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:

1. 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.
   
2. Nutrition of honey bees has been identified as a contributing factor in the demise of colonies in some instances.
3. 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