Happy 2015. Change is in the air again as it often is at the beginning of each year. It looks like the
Apis Newsletter will be changing its hosting, although what form it will take will require some sorting out as Bee Culture Magazine continues its
web site renovation. This newsletter has successfully made several transitions since its inception in 1983 when it first became available electronically from the campus of the University of Florida. Since that time I have published a monthly electronic newsletter dedicated to beekeeping and beekeepers each month in one form or another under several titles. Could this begin my
32nd year in this activity? Yikes!
Our weather is again ameliorating after a chilly week. The swamp maples are now popping in earnest and Spring seems to be in the air, but I don't want to get too far ahead of myself; colder weather could show up again. Meanwhile my partner is loading up our bees with syrup. Word is that food is mighty short in colonies as last year's fall flow was a bust. The local bee club is in the process of ordering queens and nucs from the regional Dadant wareshouse locally in High Springs, Florida. So, like beekeepers everywhere we look forward to a prosperous 2015 season in north central Florida..
I was reminded at a local event that honey is still not vegan. Wait a minute, there's not much animal protein in nectar. Ah, but producing the sweet exploits honey bees; hmmm! Enough! There seems to be no way around the idea that honey is the
dairy of the insect world. Bottom line. Don't bring a honey dish to a vegan event.
Rusty at
honeybeesuite.com writes in some depth about the nutrient content of pollen. Crude protein levels are
not enough. She concludes: “The problem with the crude protein estimate is that it includes nitrogen from all sources including the non-essential amino acids. So, when evaluating pollen as a food source, you need to know it’s amino acid profile, not just the crude protein level. Dandelion pollen, for example, can have a crude protein content of 22.69 (
Jivan, A. et. al. 2011) but it is deficient in four of the essential amino acids:
arginine,
isoleucine,
leucine, and valine.”
A keynote speaker at the North American was my good friend Mark Winston, who has penned a recent publication called Bee Time. For those of us who couldn't make it, we can reflect on the possibilities published in his book via
this article. Dr. Winston is also slated to keynote at the joint Apiary Inspectors of America and American Association of Professional Apiculturists (American Bee Research Conference) in
Tucson, Arizona as this newsletter goes to press.
The precautionary principle is being re-examined by folks at every level. The policy itself is broken and cannot be fixed according to a panel presentation supported by The Council for Agricultural and Science and Technology (
CAST). This
paper looks at the history and purpose of the precautionary principle (PP) and examines problems of ambiguity, arbitrary application, and bias against new technologies. Because the publication is especially focused on the need to feed a growing population, the case studies center on agricultural issues such as pesticide use, genetically modified foods, and food irradiation. The authors state that the PP has played an important part in bringing attention to appropriate risk management. If it is applied in its more stringent formulations, however, the PP will suppress innovation, to the detriment of both the economy and human health.
Dr. Elina L. Niño has now replaced Extension Apiculturist Eric Mussen at the University of Calfornia, Davis, but the newsletter, From the UC Apiaries goes on under her name. The
November/December 2014 issue is worth a look, containing several good articles, including an analysis of why honey bee is spelled using two instead of one word.
California appears to be somewhat less dry this year, but the drought continues according to Joe Traynor. You can see some of the conditions
here . Joe was kind enough to send me his
first newsletter for the 2015 pollination season, which contains a lot of information on a variety of topics, including a general bee update, sorting and grading bees for the pollination season, fungicide spray, and research on almond flower set.
How about a
bee bus for your packages. I once saw some plastic packages made in Europe at a conference, but haven't since.
Honey Bee Work Group Directs Washington State Legislature to Improve Conditions for Beekeeping: "Due to CCD and the many other difficulties facing beekeepers, the 2013 Legislature directed the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) to convene a work group to address challenges facing beekeepers in Washington and to offer solutions. The work group looked to raise the strength of our colonies and to increase use of Washington honeybees to pollinate tree fruits, berries and seeds. The group met several times over the past year. The report required by that directive is complete and will be turned over to the Legislature for action by the end of 2014.
"The Honey Bee Work Group concluded that there is no one answer to our problems as an industry. Instead, a combination of efforts will help beekeepers and their colonies remain viable and competitive. The group identified specific challenges and solutions in three major categories:
A. Honey bee health and habitat
B. Data, resources and awareness
C. Registration and taxation
A. Honey Bee Health and Habitat
Forage -- there are challenges of adequate season-long forage and loss of that forage due to development, changes in land management, and forage lost to weed control. The group proposes that solutions be enacted to:
Increase the amount of quality, season-long forage.
Increase forage on public lands.
Formally incorporate honeybee and other pollinator concerns into the noxious weed listing process of the State Noxious Weed Control Board.
Incorporate mitigation of lost bee forage into publicly funded and cost-share weed control programs.
Seize opportunities resulting from the federal efforts to support pollinator forage.
"Parasites, pathogens and genetics – the group proposes to increase support and expand research into Varroa mite control, and limited vigor and disease resistance due to a lack of genetic diversity.
"Pesticides – the group identified challenges as pesticide misuse, pesticides being used near honey bees, and knowing the full risk of pesticide use. The Work Group proposes that:
WSDA encourage growers who use pollination services to adopt practices that protect honeybees.
WSDA facilitate a work group to develop a Managed Pollinator Protection Plan.
Pesticide understanding and awareness among beekeepers, growers and the general public be increased.
"These issues matter to every beekeeper in the state because we all know that bees thrive when they have constantly blooming flora. More and better quality forage, reduced pathogen loads and pesticide damage all will help us keep healthier, stronger colonies and better serve Washington's pollination needs.
B. Data, Resources and Awareness
The group identified that there is limited meaningful data available on issues affecting honeybees, limited Washington-focused bee and beekeeping research, and limited communication between stakeholders.
"They propose to:
Expand and enhance the apiary program at Washington State University by adding full-time faculty dedicated to apicultural research, pollination ecology and outreach.
Develop and support research projects and resources related to honeybee forage across the state.
Promote awareness of the big picture regarding honeybees and native pollinators.
"California has Cal State-Davis's bee lab, Minnesota has the new lab for Marla Spivak, Penn State has a host of nationally-known researchers; WSU can be a nationally recognized authority in the science of bees and pollination, given that Washington is a heavy user of honey bee pollination services and that WSU has already established itself as a leader in expanding honeybee genetics. Locally applicable research will help us keep better bees, adapted to the Pacific Northwest.
C. Registration and Taxation
The group recognized that many beekeepers come from out of state, pollinate crops, and aren't aware of or don't pay their taxes while here. This creates an unfair situation for the Washington beekeepers who do play by the rules. The report outlines challenges in:
Beekeepers and bee brokers failing to register in Washington State.
A lack of parity with out-of-state beekeepers.
A lack of parity with other agricultural interests.
"Members of the Work Group propose to:
Raise awareness of registration requirements, benefits and consequences.
Revise / enhance the beekeeper/broker registration form.
Review the registration fee schedule and revise it as appropriate.
Include WSDA-registered beekeepers in the state definition of “farmer.”
"No one really knows how many hives are in Washington, and how many come from out of state. Taxes seem to be the main disincentive to registering with the state. Few beekeepers seem to know that state B&O tax is due on sales of honey and on pollination income. Other taxes also apply which we haven't been aware of. These taxes wouldn't apply if we were considered farmers by state law. We must ask the legislature to change the law to recognize beekeepers as farmers." A copy of the full report is
available.
With reference to paragraph B above, note that the Florida State Beekeepers Association, http://floridabeekeepers.org and the
University of Florida Honey Bee Research and Extension Laboratory will soon mount a renewed campaign for a new, updated research facility, using various kinds of fund raising efforts, including crowdfunding http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crowdfunding. We no doubt will see more and more crowdfunding efforts related to beekeeping as time goes on. The Chief Honey Officer institute is just one example. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1878925979/chief-honey-officer-institute-choi
Check out the activities of the New York Bee Wellness Workshops http://nybeewellness.org/. An
intriguing article looks at the historical aspects of Nosema cerana vs Nosema apis in the U.S.
As always, see the latest on bee extension efforts at the Bee Health Extension site. http://www.extension.org/bee_health. Check out the
give and take on Russian honey bees and their level of VSH activity.
_____________________________________________________
Gleanings from the January 2015 Bee Culture:
Remember that Bee Culture now has a
digital edition. Also, it's worth periodically checking out the new web site http://www.beeculture.com/ for the magazine as it matures and develops.
Anne Schultz, presently in the Peace Corps in Lesotho, Africa describes the assistance of a couple of bee clubs in Maryland that was a beekeeping game changer. Several yellowjacket stories have emerged in the letters. Read how one person got stung and received an arthritis treatment in the bargain and how one person wreaked revenge on a colony in a most unusual way. Jim Cowan, Aberdeen, WA describes his most rapid “catches” in a bait hive.
Peter Seiling takes care of some “unfinished business” left by a beekeeper neighbor who died unexpectedly. It reminds him of his own.
The next Bee Culture information session in Medina, OH is billed as The Four Pillars of Honey Bee Management. Coming in October 2015, this event promises to be a hit for all beekeepers. Watch for details soon and register early.
Check out the new regional honey price report. The new format also adds management procedures in the seven region of the country by those quoting prices.
Editor Flottum in the Inner Cover looks closely at the new honey price report. Read about the “tip of the hat” program, and he tsunami of invasive species in California and elsewhere.
Those tired of too much chicken reporting can skip It's Summers Time, unless one really wants to read about what these birds can do to a mouse.
Clarence Collison takes a closer look at salivary glands. Read all the things these largest exocrine glands in the honey bee are responsible for.
M.E.A. McNeil looks at the new University of California Extension Apiarist Dr. Elina L. Niño. Read about the hiring process, the candidate's background and how this might be the beginning of cooperation between Davis, California, Penn State University, and the University of Illinois.
Michele Colopy urges beekeepers to raise their voices in their communities and elsewhere in support of honey bees. A good start is taking action at
Pollinator Stewardship Council.
James Wilkes details the history of
Hive Tracks and its future. Read about the international possibilities and other future initiatives of this innovative program.
Jennifer Berry introduces the University of Georgia bee laboratory and its cast of zany characters. Read about Dr. Delaplane's students and other folks that make up the lab. We wait anxiously for a recounting of Jennifer's acting career that was short circuited in Los Angeles. Acting's loss is beekeeping's gain.
Larry Connor provides a series of tips on how to make a successful beekeeping meeting. Read his list of dos and don'ts.
Huw Evans describes
Arnia, a remote hive monitoring system. Read why this might be the future of large-scale data collection on honey bee behavior that is taking off around the world.
Marina Marchese details how she got into honey tasting. Read about her adventures in Sardina and Italy, and what she learned about how to judge the sweet. She has developed the
American Honey Tasting Society in response to her training.
Jim Tew writes about water and cool weather. Read “this is not just another how-to-water-your-colony article.”
Small hive beetle has reached Italy. Andrea Quigley writes about the “scorched earth” policy that has resulted. Read about the successes so far in controlling this invasive insect and what the future might hold.
Phil Craft answers questions about honey color and the classification (taxonomy) of the honey bee http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_honey_bee. Read his answers to these complex subjects.
Ross Conrad urges beekeepers to mobilize. Read his observations and suggestions on “beepocalypse inspired activism.”
Connie Krochmal looks at rapeseeds as bee plants. Read about the versatile “rape” plant and how bees relate to it under a variety of conditions.
Frank Linton calculates the amount of water liberated by honey bees. Read how this is eliminated from the colony and what that means when insulating hives from the cold.
Toni Burnham attends the North American Pollinator Protection Campaign (NAPPC)
conference in Washington, D.C. Read about her experiences and why collaboration continues long after the official conference ends.
Joe Traynor asks why we keep bees. There are many reasons. Read his, which includes a discussion of what the “highs” and “lows” might signify, in one's personal life.
Timothy Norray writes about a birds nest in a comb or perhaps a comb built around a birds nest. You decide.
Two writers provide suggestions on New Year's Resolutions. Jessica Louque and Ann Harman share theirs.
In All the News That Fits, read obituaries of beekeeper Dennis Keeney (Pennsylvania) and
entomologist Kenneth Tucker (California) , well known in honey bee research circles as a pioneer in instrumental insemination.
Honey production in the UK, up from 2013 levels, is also reported.
On the Bottom Board, Ed Colby converses with an Amish snowboarder on one leg of his trip across the country to address the Medina beekeepers club on his way to New York City aboard the California Zephyr.
