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From the Director's Chair, Area 3, July 2008

Tuesday, 01 July 2008 00:00 |

One of the nice things about having to write a report this late in the year is that you have had a lot happen. Now the problem is trying to remember it all. To begin with, Mr. Stanford Brantley and I went to Sacramento to attend the first joint meeting of the two national beekeeping organizations. Expected attendance was around 800, but over 1200 was the last count that I heard. Of course numbers mean something, but more important was all of the information that was presented. I also have to mention the over 30 vendors that presented anything you could want in beekeeping. For those of us who are picky, I know my numbers aren’t correct and this is old news.

More recently, beekeeping in East Texas is for, well, I don’t really know who would thrive here. We have had too much rain/too little rain—too cold/too hot. Of course, we are a hard lot to please. One of the good things is that we have been able to increase the price of local honey, if nothing more than because of the price of fuel. And of course, the supply of pure local honey is in short supply. And how about the bees? More swarming, bees in trees and buildings than I can ever remember. Some hives built up great, to some it didn’t matter how much you fed.

Now for the too late GOOD NEWS. If you missed the TBA Summer Clinic, you really missed a good one—lots and lots of good useful information. It was hosted by Randy & Arlene Johnson, owner of Johnson Honey Company of Paris. You missed seeing a well run outfit. Co–hosting this year was Ray Latner, Manager of Dadant & Sons Beekeeping Supply, also in Paris. My hats off to Eddie Priest and Jimmie Oakley for a job well done. Also thanks to Dadant for being open on Saturday.

For you guys who pollinate, I believe the blueberry growers are about to realize the benefit of honey bee pollination. If interested for next year, give me a call.

From the Director’s Chair, Area 2, March 2008

Saturday, 01 March 2008 00:00 |

Welcome to Spring!

I have recently returned from a trip to Irvine, California where I attended the American Farm Bureau Commodity Conference. We enjoyed an interesting meeting, but my primary reason for attending was participation in the Conference on Bees and Apiculture. There were attendees from a number of states which have large numbers of beekeepers. A portion of our format included conference calls with commercial beekeepers and scientific researchers.

Some of the topics discussed included labor problems, honey and pollination prices and of course, the latest research information on Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD).

Under the subject of labor problems, was the lack of available qualified workers who are willing to work with bees and the problems with legal immigrants with proper work permits being unable to travel out of state as part of their work requirements.

Almond pollination in California continues to be profitable; however, restrictions will become more problematic. Surveillance of possible fire–ant importation into California continues to be very strict. One case recited an instance in which two loads of bees were certified fire ant–free, but upon arrival in California, were determined to be infested. Both honey bees and ants were exterminated on sight.

CCD took up a lot of our meeting time and the following are some of the subjects that were covered:

The possibility of a virus which came into the USA in package bees from Australia. These packages have proven less than satisfactory for a number of beekeepers.
Nutrition of honey bees has been identified as a contributing factor in the demise of colonies in some instances.
Nosema may be a contributing factor in conjunction or combination with other influences.

The US military advisors in Afghanistan are attempting to reduce the local farmers’ dependence on cultivation of poppies by recommending other types of crops or products. One of the suggestions has been to help them modernize the beekeeping activity. I have agreed, through connections with Texas Farm Bureau and personnel from Ft. Hood, to be available to assist by E-mail with the promotion of beekeeping in the appropriate regions.

Arlen Pietsch