Dear Subscribers,
While I was away at the American Beekeeping Federation http://abfnet.org meeting in
The new Apis newsletter Ezine is slowly gaining subscriptions and I will continue to post messages at the old site pointing to the new ezine at http://apis.shorturl.com. An archive of newsletters can also be seen at http://home.ezezine.com/1636_2/. This effort is supported by Bee Culture magazine, which also sponsors the brand new Global Beekeeping Calendar http://my.calendars.net/bee_culture
On the heels of the Federation meeting, the Apiary Inspectors of America and American Association of Professional Apiculturists met in
More information is also coming out that Nosema ceranae and a boatload of viruses are implicated in Colony Collapse Disorder. Although problems in themselves, they are much worse on honey bees that have been weakened by Varroa infestation. Some believe that the antibiotic fumagillin, thought previously to be benign and a cure for nosema, is really hard on bees that are already “sick.” The dosage amount is also a problem; the new nosema may require a different treatment regimen.
Nutrition is also being carefully looked at by scientists. There’s more evidence that feeding pollen patties is extremely beneficial, especially to colonies going to almonds. And high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) feeding could be more problematic than previously thought. Of particular concern is the quantity of hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) found in some of the food being used. Although generally produced by heat reacting on fructose, there is evidence that the HMF content may rise to unacceptable levels simply when water is added to HFCS.
Both meetings contained updates from all the USDA bee laboratories, including the one in
Funding for bee research was also reported at these events. Two large efforts are ongoing, the five-year, $5 million ARS Area Wide Program on bee health http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/archive/feb08/honeybee0208.htm and the $4.1 million Coordinated Agriculture Program (CAP) on bee health and protection http://www.csrees.usda.gov/newsroom/news/2007news/pollinatorcap.html Other agencies funding bee research are The National Honey Board http://www.honey.com/ , The Foundation for the Preservation of Honey Bees http://www.honeybeepreservation.org/ , and Haagen Dazs http://www.helpthehoneybees.com/
I am experimenting with collecting web sites of significance and will be putting them into each issue of the Apis newsletter by month. See February’s list at http://www.publish2.com/newsgroups/february-2009/. Some have already been mentioned above. Others of significance this month are news of AHB in Utah, Spanish bee photography contest, honey bee funding and the stimulus package, a South African interactive bee map, use of statistics in science, pesticide contamination of bees and honey, bee health in France, how honey bees count, water shortages in Australia and California, importing bees from Australia, Varroa in Hawaii etc.
Concerning the stimulus package, it appears that there is in fact no money in the stimulus package for beekeepers or honeybee insurance. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,488487,00.html There is, however, a test insurance program being conducted by RMA that has created some comments http://www.wtop.com/?nid=111&sid=1559080
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Gleanings from the February 2009 Bee Culture:
The President of Apimondia writes that preparations for Apimondia 2009 are well underway and it’s not too soon to begin preparations for journeying to
Editor Flottum discusses
New books on the shelf include The Honey Revolution, a sequel to The Hibernation Diet, the UK Beekeepers Annual (directory of beekeeping associations and organizations), and The Super-Organism, that “tells the story of social insects with unsurpassed insight and eloquence.”
Clarence Collison takes a closer look at vitellogenin. This storage protein is responsible for much that goes on in bee biology, including life span and colony survival. Read how its level in queens varies and what that might mean for reproduction.
Joe Latshaw reflects on his micro instrument for micro breeders, designed for use with the “flexible insemination technique.” Read how this instrument has been designed to facilitate use by the greater number of beekeepers interesting in stock propagation.
Jason Nelson compares bees and humans when it comes to consuming and digesting pollen. Most folks already know who the winner is, but you can read in this article why this is so.
Joe Traynor writes that all pollens are not created equal. Read why more beekeepers are looking at nutritional conditions of colonies and what can be done about them. Ominously, he says blueberry, sunflower and corn have low protein levels, and sunflower is the crop that French beekeepers have associated most with CCD.
Scott Debnam and colleagues describe the etiology of Colony Collapse Disorder up to one year prior to collapse. Read how the symptoms shift over time what are some of the options for those who consider combining affected colonies with those not exhibiting symptoms.
The Science of Bee Culture, Volume 1, No. 1 is published as a supplement to this issue. It contacts four reviewed articles: a modified two-queen system allowing drone brood removal for Varroa control, a comparison of small hive beetle reproduction in differing soils, effects of Varroa infestation on queen introduction and supersedure, and risks of feeding pollen supplement when small hive beetles are present. These alone are worth the price of this issue.
Larry Connon is up to number four on his list of 10 challenges for sideline beekeepers. Read his observations on colony loss and what beekeepers are doing about it, including using summer increase, locally adapted stock, early mite control, and overwinter feeding.
Jim Tew says there’s plenty beekeepers can do in winter when the bees are inactive. Read what topics he thinks and writes about during this time.
Editor Flottum ponders pollination. He lists a lot of things to think about should one consider commercial pollination. Read his analysis of one beekeeper’s method to determine a pollination price and the four biggest obstacles in this service enterprise.
Bill Ruzicka provides a history and present status of TheVernon Stock Improvement Project in
Ann Harmon asks if it isn’t time to give up the term “hobbyist beekeeper, especially in these times when beekeepers are asking for help from legislatures?” She asks the readership for ideas on what to replace it with such as small-scale, artisanal, sustainable.
Ross Conrad reviews American Foulbrood, which he says could be in danger of being overlooked given so much attention on exotic problems and CCD. Read how he controls foulbrood naturally and what treatments he recommends.
In all the news that fits, there is a discussion of pesticide reporting by beekeepers. This is quite low and there is concern that few incidents would make regulators unresponsive to beekeeping concerns. It is suggested beekeepers followup any losses with pesticides by reporting them to their state regulators with copies to federal governmental offices in the EPA by e-mailing Mastrota.nicholas@epa.gov and Kish.tony@epa.gov
In the Bottom Board Ed Colby reports good news from the Colorado Beekeepers Association meeting. Some beekeepers have few problems with bee health it seems in
Sincerely,
beeactor@apisenterprises.com
http://apis.shorturl.com
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