attempted a cleanup to some degree; I told him to let the bees handle it, but he's determined to give them a clean box. This is our first loss in two seasons with no Varroa monitoring/treating etc. Fortunately, we have two (2) nucs, which are kept in reserve for just such an emergency. Meanwhile, it's pretty hot here in central Florida, with heat indices routinely over 100, but there is a hint of fall in the air with the Bidens alba tentatively attempting to bloom.
We have had an unusual amount of rain so perhaps this will contribute to a fall flow. There can be some interesting honey from a mixture of sources produced in this neck of the woods on occasion. The “beepocalypse” continues to be on everyone's mind it seems. One would think this gloom and doom would run its course, but so far no dice. Many “authorities” on this are way off base, but I guess anything is possible on a slow news day, when funds need to be raised.
The latest is from a colleague receiving a plea from Sumofus.org : “Monsanto has been lobbying the Mexican government to approve genetically engineered crops and bee-killing pesticides in the Yucatan, one of the biggest honey producing regions in the world. 'With honeybees already dying in massive numbers due to the overuse of pesticides, this could be the final nail in the coffin for Mexico's bees.'
“But the beekeepers are fighting back and just scored a major legal victory over Monsanto and their bee-killing pesticides. Now we need to help them defend it. 'Can you chip in $10?'"
My reply: “Honey bees are doing fine in many areas of the world, including Canada, Australia as well as the Yucatan itself, which ranks 6th in honey exporting. Monsanto's GMO plants might prevent Mexico from marketing its honey (which could contain GMO soybean pollen) to Europe (EU). This is not a problem for the U.S. That market will remain open. The price may drop due to a larger honey supply in the U.S. since the European market would not be available; so "kissing your honey goodbye" is not an issue in North America (in fact the situation may be just the opposite) . “The 'pesticides' reference is a red herring, thrown into the mix as 'a prime culprit,' when the major topic is not honey bee losses at all, but marketing Yucatecan honey to the EU.
There's only one pesticide that might be mentioned, but isn't. Roundup or "glyphosate," an herbicide that has not been implicated in honey bee colony loss to any degree. That's not to say there is no evidence that it is bad for honey bees and other organisms, but its regulation has nothing to do with GMO plants, which are engineered to withstand the effects of this particular herbicide. Close examination of the referenced article in the appeal further confirms it's not about "pesticides" but marketing honey:
“The real message from http://sumofus.org/ is about the power of corporations, not any specific issue. That leaves a big unanswered question from this specific appeal; how will your $10 be used to protect honey bees in the Yucatan from pesticides, when they really don't need it, unless you consider honey marketing problems as somehow contributing to colony decline, a big stretch.”
This brings me to the Western Apicultural Society (WAS) meeting in Missoula, MT September 17-20, 2014. Some of the heavy hitters on both sides of the “beepocalypse” debate will be there, including representatives from Monsanto and Bayer, along with Randy Oliver of http://scientificbeekeeping.com/, who recently was quoted in the Sacramento Bee .
There are keynote addresses by Dr. Eric Mussen (Changes in Beekeeping Over Three Decades) and G. Phillips Huges of the Whitehouse Writers Group (Neonic Pesticides and the Prospects for the Future of Life on Earth). Before the actual WAS meeting starts, the 2nd International Workshop on Hive and Bee Monitoring will take place. This is sponsored by both WAS and Bee Culture Magazine. Register for the convention at WAS web site. The event marks a departure of WAS principle, Dr. Mussen, University of California, Davis.
Dr. Jerry Bromenshenk, formerly at the University of Montana, is the formal president of the event. I plan to bee there and so will a “ghost from the past,” Dr. Jerry Loper, who continues his work using radar to find drone congregation areas that he began many years ago when active at the USDA Tucson Bee Laboratory.
There will be enough of us “old timers” to perhaps have a proper “retirement” celebration, at least among ourselves. Meanwhile down the hallway the NEXT GENERATION BEEKEEPER SUMMIT will take place, billed as “A Late Night Breakout Session for Beekeepers Under 40(ish),” at the Stensrud Building, 314 N 1 ST W, Missoula, September 18. This will be hosted by Sarah Red-Laird and Zac Browning.
I'll be going to Missoula after a flight from Atlanta to Spokane, WA, where I will be presenting and signing my book at the well-known Auntie's Book Store on September 14 . Amazon.com reports 51 copies of Storey's Guide to Keeping Honey Bees sold from July 21, 2014 - August 17, 2014.
The National Apiculture Industry Conference in Wanganui recently reached agreement to merge New Zealand's two largest beekeeping organisations: "The decision was made on June 24 when an independent facilitator was brought in so the 500 people at the conference could express their views, feelings and frustrations, Allan Richards, president of the southern North Island branch of the National Beekeepers' Association said. When asked whether change was needed, 99 per cent of those present said 'yes'. The two big organisations are the association and Federated Farmers Bees - they have 800 members between them. Most members wanted one organisation to speak in a clear, united voice to government. The new body will likely aim to take in everyone - commercial beekeepers, hobbyists, exporters, packers and researchers - and could have as many as 4800 members."
It was way back in 1996 that I wrote about the possibility of the two U.S. Beekeeping associations, American Beekeeping Federation and American Honey Producers Association. The time was not right then and is not now apparently. Both are meeting at the exact same time, January 6-10, 2015 in southern California, 31 miles apart!
In a Catch the Buzz, Editor Flottum reports on the extreme complexity of the honey bee gut. “We saw major differences in predicted metabolic pathways and in carbon utilization between individual bees from the same hive,” Newton said of findings published in the journal Environmental Microbiology. 'This result suggests that key environmental or life history variables like age, genetics, diet and season can dramatically affect gut microbiome composition. Understanding the mechanism behind these community shifts will be critical for understanding how gut microbiome composition and activity relate to overall honey bee health and nutrition.' ”
This should be no surprise. Much of the same processes appear to be going on in human beings: "The human GI tract is predominantly a bacterial ecosystem. Cell densities in the colon (1011-1012/ml contents) are the highest recorded for any known ecosystem. The vast majority belong to two divisions (superkingdoms) of Bacteria - the Bacteroidetes (48%) and the Firmicutes (51%). The remaining phylotypes are distributed among 6 other common groups and several rare groups. The sequenced organisms were chosen from the 11,831-member 16S rRNA sequence dataset generated from the human colonic microbiota of three healthy adults." The research listed here might be a big step forward looking at human nutrition. Recent NPR programming looks at some of the ramifications. Want to know more. Join the human food project.
This video has some annoying inaccuracies, but it worth viewing anyway to see what Bob the beekeepers thinks is his biggest honey bee management problem. And latest research confirms his opinion. The researchers say that the results of their study..."strengthen the idea that the multiple virus infestations in honeybees interact to create a dynamic and turbulent pathological landscape, and that the viruses play an important part in the survival or collapse of the bee colonies infested by Varroa. For example, KBV could play a key role in the dramatic honeybee colony weakening observed during the first years ofVarroa infestation."
They hope that their results to date will be "useful for the beekeeping industry by highlighting the importance of beekeeper awareness, of mite monitoring, and the timing and efficiency of Varroa control."
As always, see the latest on bee extension efforts at the Bee Health Extension site. _____________________________________________________
Gleanings from the August 2014 Bee Culture: Remember that Bee Culture now has a digital edition. Rick Green of Ballston Lake, NY urges beginners to buy a deep rather than a nuc. Glen Spielbauer, Dallas, TX has some honey blending ideas. Karen Rennich of the Bee Informed Partnership attempts to correct some misconceptions about the BIP's recent survey Do chickens gracing the cover of The New Zealand Beekeeper, suggesting that Bee Culture will never get them on its cover? Rufus Payne, Appalachia, VA believes blue honey comes from kudzu.
New for the reading shelf include Larry Connor's Increase Essentials; Hives in the City by Alison Gillespe, more about beekeepers than city beekeeping; Old Manhattan Has Some Farms by Susan Lendroth, a children's book on urban agriculture and The Bee-Kind Garden by David Squire, focusing on planting for honey bees.
New from readers includes David MacFawns business plan spreadsheet e-mail him , the Bee Smart Ultimate Hive Feeder and a new line of beautiful beehives, the Hive Side Picture Guide, the book Myths of Safe Pesticides by Andre Leu; and the perfect electricfence post by Kencove Farm Fence.
Editor Flottum says it's August and beekeepers better get cracking if they want a good supply of winter bees. He quotes Dr. Shim's Rule of Rights; describes the situation when 80,000 colonies collapsed in California and what was the EPA's stance, and finally has plenty of questions about honey and marketing it to the public.
A Catch the Buzz may help answer some of these questions in the future: “While some are following the 2006 honey industry petition and using an amended version of the Codex Standard for Honey, CODEX standard 12-1981, Rev.2 (2001), variations in the state standards of identity for honey are inevitable. The end result could lead to an assortment of standards that vary from state to state and impede interstate commerce.”
AMS is seeking comments on the petitioner’s request for a standard of identity for honey and, specifically, the adoption of deviations as defined in the petitioner’s request, and draft proposal. “This notice provides for a 30 day period for interested parties to comment on the petitioners’ request, and on how an appropriate federal standard for the identity of honey would be in the interest of consumers, the honey industry, and United States agriculture.”
In It's Summer's Time, Kathy talks more about chickens and what's going on at Bee Culture. A lot it turns out, including a brand new web site http://beeculture.com (ooops! Not yet!), the 2015 calendar (deadline October 1) and the Russian honey bee meet in Medina October 25 and 26.
Clarence Collison takes a closer look at queen quality. There's a lot involved in this, most of which the beekeeper remains ignorant. When purchasing queens, the old Roman rule applies: “Caveat emptor” Fortunately, you can read about a North Carolina program pioneered by Dr. David Tarpy in this month's Bee Culture to rate queens.
Michele Coloppy of the Pollinator Stewardship Council writes that federal agencies can help ensure pollinator health. Read what she says the EPA should be doing.
A nice suprise on Page 28: Phillip Rossman smiles from there. His long struggle with MS is over. Those that knew him will miss that particular smile.
Vaugh Bryant takes on honey identification. He lists the world's most expensive honeys, Mad Honey from the Black Sea region, Sifr honey from Yemen, and Manuka from New Zealand. How do you ensure what you're buying? Read what he says is necessary and what can be done about it.
Ian Stell looks at the proventriculus in depth, providing good pictures of the honey bee's “second mouth.” Read how this thing works and why it's so important.
Larry Connor looks at overwintering nucs in the north. Read how Kirk Webster and Mike Palmer manage their nuclei as part of their Varroa management, resulting in good winter survival.
Phil Craft answers questions abou skunks and swarming in Kentucky. He should know as ex-bee inspector in the Blue Grass State.
Jim Thompson publishes some picturesque hive- and super-moving devices. He's clearly moved a lot of heavy colonies.
Peter Seiling writes about the care and maintenance of the hive tool. Read all about sharpening and sterilizing this important device.
Jim Tew 'feses up to be an “intermittent beekeeper.” Read about his excuses. We've all been there. Ross
Conrad has a lot of thoughts about packaging honey. Read about chunk honey, container sizes and lids.
Jessica Louque looks at the bigger picture when it comes to racoons Procyon lotor . Read why it's more “bear” than we think and look at her recipe for roasted racoon with sweet potato dressing.
Ed Simon goes into detail on building a top-bar hive. Note that there's not much standard about this kind of hive. Read about adding something standard (Langstroth) hives don't have, a viewing port.
Dewey Caron writes about the bee girl Sarah Red Laird. She's a mentor in the Oregon Master Beekeeper Program and has made a career out of teaching beekeeping to youth. Note that she's also one of the organizers of the WAS Next Generation Beekeepers Summit in Missoula, MT in September.
Ann Harman describes a lot of what she needs to know to keep her bees strong. Read her laundry list and then determine what you don't know!
David Edwards reports on the epicenter of beekeeping 1870 to 1900. Read why he says no geographic area has a similar history to central New York State during that period as beekeeping was becoming established in the U.S.
In All the News That Fits read about the new apiculturalist at University of California, Davis, Dr. Elina Lastro Niño, why Syngenta gives up on the UK, big changes at the Beltsville Lab, and why Canadian beekeepers are asking homeowners not to mow their lawns so often.
On the Bottom Board, Ed Colby describes an untraditional marriage on the Rio Grande river, sees his sidekick, Marilyn, off to the Telluride Film Festival and describes his inner debate about treating his dog for anaphylactic shock brought on by bee stings.
Sincerely,
Malcolm T. Sanford
beeactor@apisenterprises.com
http://apis.shorturl.com
