Got a NO BUZZ ZONE? Can’t keep bees where you live, or know someplace that beekeepers can’t be? Send me an email, with NO BUZZ in the subject line and tell me where, with your first and last name…Bee Culture Magazine, thedailygreen.com and Haagan Daz Ice Cream want to know. Send to Kim@BeeCulture.com today! CATCH THE BUZZ APHIS Is Looking For Trouble. That's spelled T r o p i l a e l a p s Alan Harman The U.S. Department of Agriculture launches a 13-state survey of honey bee pests and diseases to help USDA scientists determine the prevalence of parasites and disease-causing microorganisms that may be contributing to the decline of honey bee colonies nationwide. The survey will take place in Alabama, California, Georgia, Indiana, Florida, Hawaii, Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas and Washington. It is being conducted by USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), USDA's Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and Pennsylvania State University (PSU). Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says bee health is critical for the success of pollination-based agriculture, which produces about a third of the food in the U.S. “There has been a disturbing drop in the number of U.S. bee colonies over the last few years, while the demand for commercial bee pollination services continues to grow,” he says. “This survey will help us to better understand the factors threatening our honey bees so we can take effective action to protect them and the crops that they pollinate.” The voluntary survey includes 350 apiaries across 13 states and will last through the end of the year. APHIS developed the survey protocol jointly with ARS and PSU and allocated $550,000. Survey kits have been mailed to state apiary specialists, who will collect samples of bees and debris from the apiaries in their states. ARS and PSU scientists will test the samples for specific pests and pathogens. APHIS is particularly interested to know whether foreign mites of the genus Tropilaelaps have entered the U.S. Find out What’s New At Mann Lake right Here Protein feeding pays off with better bee health, better survival, better production, and better wintering. Learn More. Subscribe to Malcolm Sanford’s Apis Newsletter right here For a comprehensive listing of beekeeping events around the country and around the globe, check out Bee Culture’s Global Beekeeping Calendar This message brought to you by Bee Culture, The Magazine Of American Beekeeping, published by the A.I. Root Company.
Monday, 7 June 2010
CATCH THE BUZZ - APHIS Looking For Trouble
Saturday, 5 June 2010
Apis Newsletter June 6, 2010
Dear Subscribers,
Hurricane season has begun in our neck of the woods. Now we have to worry in the Sunshine state not only about high winds and rain, but the potential that storm surges might bring the oil now found in the Gulf of Mexico ashore. If the oil makes it into the so-called "loop current," then even the east coast might be affected.
Meanwhile it's becoming pretty hot here, with projected temperatures into the mid nineties this weekend. The major spring honey flows are ending, the swarming season is abating and the dog days of summer will be upon us. The major thing beekeepers need to be concerned with now is to ensure their colonies have access to water.
And it's the time when complaints about honey bees gathering water at swimming pools begin in earnest. Now's the time to begin planning your attendance at one of the regional events, HAS in July, EAS in August and WAS end of August
I received the following in response to my comments last month about queens entering Canada from Hawaii from Medhat Nasr, Alberta Provincial Apiculturist, CAPA Bee Import Committee Chair: "Queens were inspected. Attendant workers in battery boxes were removed and replaced with attendants from canadian bees. Then, queens were released. In some cases queens w/o attendants were released for beekeepers to bank them. Future shipments are hand picked queens and attendants in 3 hole cages. Now shipments are in transit to Canada. Business is back as usual. Thanks to efficient communications and quick responses from all authorities at Provincial, Canada Federal, and USA Federal and Hawaii State government and CAPA. Queen suppliers and beekeepers get also credits for giving us time and for their cooperation with us through the process."
New insurance offering: Joe Price writes the fastest way to get coverage is to contact him directly (407) 456-0030 joep@lkalmanson.com and he will then email or fax over the applications. A competitive proposal of coverage is generally completed within one business day. The agency website is http://www.lkalmanson.com. He is product manager and main contact for the bee program. Lester Kalmanson Agency, Maitland, FL, USA, 407-456-0030, e-mail:joep@lkalmanson.com
There's a lot going on in Latin American beekeeping as the run up to Apimondia in Buenos Aires Argentina for September 2011 begins. Those who speak Spanish can also see more at http://www.apiculturasinfronteras.com/
Male Varroa Targetted: The male Varroa mite is an intriguing creature, living only in the cell and never emerging. An article in the May 2010 American Bee Journal focuses on using formic acid to get to these individuals underneath the cappings: Mite-Away Quick Strip™ Mid Honey Flow Efficacy Trial. "Determining the overall efficacy is a challenge in this model of varroa control. The traditional methods of determining efficacy (positive control comparison of phoretic female varroa kill) will not give a fully accurate efficacy picture. Mite-Away Quick Strips™ are designed for kill under the cap, so looking under the cap was on option. An alternative is an extended trial that monitors the trend of phoretic varroa mites using alcohol wash or a similar method." Research is continuing.
New Honey Board Referendum scheduled to end June 4: The referendum is for eligible producers of U.S. honey to decide whether a new national U.S Honey Producer Research, Promotion, and Consumer Information Order should be established. If the referendum passes, what has been called the U.S Honey Producer Board will be established. It would be similar to the National Honey Board (NHB), except where the NHB is funded by assessments paid by importers and honey packers, the new board would be funded totally by assessments on U.S.-produced honey. Additional information regarding the program, the proposed order and referendum procedures can be found on the American Beekeeping Federation web site . Producers who feel they are eligible, but did not receive a ballot, should contact Kimberly Coy, Research and Promotion Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, AMS, USDA, Stop 0244, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-024 4; by calling 888.720.9917; faxing 202.205.2800; or e-mailing Kimberly.Coy@ams.usda.gov.
More on CCD: New research from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) identifies a new potential cause for “Colony Collapse Disorder” in honeybees. A group of pathogens including a fungus and family of viruses may be working together to cause the decline. Scientists report their results today at the 110th General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology in San Diego. “There might be a synergism between two very different pathogens,” says Jay Evans of the USDA Agricultural Research Service, a researcher on the study. “When they show up together there is a significant correlation with colony decline.”
Remember that each month a check of the bee health site is in order: . Read about European foulbrood and its treatment, including the "Shook Swarm" method.
Check out the relevant links I selected this month; These include: GPS to track stolen hives, changes in beekeeping in Uruguay, all about beekeeping in Ontario, Canada, a no-nonsense article on CCD by Joe Traynor, first community apiary in Pittsburg, hives on the Toronto Opera House, how British bees are recovering and Hawaii is being closely studied as a queen source across the pond.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Gleanings from the June 2010 edition of Bee Culture:
Remember that Bee Culture is now available in a digital edition: http://sample.beeculture.com
Stephen Homewood, Gainesville, Florida writes that he was overrun with beetles until he began using opaque plastic covers that let light in. He requests more beekeepers experiment with this and report their results. Harold Cooper, Wilkesboro, NC is a fan of Walt Wright's offerings and urges him to continue to experiment. John McKelvey, Richfield Springs, NY gives kudos to Ross Contrad about his column, "The Road to Treatment Free Bees." Jim Cowan, Aberdeen, WA urges bee managers to "Let bees be bees." Virginia and Carl Webb, Clarkesville, GA sent in a picture of what they call the biggest hive in Georgia (their honey stand). Gunder Thompson, Oconto, WI provides his ideas about helping the bees remove moisture from the hive. Ned and Jenni Glysson, Ann Arbor, MI ask Glen Stanley for clarification on the "middle opening technique." Finally, Loren Sadler, Elizabethtown, PA provides information on mouse guards and a nifty apparatus for collecting bees for apitherapy use.
The latest research out on cell phones and colonies shows an effect when comparing those colonies with cell phones and those that don't , but this research remains controversial. Now comes Cameo Wood of San Francisco who is using smart cell phones to keep records about hives via http://beetight.com Read the explanation in this month's Bee Culture and also visit another web site run by the author.
Editor Flottum waxes on the AIA's recent survey of winter losses http://ento.psu.edu/pollinators/news/losses-2009-10. It looks like 33% of U.S. colonies perished during the winter. He's more interested in queens, however, and is planning to do his own survey via the Internet, using various tools, including his Catch the Buzz Newsletter http://www.beeculture.com/content/catch_buzz.cfm
New things for the beekeeper include JZs BZs' queen cell shipping protector and new books including A Ton of Honey by Grant Gilliard, who also wrote beekeeping with 25 hives http://25hives.homestead.com/ and Managing Alternative Pollinators, published by SARE http://www.sare.org/publications/pollinators.htm
Clarence Collison and Audrey Sheridan take a closer look at grooming and tracheal mite resistance. Read why auto-grooming may be effective, while allo-grooming is not.
Tammy Horn lists a number of influential women beekeepers during Langstroth's time. Read about their struggles to become recognized beekeepers in their own right.
Heather Clay says that the the revolution in canola (CANadian Oil Low Acid) growing in Canada is analagous to that of almonds in California. Read her analysis of this important crop, its history and potential in the future.
Cindy Hodges describes a cut out made by the "bee whisperer," Cindy Bee in the environs of Atlanta, Georgia. The elegance of the act is surprising in its telling and makes every future "bee remover" ready to rumble. Fortunately, there is a book on the subject coming out later this summer on how to ensure the experience is a good one for beekeeper and customer alike.
Larry Connor discusses the joy of drones. He urges beekeepers not to curse these male bees, but put them to work as part of Varroa control. Read how he does it in his own operation.
Jim Tew writes that he will still buy package bees as they are still a relative bargain, but he is concerned about the survival rate, which seems to be inexorably rising. The problem is he can't find the "smoking gun" to say what's going on. He is beginning to wonder more and more about queen quality. Read more about his package bee experiences and how his queen introduction practices have changed.
Kathy Kellison has developed a new concept via her non-profit startup Partners for Sustainable Pollination, the Bee Friendly Farming program , complete with logo and guidelines. Read how anyone can now help honey bees and other pollinators through this unique program. Go to the Bee Culture home page and click on the logo to certify your operation.
Jennifer Berry curses this year's "abnormal" conditions in Georgia, bringing out the swarms. Read how she dealt or not dealt with some; now that the swarming season is over, it's nice to read what one should have done. Maybe next year.
Ann Harman sings "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes." The source can be many things, she says, but each possibility should be considered carefully. Remember all that second-hand smoke many of us suffered from when everyone lit up a generation or two ago. Ann does.
In all the news that fits, there's an obituary for legendary Canadian Provincial Apiarist John Corner, the Australians continue hunting for far-flung nest of Apis cerana and the newest invasive pest, electric ants (sounds like a horror movie!), the L.L. Langstroth historical marker has been approved (donate) and mite thefts in Japan exacerbated by discovery of tracheal mites for the first time. In addition, Bees for Development's Cameroon project is off and running and England reports 50% more bee loss than the rest or Europe.
On the Bottom Board Ed Colby discusses his relationships. They include Wolf Girl and her friend, not amused when he offered the latter propolis. The others are with his pollination customers and reveals why small-scale commercial pollination is full of risks and demands a written contract.
Sincerely,
Malcolm T. Sanford
beeactor@apisenterprises.com
http://apis.shorturl.com
Bee sure to subscribe to Catch the Buzz, Bee Culture's latest releases of importance to beekeepers. Also access the Apis Information Resource Center , which contains archived articles, listing of posts on blogs, web sites, and links to related materials. .
Friday, 28 May 2010
Central Beekeepers Alliance : Beekeeping Field Day 12 June 2010
Central Beekeepers Alliance : Beekeeping Field Day 12 June 2010 |
| Beekeeping Field Day 12 June 2010 Posted: 27 May 2010 09:29 AM PDT George and Ruth Wheatley of Country Fields Beekeeping Supplies, will be hosting a field day for new beekeepers on Saturday, 12 June 2010, at their site in Upper Coverdale, NB. This event is put on by the Southeast New Brunswick Beekeepers' Association and will be focussed on helping the beginning beekeepers, but all are welcome to attend. For details, please contact Ann Vautour at evangelinemiel@hotmail.com. Beekeeping Field Day 12 June 2010 was written and published by the Central Beekeepers Alliance - Honey Bees & Beekeeping in New Brunswick, Canada. For more information, please visit http://cba.stonehavenlife.com.      |
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Tuesday, 25 May 2010
CATCH THE BUZZ - CCD Solution? Maybe.
Got a NO BUZZ ZONE? Can’t keep bees where you live, or know someplace that beekeepers can’t be? Send me an email, with NO BUZZ in the subject line and tell me where, with your first and last name…Bee Culture Magazine, thedailygreen.com and Haagan Daz Ice Cream want to know. Send to Kim@BeeCulture.com today!
Six Weeks As A Beekeeper, and NOW WHAT???? See our next webinar in the series. Everything you need to know is at the bottom of this message.
CATCH THE BUZZ
Very Different Microbes Acting In Concert May Be The Answer To CCD
From the General Meeting Of Microbiology, San Diego, CA, May 25, 2010
New research from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) identifies a new potential cause for “Colony Collapse Disorder” in honeybees. A group of pathogens including a fungus and family of viruses may be working together to cause the decline. Scientists report their results today at the 110th General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology in San Diego.
“There might be a synergism between two very different pathogens,” says Jay Evans of the USDA Agricultural Research Service, a researcher on the study. “When they show up together there is a significant correlation with colony decline.”
Beginning in October 2006, some beekeepers began reporting losses of 30-90 percent of their hives. Although colony losses are not unexpected during winter weather, the magnitude of loss suffered by some beekeepers was highly unusual.
“Domesticated honey bees face numerous pests and pathogens, tempting hypotheses that colony collapses arise from exposure to new or resurgent pathogens,” says Evans.
To better understand the cause of these collapses, in early 2007 Evans and his colleagues collected bees from both healthy and declining colonies across the country but primarily from California and Florida where most of the commercial pollination activity takes place. They have screened these samples and similar samples from each year since then for both known and novel pathogens.
They found a slightly higher incidence of a fungal pathogen known as Nosema ceranae in sick colonies, but it was not statistically significant until they began pairing it with other pathogens.
“Levels of the fungus were slightly higher in sick colonies, but the presence of that fungus and 2 or 3 RNA viruses from the family Dicistroviridae is a pretty strong predictor of collapse,” says Evans.
Nosema are transferred between bees via the fecal-oral route. When a bee initially ingests the microbes and they get to the mid-gut, they harpoon themselves into the gut wall and live inside the epithelial cells there. Evans believes that the slightly higher numbers of the fungus somehow compromise the gut wall and allow the viruses to overwhelm the bees. In colonies with higher Nosema numbers they found virus levels to be 2-3 times greater than healthy colonies.
While this is a working theory and they are still in the discovery phase looking for new pathogens, Evans and his colleagues are also actively looking for a way to boost bee defenses against Nosema.
“A way to protect against Nosema might be the key for now,” says Evans.
Find out What’s New At Mann Lake right Here Protein feeding pays off with better bee health, better survival, better production, and better wintering. Learn More. Subscribe to Malcolm Sanford’s Apis Newsletter right here For a comprehensive listing of beekeeping events around the country and around the globe, check out Bee Culture’s Global Beekeeping Calendar This message brought to you by Bee Culture, The Magazine Of American Beekeeping, published by the A.I. Root Company. BEEKEEPING WEBINAR INFORMATION On Tuesday, June 1, 2010, there will be a FREE webinar for everybody and anybody just starting out with bees this year. This is especially geared to those who tuned in earlier this year for our Urban Beekeeper Workshop with Cindy, Cameo and and Toni. Entitled 6 Weeks as a Beekeeper, Now What?, the discussion covers what your bees should be doing now, what issues to look for that are problems now, and anything that might come up in the near future that you can prepare for now. We’ll be evaluating your queen’s productivity, examining brood patterns and balance, along with making sure there isn’t a drone laying queen or laying workers mucking up the works. Plus, we’ll be looking at IPM programs and options for varroa and other issues. Supering? You bet, it’s time to give those bees more room, or if not, we’ll look at why not. And in some places this year, feeding is still an issue…we’ll explore that too. Some may even have a crop ready to harvest, so we’ll take a look at those issues, along with getting ready to harvest&hellip ;which most of us hope to do in just a little bit. This isn’t for Beginner’s only though, so if you just want a refresher or what to find out what the newest information is on any of these topics, come on along. Kim Flottum, from Bee Culture magazine, and Shane Gebauer, General Manager and long time beekeeper from Brushy Mountain Bee Supply are hosting this Free Webinar. How to register is below. |
Title:
|
| 6 weeks as a beekeeper...Now What?
|
Date:
| Tuesday, June 1, 2010
| |
Time:
| 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM EDT
|
Space is limited.
Reserve your Webinar seat now at:
https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/960734619
|
Thursday, 13 May 2010
Central Beekeepers Alliance : Central Beekeepers Potluck Supper 8 June 2010
Central Beekeepers Alliance : Central Beekeepers Potluck Supper 8 June 2010 |
| Central Beekeepers Potluck Supper 8 June 2010 Posted: 12 May 2010 08:10 AM PDT The next meeting of the Central Beekeepers Alliance will be our Spring potluck supper, June 8th, held at the Community Room of the Sobey’s store in Oromocto. Bring your favourite potluck dish and a good appetite! Tuesday, 8 June 2010 As always, new beekeepers and interested others are welcome to attend. Central Beekeepers Potluck Supper 8 June 2010 was written and published by the Central Beekeepers Alliance - Honey Bees & Beekeeping in New Brunswick, Canada. For more information, please visit http://cba.stonehavenlife.com.   |
| You are subscribed to email updates from Central Beekeepers Alliance To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
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Saturday, 8 May 2010
CATCH THE BUZZ - A HONEY BEE BED AND BREAKFAST
Got a NO BUZZ ZONE? Can’t keep bees where you live, or know someplace that beekeepers can’t be? Send me an email, with NO BUZZ in the subject line and tell me where, with your first and last name…Bee Culture Magazine, thedailygreen.com and Haagan Daz Ice Cream want to know. Send to Kim@BeeCulture.com today!
Six Weeks As A Beekeeper, and NOW WHAT???? See our next webinar in the series. Everything you need to know is at the bottom of this message.
CATCH THE BUZZ
Hedgerows help all pollinators...
DAVIS, Calif., May 7 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- If USDA and the Xerces Society have their way, long rows of native wildflowers, clovers and blooming shrubs could border agricultural fields all across California. Currently the concept is in full bloom at USDA's Plant Materials Center (PMC) near Lockeford, Calif., where the partners hope to demonstrate to farmers and the public both the beauty and the practical benefits of planting forbs such as California poppies, lupines, baby blue eyes, clovers and other flowering plants on the edges of fields, orchards or vineyards.
"It's no secret that honey bees have been having a hard time lately," says Mace Vaughan, Pollinator Program Director for Xerces. "Native bees can work alongside the domesticated honey bees to pollinate the cornucopia of fruits, vegetables and nuts grown in California. Having flowers blooming from February to November will provide food and habitat for native pollinators honey bees alike."
California leads the Nation in adopting the practice of field-side hedgerows and last year accounted for half of all those developed in the United States. In 2009, USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and farmers developed 57 miles of hedgerows - enough to string these colorful "bed and breakfasts for pollinators" from Merced to Fresno.
Margaret Smither-Kopperl, the newly-hired manager of the PMC, is originally from England. While California farmers are leading the adoption curve in the U.S., Smither-Kopperl says that hedgerows have been common in England for hundreds, sometimes thousands of years. While originally serving as a type of fencing, they also host wildlife and pollinators and include berries and medicinal plants. "You can even date the age of the hedges by the number of species they host," she says.
U.S. farmers in California and elsewhere have been using hedgerows planted with native species for more than a decade now in order to provide habitat for beneficial insects that can help control crop pests. Thomas Moore, state biologist with USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service, says that incorporating forbs into the hedgerow mix can create dense plantings that can outcompete field-bordering weeds, while supporting pest management and pollination.
NRCS and Xerces, a non-profit looking out for the well being of invertebrates, are working to design mixes of species that they hope will be grown at NRCS Plant Materials Centers across the Nation. "Our hope is to develop easy-to-follow prescriptions of species that farmers and ranchers could adapt for their specific needs," says Moore.
Several Resource Conservation Districts and other partners throughout the state are working with NRCS and Xerces to demonstrate how hedgerows are beneficial for different crops and locations throughout California. The NRCS can share the cost of building hedgerows for eligible farmers and ranchers. Field offices statewide can provide more information or go to www.ca.nrcs.usda.gov. To view a short YouTube video on California pollinators, go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0hyih9TBq8.
Source: USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
Protein feeding pays off with better bee health, better survival, better production, and better wintering. Learn More. Subscribe to Malcolm Sanford’s Apis Newsletter right here For a comprehensive listing of beekeeping events around the country and around the globe, check out Bee Culture’s Global Beekeeping Calendar This message brought to you by Bee Culture, The Magazine Of American Beekeeping, published by the A.I. Root Company.
BEEKEEPING WEBINAR INFORMATION On Tuesday, June 1, 2010, there will be a FREE webinar for everybody and anybody just starting out with bees this year. This is especially geared to those who tuned in earlier this year for our Urban Beekeeper Workshop with Cindy, Cameo and and Toni. Entitled 6 Weeks as a Beekeeper, Now What?, the discussion covers what your bees should be doing now, what issues to look for that are problems now, and anything that might come up in the near future that you can prepare for now. We’ll be evaluating your queen’s productivity, examining brood patterns and balance, along with making sure there isn’t a drone laying queen or laying workers mucking up the works. Plus, we’ll be looking at IPM programs and options for varroa and other issues. Supering? You bet, it’s time to give those bees more room, or if not, we’ll look at why not. And in some places this year, feeding is still an issue…we’ll explore that too. Some may even have a crop ready to harvest, so we’ll take a look at those issues, along with getting ready to harvest…which most of us hope to do in just a little bit. This isn’t for Beginner’s only though, so if you just want a refresher or what to find out what the newest information is on any of these topics, come on along. Kim Flottum, from Bee Culture magazine, and Shane Gebauer, General Manager and long time beekeeper from Brushy Mountain Bee Supply are hosting this Free Webinar. How to register is below. |
Title: |
| 6 weeks as a beekeeper...Now What? |
Date: | Tuesday, June 1, 2010 | |
Time: | 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM EDT |
Space is limited.
Reserve your Webinar seat now at:
https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/960734619
Friday, 7 May 2010
CATCH THE BUZZ - EFFORTS TO STOP CIRCUMVENTION
Got a NO BUZZ ZONE? Can’t keep bees where you live, or know someplace that beekeepers can’t be? Send me an email, with NO BUZZ in the subject line and tell me where, with your first and last name…Bee Culture Magazine, thedailygreen.com and Haagan Daz Ice Cream want to know. Send to Kim@BeeCulture.com today!
Six Weeks As A Beekeeper, and NOW WHAT???? See our next webinar in the series. Everything you need to know is at the bottom of this message.
CATCH THE BUZZ
‘Honest Honey’ Launched
Duty circumvention a threat to U.S. honey industry, honey supply quality
WASHINGTON, May 6, 2010 – Four North American honey marketing companies and importers – Golden Heritage Foods, LLC, Burleson’s Inc., Odem International, and Dutch Gold Honey – today launched the Honest Honey Initiative and pledged to help protect the quality and reputation of the U.S. honey supply, as well as the sustainability of U.S. beekeepers and honey businesses. The initiative seeks to call attention to illegal sales of honey in circumvention of U.S. trade laws, a practice that the organizers estimate cost the United States up to $200 million in uncollected duties in 2008 and 2009 combined and threatens a vital segment of U.S. agriculture.
The group unveiled a website, HonestHoney.com, an educational resource providing information about where honey comes from and ways consumers, honey companies, food manufacturers and retailers can take action to eliminate illegally imported honey.
“When honey is imported illegally, no-one can be confident of its true source and quality. Some products are not 100% honey and have other quality issues,” said Jill Clark of Dutch Gold Honey, Lancaster, Penn. “We’re asking people who buy and love honey to find out more about how the honey they enjoy is sourced. By raising awareness of unfair trade practices and taking the Honest Honey pledge, we hope to protect consumers and manufacturers who use honey, and to preserve the fair honey trade.”
While many Americans purchase packaged honey, an even broader population enjoys honey in such products as cereals, breads, cookies, crackers, breakfast bars, meats, salad dressings, barbeque sauces, mustards, beverages, ice creams, yogurts and candies.
“Pick an aisle at the grocery store and you’ll probably find at least one honey product there,” said Clark. “It’s a product that is added because of its wholesome, pure quality and taste, which is all the more reason why this issue is important.”
“I'm glad that efforts like Honest Honey are educating people, because the quality of honey does matter – it matters to consumers and it matters to our nation’s bee industry,” said Dennis vanEngelsdorp, a honey bee researcher at Pennsylvania State University. “Illegally imported adulterated honey simply adds yet another problem to an already hurting bee industry.”
“We estimate that millions of pounds of Chinese honey continue to enter the U.S. from countries that do not have commercial honey businesses,” said Clark. “For example, countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan, Thailand, the Philippines and Mongolia raise few bees and have no history of producing honey in commercial quantities, yet have recently exported large amounts of honey to the United States.
“Honey has earned a special place in people’s hearts and minds as a wholesome, natural food. We want to protect that reputation and quality,” said Clark. The Honest Honey Initiative is an effort by a number of honey companies and importers to call attention to the problem of illegally sourced honey; to encourage action to protect consumers and customers from these practices; and to highlight and support legal, transparent and ethical sourcing. The initiative seeks to help maintain the reputation of honey as a high-quality, highly valued food and further sustain the U.S. honey sector. Learn more at www.HonestHoney.com.
The Honest Honey Initiative is an effort by a number of honey companies and importers to call attention to the problem of illegally sourced honey; to encourage action to protect consumers and customers from these practices; and to highlight and support legal, transparent and ethical sourcing. The initiative seeks to help maintain the reputation of honey as a high-quality, highly valued food and further sustain the U.S. honey sector. Learn more at www.HonestHoney.com.
Protein feeding pays off with better bee health, better survival, better production, and better wintering. Learn More. Subscribe to Malcolm Sanford’s Apis Newsletter right here For a comprehensive listing of beekeeping events around the country and around the globe, check out Bee Culture’s Global Beekeeping Calendar This message brought to you by Bee Culture, The Magazine Of American Beekeeping, published by the A.I. Root Company.
BEEKEEPING WEBINAR INFORMATION On Tuesday, June 1, 2010, there will be a FREE webinar for everybody and anybody just starting out with bees this year. This is especially geared to those who tuned in earlier this year for our Urban Beekeeper Workshop with Cindy, Cameo and and Toni. Entitled 6 Weeks as a Beekeeper, Now What?, the discussion covers what your bees should be doing now, what issues to look for that are problems now, and anything that might come up in the near future that you can prepare for now. We’ll be evaluating your queen’s productivity, examining brood patterns and balance, along with making sure there isn’t a drone laying queen or laying workers mucking up the works. Plus, we’ll be looking at IPM programs and options for varroa and other issues. Supering? You bet, it’s time to give those bees more room, or if not, we’ll look at why not. And in some places this year, feeding is still an issue…we’ll explore that too. Some may even have a crop ready to harvest, so we’ll take a look at those issues, along with getting ready to harvest…which most of us ho pe to do in just a little bit. This isn’t for Beginner’s only though, so if you just want a refresher or what to find out what the newest information is on any of these topics, come on along. Kim Flottum, from Bee Culture magazine, and Shane Gebauer, General Manager and long time beekeeper from Brushy Mountain Bee Supply are hosting this Free Webinar. How to register is below. |
Title: |
| 6 weeks as a beekeeper...Now What? |
Date: | Tuesday, June 1, 2010 | |
Time: | 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM EDT |
Space is limited.
Reserve your Webinar seat now at:
https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/960734619
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