L. Dooley Toyne, Editor March, 1982
EXPERIMENT STATION ENTOMOLOGY SECTION DEVOTED TO EDUCATION AND RESEARCH FOR THE COLORADO BEE INDUSTRY
WINTER COLORADO BEEKEEPERS ASSOCIATION MEETING
The winter meeting of the Colorado Beekeepers Association was held on December 5 and 6. The primary program was on bee losses caused by pesticides, what can be done to better use pesticides, and biological controls of crop invaders. Some discussion was given to the possibility of the Acarine Mite being introduced into the USA from Mexico.
At the business meeting money was appropriated for the funding of an ETO chamber when funds are available--more on this later. The group went on record opposing the use of Penncap M in the State of Colorado, authorizing the officers to pursue the matter. The officers electect for 1982 are Pres. - Danny Culhane, Durango; Vice-Pres. - Randy Fischer, Ft. Collins; and Secretary-Treasurer - Helen Jones, Yuma. Delegates to the American Bee-keepers Federation meeting are John Haefeli and Paul Limbach. The beeBee-keepers of the
Arkansas Valley recommended Bill Baublits as member and Roger Wadleigh as alternate on the Advisory Board for the Colo. Dept. of Agriculture. Door prizes were again given at the convention. Cloverleaf Manufacturing Co. of Denver presented a Verti-clean pollen trap, cedar bottom board, bear honey jar and a Maxant hive tool. Super Bee of Montrose donated a super veil, hive tool, hive tool holder, double honey sieve, some honey candy and a pair of ventilated leather bee gloves. These door prizes are appreciated as an added attraction to the program!
DO YOU KNOW?
A certain ingenious farmer whose duck gave up setting on her eggs after they were all laid was at a loss to know just what to do. Not wanting a total loss he came up on the
idea of placing the eggs on a screen immediately above the brood in his beehive. After the incubation time 3 out of the 11 eggs hatched. He told his neighbor about it but the neigh -bor refused to believe it, so to prove it, 6 more eggs were placed above the brood in the same fashion, and all 6 of them hatched. Everyone was delighted and the last report said "thctt the 1 ittle ducklings were doing just fine." (Canadian Bee Journal)
The world's largest honey bee (~p1s loboriosa), living in the mountains of North India, Nepal and China. It was name 1n 1871 and not until 1980 did Dr. S. F. Sakagami and two colleagues examine specimens. They build a single large comb beneath an over-hanging cliff and has a very ill temper. It thrives in high mountains and collects nectar from flowers at 13,500 elevation. Only bumble bees are found at such heights. They can fly at temperatures much lower than can our ordinary strains and nothing is known about the behavior of the drones and queens. (From Bees and Honey, University of Illinois, Urbana, Nov. 1981 )
STATUS OF THE LARAMIE BEE LAB
Last Autumn many Colorado and Wyoming beekeepers became concerned about the Laramie Bee Lab (LBL) when the Arizona congressional delegation voiced their support for moving the lab to the USDA Bee Research Center in Tucson. Letters opposing this move were sent to Agriculture Secretary, John Block, by many of our area beekeepers and elected officials. Certainly, much of the concern remains in the absence of official pronouncements. So that the readers of B-notes might be better informed of the current status of the LBL, here is what I have recently learned on the subject:
On February 19, 1982, I spoke to Dr. David G. MeHaffey, Assistant Director for the Mountain States Area of the Agricultural Research Service, U. S. Department of Agriculture, whose office is here in Ft. Collins. To parapnrase Dr. MeHaffey, the status of the LBL
is the same today as it has always been. Specific plans to move the lab to Tucson do not exist currently nor ever have. All research programs are continually evaluated on their merits. Based on this evaluation, programs can be ended if necessary. However, the LBL has not been singled out for closure any more than any other program. The idea that the lab would be moved to the Carl Hayden Bee Research Center as a budget cutting plan was merely an unfounded rumor which became bl9wn o~t of proportion. No foundation for this rumor ever existed to the best of Dr. MeHaffey's understanding.
However, on August 27, 1981, Secretary Block stated in a letter to Arizona Senator Barry Goldwater that, "One of the options being considered for the research at Laramie is to transfer this work to the Tucson lab." I believe that this statement and others like it from Block are responsible for much of the concern over the status of the LBL. Perhaps Secretary Block had no specific plan to close the lab, but was merely stating the options available for continuing priority research under new budget restrictions. This is what Dr. MeHaffey's comments seem to indicate. Still, the situation demanded a firm response to counter the pressure from the Arizona congressional delegation; for there is little doubt the Arizona congressmen were convinced that Block, indeed, had a plan to move the LBL to Tucson. In a letter to Block dated July 20, 1981, signed by six Arizona Representatives and Senators, it was stated in the first paragraph, "We understand that your Department is considering moving the activities that presently take place at the Bee
Pesticide Laboratory at Laramie, Wyoming, to the Carl Hayden Bee Research Center located in Tucson, Arizona. We encourage you to favorably consider this proposal." Based on this letter, I believe that those Colorado and Wyoming beekeepers, congressmen, and state
officials who wrote letters of protest to Block, acted prudently.
I am hopeful that, after talking to Dr. MeHaffey, the LBL is in no great danger of being closed at the present time. I am encouraged that some nationally prominent leaders in the bee industry are of the opinion that the LBL is in Laramie to stay. As beekeepers, though, we all need to remain vigilant, for in an era of budget tightening it is entirely possible that bee research in general may be assigned a new, low priority. Our support of the LBL should be constant rather than sporadic. The bee/pesticide research being conducted there must never be allowed to go the way of the Bee Indemnity Program.!
(Submitted by Randy Fischer)
COLORADO BEEKEEPERS ATTEND CALIFORNIA MEETING
Several Colorado beekeepers attended the annual meeting of the California State Bee-keepers Association held November 17- 19, 1981, at Harrah's Lake Tahoe Resort. Randy Fischer of Ft. Collins, Paul and Nancy Limbach of Silt, and Bill Morris of Greeley were those who attended. The California association had organized an informative three-day meeting; and the setting, Lake Tahoe, was a beautiful place to visit. Luckily, the
-2-program held the interest of the Colorado participants so that not much time was spent at the casinos. Most returned with bankrolls intact, and Nancy Limbach even came out slightly ahead of the house odds.
There was much discussion of pollen collection at the meeting. The recent enthus-iasm about pollen was tempered by several major pollen producers who seemed to emphasize the disadvantages of this aspect of beekeeping. Discouraging words were heard about market prospects and consumer acceptance of pollen products. Some felt that domestic production plus imports were already above demand and that prices may decline steeply as many beekeepers continue to gear up for pollen collection. Andy Nachbaur, who used to operate bees in Meeker, Colorado, mentioned that his pollen crop came rather dearly. He reported feeding each hive nine gallons of sugar syrup in order to produce pollen.
An overview of the various types of pollen collection, drying and cleaning equipment used in California was presented by the state extension Apiculturalist, Dr. Eric Mussen. Paul Limbach participated in a pollen collectors gab session. Many manufacturers were there displaying at least a dozen of the latest pollen traps.
Dr. Martha Gilliam of the Tucson Bee Lab, addressed a luncheon group to raise money for the state supported research program. Her topic dealt with the correct use of ter-ramycin in the bee industry. She stated that effective use of terter-ramycin required that 200 mg be administered at four day intervals to control foulbrood. Less than 200 mg has little effect on colony health, and more than 200 mg can be toxic to the bees. She re-iterated that terramycin deteriorates rapidly in sugar syrup, but also stated that it is quite heat resistant as long as it is kept dry. The important point of Dr. Gilliam's talk was that many beekeepers may be getting little disease control or may be damaging their colonies due to the misuse of terramycin. She urged that label instructions be followed exactly for the best results. She closed the talk with a warning that terramy-cin may become restricted if beekeepers fail to adhere to label instructions.
Brian Ferguson of Huston/Ferguson Apiaries, gave a tremendous talk on the use of personal computers in the bee business. Brian operates 16000 hives, and uses the computer to make many management decisions as well as to keep track of that many hives.
Dr. Norman Gary showed a film of his new queen-finding method which utlizes a vacuum device for sucking the bees through an excluder trapping the queen. Gary claimed that this device may be the fastest and most effective method of removing the queen from a colony yet developed. Every bee in the hive can be sucked through the machine, the queen removed, and the bees returned to the hive ready to requeen in about four minutes. He also claimed that an 88% acceptance of new queens could be expected by simply releasing a queen into the queenless hive immediately following dequeening. Near perfect requeening can be achieved by following prescribed introduction methods. Dr. Gary's device will be marketed by Dadant starting in early 1982. (Submitted by Randy Fischer.)
BEE PASTURE IMPROVEMENT
Nowhere in Colorado has the loss of bee pasture been more dramatic than along the front-range north of Denver. Some figures published in 1902 by Frank Rauchfuss estimated that the number of colonies for some front-range counties are as follows:
Arapahoe Boulder Larimer Weld Total 8000 colonies 8000 colonies 6000 colonies 6000 colonies 28000 colonies
-3-The remarkable aspect of these figures is that those colonies produced enormous crops of honey compared with today•s production. Dave Elliott of Timnath recalls that his father wintered his bees in single hive bodies because the clusters were small, yet those colonies would typically produce six to eight supers of comb honey in a season.
Today there are fewer than 500 hives in Larimer county, and over the past 3 years the crops have ranged from 20 to 35 pounds! Urban sprawl, changing farming practices, and unfavorable climate conditions are all responsible for this incredible decline. No amount of nostalgia will restore this paradise lost. It must be up to the beekeepers themselves to improve their bee pasture.
In the spring of 1981 I began an experiment with Hubam clover to see if I could im-prove the yield in an area which used to be a good honey producing area. Hubam is an annual white sweet clover. Unlike the biennial variety of sweet clover, Hubam grows from seed, flowers, and sets seed in one season. In cooperation with a farmer, I planted 3 - 4 acres of Hubam in early April to see if it could be successfully grown as a honey plant in this area. I want to continue this exoeriment for several more seasons, but here are my preliminary results based on one season.
First, areas which were broadcast seeded failed to grow the clover! The seed must be drilled. Also, some irrigation is necessary to enable it to grow fast enough to flower in this climate. Although some seed grew on dry waste ground, and flowered, I observed no bees on these drought-stunted plants. The most successful plots were obtained by seeding with grass or small grains and irrigated once during the season. After the small grains (oats) were removed in July, the clover grew back to a height of 3 - 4 feet and flowered in late August and September. When the cover crop was not removed, the clover grew to 4 - 5 feet and flowered profusely in mid-August. I observed thousands of bees working the blossoms for nectar. The bloom period continued up to and after frost. Bees were observed working the flowers after the first snowfall when the weather turned warm again.
I supered 20 hives of bees during the last week of August and took in 20 - 30 pounds of honey from the clover alone. The honey is white in color. Besides the late season nectar flow, Hubam provides an abundance of seed and makes an ideal green manure crop in small grains. For a few years in the 1950s Hubam was widely used as green manure in Larimer county. Some beekeepers report producing 50 lbs. of honey from Hubam after the first of September!
In order to promote Hubam clover, I have offered to give the seed to farmers to use as they see fit as long as they let it bloom for several weeks. The seed costs $1.08 per pound and is available from Northrup King. I would like to hear from other beekeepers who have grown Hubam or other successful honey plants. Your experiments need to be re-ported in B-notes so others can benefit. Send your ideas on bee pasture improvement to: Randy Fischer, 3007 Moore Lane, Ft. Collins, CO 80526.
Walden Sweet of the Boulder County Beekeepers Association has designed and partially completed an ETO fumigator. Unfortunately, because of his workload Walden will not be able to finish the project. We discussed this at the state beekeepers meeting and con-cluded that the best approach would be to solicit the help of other beekeepers throughout the state. The requirements for completion are as follows: Parts - heater $20, blower $20, compressor (vacuum and pressure) $175, motor $100, adapters
&
sheaves $20, pressure $8, humidity (optional) $27, on-off $5. Valves: solenoid (6) $210, check $15, safety $10,-4-watt/hour meter $40. Total- $795. Materials: hardware, insulation, cover,
miscel-laneous $150; trailer $400; labor 1600 - 2400 hours.
Walden has agreed to coordinate and oversee the completion of the fumigation, but if it is to be finished we need: money (the Boulder County Beekeepers Association and the Colorado State Beekeepers Association can contribute a total of about $400), skilled volunteer labor and parts.
The Colorado Department of Agriculture will provide the staff to maintain the fumi-gator and move it to where it is needed. Once completed there will be a nominal charge to cover maintenance and supplies. The fumigator will be available for use by all bee-keepers throughout the State of Colorado. Anyone who can contribute dollars, skills, parts or time should contact: Walden Sweet, 7945 N. Foothills Hwy., Boulder, CO 80302, phone, 444-4029. If the fumigator is to become a reality it will require the cooperative effort of Colorado Beekeepers. If time, money and skills are not forthcoming the project will have to be dropped.
NATIONAL WESTERN STOCK SHOW EXHIBIT
We had another successful beekeeping exhibit in Ranchland at the National Western. A good part of the time we had beekeepers in the booth to answer questions and discuss beekeeping. The exhibit has helped educate many people about bees, beekeeping and the place beekeeping occupies in the State of Colorado. Thanks to all the beekeepers who volunteered their time and knowledge to make the exhibit successful. There were two teachers who asked if beekeepers could talk to their schools: Sheryl Key, Applewood
Elementary, Golden, CO~ and Nancy Bond, Southeast Brighton School 27o, Brighton, CO., phone number is 659-0301. If anyone can help, please contact these teachers directly.
GRASSHOPPER CONTROL
Early indications are that 1982 could see high grasshopper populations in many parts of the state. No one knows any better than beekeepers what the effects of chemical control can mean for bees. In many situations, biological control with Nosema offers a practical alternative to chemical control. Beekeepers in areas where spraying could take place
should begin exploring this alternative now. Discuss Nosema as an alternative control with your county extension agent, county commissioners or city administrators. Nosema will not work well on small acreages but is a viable alternative for larger acreages
(100 acres and up), can work well for treating waterways where grasshoppers concentrate and may be effective under certain conditions for treating roadsides. It can be applied by air and ground rigs or broadcast and presents no hazard to bees or other life. If you are interested in reducing the exposure of your bees to pesticides, educate yourselves on Nosema and discuss it with county officials. Additional information on Nosema can be
obtained from Bill Hantsbarger, Extension Entomologist, Department of Zoology and Entomology, CSU, Ft. Collins, CO 80523, 491-5945. Prepared bait is now available from LaPorte Insec-taries, 2220 N. US/Hwy 287, 482-3442.
If you have any questions please call Tom Theobald, 652-2266.
WEEDS, BIOLOGICAL CONTROL, AND BEES
Whether you call them wild plants or weeds, uncontrolled vegetation is an important
-5-source of nectar and pollen for honey bees~ Their control has caused many problems for beekeepers. Now scientists are finding that weeds fit in well with systems of insect pest management. Some pest insects are more liable to be a problem in weed-free areas than they are where there are weeds of different kinds. The weeds harbor beneficial in-sects, such as parasites and predators, which help reduce the number of damaging insects on crops. The weeds also may repel some insects or attract them away from other plants.
M.A. Altieri reported some of the benefits of weeks in a recent article in ca.Zifo.rnia Agriculture. He noted that a strip of weeds in every tenth row of corn grown in Florida substantially reduced the numbers of fall armyworms in the field. In Georgia, predatory insects were seen in soybean fields close to weedy borders but they decreased in numbers farther out in the field. Wild blackberries growing by California vineyards helped to increase the numbers of egg parasites that attack the grape leafhopper, a serious pest. There are many other examples of benefits gained by having wild plants, 11Weeds," growing in and near commercial crop plants.
With so many examples now known of the benefits derived from less-than-clean cultiva-tion, we can expect to see more studies on the relationships of weeds and beneficial
insects, including honey bees. When growers begin to encourage wild plants, they will be providing shelter and alternate prey or hosts for predators and parasites that help to control pest insects in crop fields. Many of these beneficial insects also require pollen and nectar for survival and egg laying, so flowering plants valuable also for honey bees will be needed, not just grasses. Future studies should include the plants along roadsides, which border farm fields and which could serve as reservoirs of beneficial insects. Road-side areas need not be lawns--they could be made to benefit everyone including beekeepers. (From Bees and Honey 11-81.)
Table 1!' Some selected examples of cropping systems in which the presence of weeds
enhanced the biological control of specific crop pests. (A more complete list, with references appears in Ecology and Management of Weed Populations.)
cropping system weed specie(s) apple natural weed complex
Phacelia sp. and Eryngium sp. peach ragweed
vineyards wild blackberry, Rubus sp. johnsongrass, Sorghum ha/epense brussel sprouts natural weed complex
pest(s) regulated tent caterpillar, Malacosoma americanum and codling moth, Carpocapsa pomonella
San Jose scale, Quadraspidiotus perniciousus and aphids oriental fruit moth
factor(s) involved increased activity and abundance of parasitic wasps
increased abundance and activity of parasitic wasps, Aphelinus mali and Aphytis proclia
provision of alternate hosts for the parasite Macrocentrus delicatus grape leafhopper, increase of alternate hosts for the Erythroneura elegantula parasitic wasp, Anagrus epos pacific mite,Eotetranychus wil/iamettei buildup of predaceous mites,
Metaselulus occidenta/is
imported cabbage butterfly, Pieris alteration of colonization background rapae and aphids, Brevicoryne brassicae and increase of predators
Spergula arvensis Mamestra brassicae, Evergestis forficalis, Brevicoryne brassicae
increase of predators and interference with colonization
collards ragweed, Ambrosia artemisiifolia flea beetle,Phyl/otreta cruci{erae chemical repellency or masking increase of predators and interference with colonization
pigweed, goosefoot, thistles, ragweed aphids, Myzus persicae and Brevicoryne brassicae
vegetables wild carrot, Daucus carata Japanese beetle, Popillia japonica increased activity of the parasitic wasp, Tiphia popilliavora alfalfa natural blooming weed complex
corn giant ragweed cotton ragweed
soybeans Cassia obtusifolia sugar cane Borreria verticillata and
Hyptis atrorubens
alfalfa caterpillar, Cofias eurytheme increased activity of the parasitic wasp, Apanteles, medicaginis European corn borer, provision of alternate hosts for the Ostrinia nubilafis tachinid parasite, Lydella qrisesens bollweevil, Anthonomus grandis provision of alternate hosts for the
parasite, Eurytoma tylodermatis Anticarsia gemmatolis, Nezara viridufa increase of predators
cricket, Scapteriscus vicinus provision of nectar for the parasite Larra americana
AGRICULTURAL ABSTRACTS 1981 Vol. 32 No. 4
638.121; 591.51F; 591.51E; 591.484.5; 575.24; 547.757.B
1277/81 CHESNOKOVA, E. G.; PONOMARENKO, V. V. [Influence of mutant genes with a known biochemical effect on speed of elaboration of motor-conditioned reflexes in honeybees.] Zhurnal Vyssher Nervnol Deyatel'nosti (1980) 30 (4) 761-764 [Ru, en, B] Pavlov Inst. Physiology, USSR Acad. Sci., Leningrad, USSR.
The effect of a mutant gene on the speed of learning in a T -shaped maze was studied in 2 groups of bees: (A) homozygous, and (B) heterozygous for the chartreuse-red eye mutation (known to cause a disturbance to the metabolic pathway of tryptophan). The speed of learning in response to visual and tactile stimuli was 3 times as fast in Bas in A. It is suggested that the depressive effect of the mutation on learning is not due to its effects on vision alone, but also to its effects on the nervous system. Author
638.124.23A; 638.12&615.781; 546.264
1332/81 SKOWRONEK, W. [Effect of carbon dioxide anaesthesia on the egg-laying of queen honeybees.] Wplyw dwutlenku w~gla na wartosc ui:ytkow~ matek pszczelich. Pszczelnicze Zeszyty Naukowe ( 1979) 23, 89-96 [PI, en, ru, B] Oddzial Pszczelnictwa, Inst. Sadownictwa, Pulawy, Poland.
A group of 15 queens, each of which had mated naturally 12-18 h earlier, was subjected to carbon dioxide anaesthesia for 20 min. These queens began to lay earlier than untreated controls, and initially they laid more eggs. However, a year later, the controls were performing better than the treated queens, and when the queens were 2 years old, treated queens had fewer spermatozoa in the spermatheca than controls had. Mortality was higher in treated queens. Author
638.121.11&59l.S51.B; 591.484.5; 575.24; 591.174
1289/81 CHAUD-NEITO, J.; STORT, A. C. Successful matings of chart:rPl."Sc"-eyed queens of Apis meHHera (Hymenoptera, Apidae). Ciencia e Cultura (19~(n .~:. (11) 1542-1543 [En, pt, B] Inst. Biociencias, Campus Univ. Rio Claro, Caixa p,~~;l:
178, 13.500 Rio Claro, SP, Brazil.
Twenty queens, aged 15-31 days, with chartreuse-red eyes, were released f,,:- :1. mating flight in a natural clearing in a eucalyptus forest; 20 normal queens ";.•r-:· also released as controls. All controls returned to the hive, and 15 of the muta~u
queens also returned and 4 to 5 days later started oviposition. (Two mated mu1ant queens proc!uced a large amount of drone brood before producing normal brood ') 1 t is thus possible to achieve natural matings of queens with this particular mutati~.1n.
P. W:1lkn
LOCAL HAPPENINGS
Paul Limbach of Silt, and John Haefeli of Monte Vista, attended the American Beekeeping Federation meeting in Savannah, Georgia, on January 19 - 22, 1982.
Roy and Esther Mills are now calling Cheyenne, Wyoming, their permanent home. They formerly lived in Wray, Co\orado.
The Colorado Beekeepers Association will again sponsor the Honey Recipe Contest at the Colorado State Fair. Betty Lou Pearson of the State Fair Board contacted the President, Danny Culhane. Total prizes donated will be $30.00.
-7-' c
DATES TO REMEMBER
Sat. June 26- Salida- Summer CBA meeting. Danny Culhane and Paul Limbach are in charge of lunch.
Sat. and Sun. December 4 and 5 - Denver - Winter CBA meeting.
It takes a strong organization to turn the wheels of progress. Full membership in the Colorado Beekeepers Association is five cents per colony with a minimum dues of $10. Send your dues to Mrs. Tom Jones, Colorado Beekeepers Association, 605 N. Columbus, Yuma, Colorado 80759.
New Bulletin, 'Beekeeping in the Inter-Mountain Region11
CSU Extension Bulletin 507-A, Now available.
The new bulletin by authors J. W. Brewer and W. T. Wilson is a revision of the older bulletin entitled 11
Beekeeping in the Rocky Mountain Region .. , Western Regional Publication 12. New information is included on treatment for diseases and the various state laws and regulations concerning Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming.
The bulletin is available from the Bulletin Room, Aylesworth Hall, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, by mail for $2.25 or it may be obtained at the counter of the Bulletin Room for $1.50.
-8-Colorado Bee Notes
Department of Zoology and Entomology Colorado State University
.. Fort Co 11 ins, Co 1 ora do 80523
TOM JONES PERr·1IT 19
THIRD
CLASS 605 NORTH COLUMBUS YUMA, CO 80759 BEE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID Fort Collins. ColoredO 80521L. Dooley Toyne, Editor June, 1982
EXPERIMENT STATION ENTOMOLOGY SECTION DEVOTED TO EDUCATION AND RESEARCH FOR THE COLORADO BEE INDUSTRY
COLORADO BEEKEEPERS SUM'·1ER MEETING
The summer meeting of the Colorado Beekeepers Association will take place at 10:00 a.m. on June 26, 1982. Shavano Manor, located adjacent to the city swimming pool pavilion, 16th and I Street, in Salida, Colorado, will be.the meeting place. A picnic lunch, provided by some west slope beekeepers, will be available for a small fee. This summer meeting is primarily a social event, but there will also be a short business meeting of
the CBA.
Salida, Colorado, is a beautiful high-mountain town which offers a variety of summer-time attractions. Fishing, backpacking, boating, and sightseeing can be combined with attending the beekeepers meeting. An abundance of motels and campgrounds are available in and around Salida.
COLORADO DEPARTI1ENT OF AGRICULTURE NOTES
Acarine ~1ite Survey tlpdate. The Acarine Mite survey currently being run by U.S.D.A. with the assistance of the various state departments of agriculture has so far been good news for U.S. beekeepers. No mites have been found yet. Sixteen samples taken in
Colorado last fall were included in these results. More samples have been and are still being taken this spring for further testing.
State Fair Honey Exhibit. The Colorado State Fair has not had an exhibit of honey for several years. As beekeepers, we are missing a good opportunity to generate more public interest in our profession and our product, as well as an opportunity to educate the public about some of our problems.
The State Fair has expressed an interest in reviving the honey exhibits as held in past years, as well as the possibility of selling some honey in the farmer's market section of the fair. The only prerequisite for this is enough interest from the state's beekeepers j to enter their honey for judging in sufficient amounts to make a good exhibit.
If you are interested in showing your honey or know anything about judging honey, please contact Jim Thurman at the Colorado Department of Agriculture, 1525 Sherman St., Denver, CO., 80203, or Betty Lou Pearson at the Colorado State Fair Office, Pueblo, CO., 81004.
(Submitted by Jim Thurman, Apiary Section)
WESTERN APICULTURAL SOCIETY
(W.A.S., continued)
The records are kept by a secretary-treasurer elected. at the annual business meeting. The membership is open to anyone who is interested in beekeeping. The membership consists of hobby beekeepers, commercial beekeepers, university professors, researchers, honey pro-cessors, manufacturers of beekeeping equipment, etc.
The Society was organized five years ago along the same lines as E.A.S. (Eastern Api-cultural Society) which has been in existence for many years.
~1eetings are held once a year, usually during the third week of August. The annual conference is always held on the campus of a university where a course in apiculture is included in the program. The purpose of the annual conference is to learn, meet other people from western North America who are interested in beekeeping, have a social t·ime together and carry on the business of the Society.
Th·is year's meeting will be at the Utah State University campus, Logan, Utah, from August 16-19. Housing and meals can be obtained on the campus for very reasonable rates, and it will make a wonderful vacation for the entire faMily. Good RV parks are located nearby. The program has been carefully drawn to appeal to the advanced, as well as the beginning beekeeper. Many "hobby .. beekeepers attend these conferences each year.
The program has been organized into a 11
Beekeeping Short Course" with the first lecture on ~1onday, August 16, at 2:00p.m. on "The History of Man's Association with Bees" by W. P. Nye. On Monday at 7:00 p.m. there will be a timely discussion by the editors of the Ameri-can Bee Journal, Gleanings in Bee Culture, and Speedy Bee on "Bees and the Press." Other scheduled topics and speakers inc 1 ude: "Basic Bee Biology" - Mi chae 1 Burgett; "Bee Behavior" Norman Gary; ''Honey Bee Managernent11
- W. P. Nye; "Products of the Hive" - Eric ~1ussen; "Bee Disease and Pests11
-William T. Wilson. Our keynote speaker will be Dr. George E. Bohart . (former Research Leader of the Bee Biology and Sys tema tics La bora tory, :Logan, Utah). He
Will. discuss 11Bees, Their Place in the World of Insects.11
Arrangements have been made to have all lectures, panel and round table discussions recorded. Tapes may be purchased at the Conference Center. Prices will be announced later.
Last year's conference included some nationally known bee scientists such as Dr. Harry Laidlaw, Dr. Norman Gary, Dr. Eric Mussen, and Dr. Warwick Kerr of Brazil. We can expect just·as an exciting and informative program as last year.
Since this year's conference is so close to us, I am sure many Colorado beekeepers will be glad to combine a pleasant vacation time with a good learning experience. Reservations must be made before July 1, 1982.
For more information please contact Suzanne Blakely, Program Specialist, Conferences· and Institute Division, Utah State University, UMC 50-A, Logan, UT, 84322, Phone (801) 750-2302.
STATE
ADOPTS GUIDELINES
The Colorado Department of Agriculture is in the process of adopting operational
guidelines for beekeepers and aerial applicators. The purpose of the guidelines is to help reduce the number of pesticide related bee-kills and to provide criteria for administrative action in the event of bee-kills. The guidelines are the result of beekeeper and appli-cator suggestions garnered in a series of meetings in February of 1981. Recently, meetings were held over the State to obtain final comments on the guidelines before they are
official-ly adopted.
During the last week of April, 1982, meetings were held in Greeley, Rifle, and LaJunta. The guidelines were explained by Jim Thurman, Chief of the Apiary section, and Linda Coulter, Head of the Pesticide section. The meetings were characterized by the cooperative exchange between beekeepers and applicators. The applicators at the Greeley meeting stressed the importance of knowing the location of beeyards when planning their schedules, while the beekeepers expressed their fear of improper applications of pesticides. The Department of
-2-1
1 (Guidelines, continued)
Agriculture officials emphasized that the guidelines are an attempt to avoid a more severe solution to the problem of pesticide related bee-kills such as enacting legally enforceable regulations on both parties. Thurman warned beekeepers that he may not be able to initiate administrative action against an applicator involved in a bee-kill if the beekeeoer has not followed the guidelines. Administrative action, such as license suspension, may· only be initiated for careless, negligent or faulty applications of pesticides. These guidelines will act as an addendum to the definition of careless, negligent, and faulty. In the event of a civil suit between applicators and beekeepers, the court, too, may gauge the amount of
liability by using the guidelines, though no party is legally bound to follow the guidelines. The guidelines will read as follows:
It is up to each beekeeper and applicator, or the industries in the various areas of the State, to make their own arrangements for locating apiaries and notification of bee-keepers of treatment. Responsibilities of Beekeepers:
1. Beekeepers should clearly mark their hives with their name, address, and telephone number (and brand).
2. Beekeepers should attempt to site their hives for protection from drift and for easier visibility from the air whenever possible.
3. Beekeepers should try to site their yards so they are not at intersections of several property owners. This leaves them open to exposure from the pesticides used by each of the farmers. If this is not possible, beekeepers should notify all adjoining property owners of location of their beeyards and need for caution.
4. Beekeepers should contact the area applicators, identifying their apiary locations to the applicators each year and/or whenever yard sites change.
5. Beekeepers should move, cover, or plug their hives when notified of spraying, when possible.
6. Beekeepers should learn about the oest control practices on the farms where their hives are located. They should inform the farmer of hive locations, request the farmer to remind any applicators of the hives, and work cooperatively with the farmer.
7. If a beekeeper should experience bee mortality which they believe is pesticide related they should inform the department and the applicator as soon as possible.
8. Beekeepers may want to consider placing wind socks in their beeyards; especially the more vulnerable sites.
Responsibilities of Applicators:
1. Applicators should locate beekeepers and their apiaries within their operating areas, keeping these locations on a map.
2. Applicators should contact the beekeepers as soon as possible when spraying within one mile of an apiary. Notification is most important when insecticides are being applied, and it need not be given when granular formulations are being used.
3. When arranging a job, applicators should ask the farmer if there are any beeyards in the area, and if so where they are located.
4. When treating near areas with apiaries, applicators should try to select insecticides with low bee toxicity and use a surfactant if possible.
5. Applicators should follow product label precautions and directions carefully, particularly specific bee precautions.
6. Applicators should circle the area being treated before spraying to check for beeyards. 7. Applicators should, whenever possible, time their spraying before 8:00a.m. or after
6:00 p.m. when near apiaries.
8. Applicators should avoid spraying crops in bloom or those fields with heavily blooming weedy borders.
9. As with all aerial applications, care should be taken to cease application when weather conditions favor significant drift from the target area.
Thurman and Coulter mentioned that no pesticide related bee-kills were reported last year to the State Department of Agriculture. They thought that perhaps the meetings held
(Guidelines, continued)
in February, 1981, between beekeepers and applicators contributed to a climate of compati-bility, and they were optimistic that the guidelines would prevent any serious incidents
·· .. this summer.
WELD COUNTY EXTENSION OFFERS HELP
An offshoot of the meeting on guidelines for beekeepers and applicators in Greeley has
been the creation of a central beeyard location map in the Weld County Extension office. Chuck Urano, Weld County Extension Agent, has volunteered to maintain a map of any bee-keeper's apiaries for the purpose of allowing aerial applicators to know in advance of their locations. The main complaint of the applicators at the Greeley meeting was that apiary locations are often hidden, or not easily visible. They expressed the need to
know in advance of a beeyard's location in order to avoid killing bees.
Beekeepers in Weld County should contact Chuck Urano to place their apiary location on
a county map. The information on the map will be made available to aerial applicators. Beekeepers are requested to send. written legal descriptions or addresses to: Weld County
Extension, 425 North 15th Avenue, Greeley~ Colorado, 80631, or to come into the office durfng business hours. The extension office would prefer not to taV.e descriptions over
the phone.
EXEMPTION OF HOBBY BEEKEEPERS HURTS EVERYONE
The specter of American Foul Brood (AFB) has raised its ugly head in the wake of the Colorado State Legislature's exemption of hobby beekeepers from the bee law in 1978. This spring I was .dismayed to discover this contagious disease in some of my hives, and I know of many other beekeepers in Larimer County and the State who are experiencing some serious problems ~lith AFB. Hobbyists come to me frequently with combs full of scales asking why
their bees died. Also, in Larimer and Weld counties the remains of a diseased commercial
outfit litter the country. One individual brought hundreds of hives into the area several years ago and neglected them. Nucs were sold to hobby beekeepers from this outfit. The
hobbyists, being exempt from inspection, often lost their bees to AFB. One beekeeper's
neglect has become the problem of every beekeeper in two counties!
As I contemplated a plan of action to combat this problem, I recalled some statistics
presented at .. he winter meeting last year by Jim Thurman, Chief of the Apiary section of
the ·State Department of Agriculture. Thurman stated that since Representative Joe Winkler's surprise amendment to the bee law in 1978 which exempted beekeepers with fewer than 25
colonies, the amount of AFB found in colonies inspected by the Department of Agriculture has
increased as follows:
Pre-1978, 1 1/2 to 2% of colonies inspected had AFB
19 78' 4 ~~ II II II II II
1979' 6% II II II II II
1980' 1 0 1 I 2 % II II II II II
1981 ' 9% II II II II II
These figures clearly indicate that since the exemption, the incidence of AFB has
increased to epidemic proportions. This sounds a little like I am scapegoating, doesn't it? What I am trying to convey is that we need to restore the bee law to its original intent. Everyone would benefit from a strong bee law. Hobbyists would be able to obtain professional advice on the prevention and control of contagious diseases, and commercial and backyard beekeepers alike would gain greater· protection from the neglectful ones among us. I think we can accept the disease level of 1 or 2% which we had achieved under the unamended law. We cannot tolerate the present high levels of AFB. Let's be ready for the coming open session of the legislature and lobby hard for the needed changes! (Submitted by Randy Fischer)
.
BEWARE POLLEN TRAPS
Recently you have seen ads from certain companies wanting to buy pollen and who want to sell you pollen traps. Care must be taken in the use of pollen traps and the use of real pollen. It is possible to damage colonies while collecting pollen, and it is also possible to spread disease of bees by feeding pollen collected from colonies that may be infected with some of the adult and brood diseases. These words of warning come from Glen Stanley, Iowa State Department of Agriculture. Following are a few excerpts from an article written by Dr. Elbert Jaycox, formerly of the University of Illinois, Urbana.
The developing interest in pollen as human and animal food has helped to increase the income of many beekeepers. Shortage of pollen for feeding bees has also created a larger market for pollen .. trapped11
from colonies of bees in areas of the country where there is a surplus. As interest increases among beekeepers, there is an increase in the intensity of advertising by those who want to sell pollen and the equipment for collecting it. Per-haps it is time to look at some of the claims being made for pollen as human food and for pollen traps as devices that HELP the bees and b~ekeepers rather than harming them in any way.
Apparently the authors of pollen brochures do not expect anyone to check their refer-ences to research publications and their quotations from well known personalities in many fields. Francis Huber, a blind naturalist who wrote about bees in 1814, is quoted as though hewerea 20th century huckster: 11
Bee pollen is the greatest body builder on earth. Pollen contributes not one ounce to obesity or excess fat on the body. In fact, honey bee pollen should be the cornerstone for every diet for weight loss ... I'm afraid that the
kindly old gentleman would not recognize any of the words attributed to him. In those days, no one ever thought about diets and a plump body was more admired than a thin one.
The pollen salespeople who stress the use of bee products for long life, referring to the reported extraordinary longevity of the people of the Caucus Mountains of Russia. Several years ago R. C. Longworth looked closely at those stories and found they were
nothing but old wives• tales with some comical details. When Longworth was a correspondent in Moscow, it was his duty to do the Shirali Mislimov birthday story. Muslimov claimed to be 168 when he died in 1973, but he had never been seen by a non-Soviet scientist or physician. The Soviet press first said he was 165. The next hear he was 161, then 159 and 163. At his death he was supposed to be 168, eight years after his 165th birthday. It seems no one knows for sure his actual age.
Pollen is not the only food heralded by advertising. Some pollen traps are being offered for sale with claims that they 11
Stimulate11
--stimulate colonies and lead to greater production of brood and honey. Unfortunately, there is no evidence to support such claims, but there are several studies and observations that dispute them.
In the June, 1981 issue of BEES AND HONEY, I cited recent work in Canada by Bach
&
Neilson showing that strong colonies were adversely affected by some pollen traps. This has been rny ot:.,ervat·ion also in Illinois. Even the OAC pollen trap, similar to ones being sold, causes congestion and disruption of the colonies, not stimulation! This problem increases as the temperature and humidity increases. A. R. Mclellan states that .. pollen traps had no significant effect on the amount of brood reared, and finally, there was significantly less honey stored by colonies whose pollen was being trapped ...None of the claims made for the beneficial effects of pollen traps on colonies of bees have been confirmed by research. All of the effects are detrimental to some degree. Let the buyer beware. (From Iowa Honey Producers Ass'n., The Bee Buzzer)
ACCESS TO INTEGRATED PEST MAf'.JAGEr1ENT
All of us have pest problems at one time or another. Sometimes the pests appear in our homes (as fleas, termites, cockroaches, mice, etc.), and sometimes in our gardens, fields and beehives. None of us want to use toxic chemicals, but we aren't always aware of the least toxic, most selective and most effective means of managing these creatures.
The IPM Practitioner is a monthly publication of the Bio Integral Resource Center, which
-5-Integrated Pest Management (cont~nued)
summarizes available information on managing pests. Current research, useful books,
re-· vie~s of innovative programs, announcements of products and services, and a calendar apoear in each issue. In addition, each month contains a feature article addressing specific pest problems, or describing a useful technique.
An annual subscription to the IPM Practitioner costs $15 (low income), or $25 (regular). They offer 10% discount for payment with the order. For $1 you can get a sample copy. The address is: Box 28A, Rt. 1, Winters, CA, 95694, (916) 795-2322.
TOLL-FREE PESTICIDE ANSWERS
A toll-free number is available to people who want to obtain general, technical or emergency information on pesticides and their effect on human health and the environment. This service, set up by the Environmental Protection Agency Office of Pesticide Programs
is part of a clearinghouse which maintains a library of pesticide labels and reference materials. Names, addresses and telephone numbers of persons or organizations working in pest control are available. The numbers are 800-531-7790 (except Texas) and 800-292-7664 (Texas). Written inquiries can be addressed to the Texas Pest Hazard Assessment Project, PO Drawer 2031, San Benito, TX, 78586.
APICULTURAL ABSTRACTS 1981, Vol. 32
&
33, #4&
#l 638.121.246; 633.853.492; 581.145.1; 595.199.Bombus; 591.53B; 638.158.2-084 1320/81 FREE, J. B.; FERGUSON, A. W. Foraging of bees on oil-seed rape(Brassica upus L.) in relation to the stage of flowering of the crop and pest
control. Journal of Agricultural Science, UK (1980) 94 (1) 151-154 [En, B] Rothamsted Exper. Stn., Harpenden, Herts., UK.
~oneybees and other insects were counted on oil-seed rape fields throughout flowenng, and pollen collected in pollen traps on adjacent hives was weighed. Even when 90% or more of the rape flowers had shed cheir petals, there was little decrease in the numbers of foraging honeybees, or in the weight of pollen collected. Bumble bee populations were also high at the end of flowering. Thus it cannot be
assumed that it is safe to apply insecticides to rape fields at the late flowering stage.
P. Walker 638.121: 591.55B; 538.2; 549.731.13; 591.037.A
12(0/81. GOL'LD, J. ~-; KIRSCHVINK, J. L.; DE~YES, K. S.; BRINF..S, M. L. Onentation of ~emagne~ed bees. Journal of Expenmenta.J Biology (1980) 86, 1-8 (En, B] Dept. B10logy, Pnnceton Univ., Princeton, NJ 08544, VSA.
J:Ioneybees possess localized, well oriented, stable and superparamagnetic d<?mams . (sm~ crystals) of magnetite [see AA 474/80]. Stable domains varied
Widely m stze. and I_IUmber between individual bees, but c. 2 x lOS
supe!l'aramagnettc _domams were found in all bees, and they were restricted to a
re~atlvely narrow stze range (300-350 X 10 -•Om). Some bees which were able to
onent accurately to the earth's field possessed superparamagnetic domains but no
stable ones .
. The se~....sit~vity. of honeybees to. a ~agneti~ field was assessed by observing their honzont~l aa_n~.es m a non-!llagnettc hive whtch had been on its side for 4 weeks. ~~e: whtch sn~wed ~?od onentation t~ the earth's field were then demagnetized as
·~;:.) left the h.~~· usmg a 2100-0e cotl tuned to 60 Hz. Demagnetization had no et1ect o~ the ability of these bees to orient to the earth's field.
It _IS concluded that the stable domains in bees do not form a permanent m:1gnet1c field detector, but that the paramagnetic domains - which, in the presence
0f a!1 extern~l field, p~oduce ad~ition~ magnetism parallel to the external field -are mvolved lil magnetic field onentatton. Observations of dances performed in null fields [see A-\ 351/71] support this theor.y, ____ __:. D. G. Lowe
581.162.3&581.073.A; 598.892.1; 638.132.1A; 547.454.A; 595.799; 591.53C
2(82 BOLTEN •. A. ~.; FEINSINGER, P. Why do hummingbird flowers secrete dilut.e nee~? ~10trop1ca (1978) 10 (4) 307-309 [En, B] Dept. Zoology Univ.
Flonda, Gamesvllle, FL 32611, USA. ~ ' Many ~owers pollin~ted ~y hum~ing birds secrete dilute nectar; this may deter nectar foraging by. bees (ApOJdea) which may be less effective pollinators for these plants: Of 9 spectes of .su~h flowers studied in Trinidad, 3 species with nectar ac:cesstble t? be~ ~ad stgni~cantly l?wer. nectar sugar concentrations than those wtth long,_ mac"esstble corollas. IsertJa_, With the most concentrated nectar in the bee-_acc~s1ble gro~p, appeared not to. ?e adapted solely to humming bird poHmatlo~. Hameha flowers were only vtslted by bees during late m0rmng. when the acc:!SSJhle nectar had apparently been concentrated. Be~s were newr •)bserved tn
enter long flowers 0f the 6 exclusive spe!Cies. J \1. <;Jedyt: -c
. ' r
BEITER SNAKE BITE TREATMENT IS STUDIED
What do you do when you're bitten by a poisonous snake, hours from the nearest medical clinic? There really is a void in emergency treatment, .. says Richard Straight of the fed-eral Venom Research Laboratory in Salt Lake City. 11We've never been satisfied with what
is recommended,'' he explains--namely lancing the wound, attempting to suck out the poison,
and perhaps applying a tourniquet to the bitten limb between the wound and the heart. But a technique has been tested in Australia that is so stunningly simple its efficacy begs belief. One merely splints the unwashed bitten limb and then wraps an elastic bandage as tightly as possible about a wide area encompassing the wound.
Successful use of the technique lends support to previous suggestions from animal
re-search that venom molecules are so large that they prefer to travel in the lymph vessels instead of in the bloodstream.
Australian herpetologist John Pearn is believed to have conducted the first human trial, on himself, according to the January Scientific Australian. Having followed reports of its success in five years of monkey trials at the Commonwealth Serum Laboratories in Melbourne, Pearn was prepared to use it on himself when an Australian brown snake bit him a year ago February. "Just how effective this ne\AJ treatment (first suggested 40 years ago) is was demonstrated by the fact that there were no symptoms of envenomation two hours after the bite,'' Pearn says in the Australian magazine. Medical tests confirmed the absence of venom in his blood at that time.
Within 10 minutes of carefully removing the bandage, however, signs of poisoning ap-peared. Venom was detected in his blood five minutes later. Following treatment with the appropriate anti-venom, Pearn recovered completely.
Straight notes that an Australian medical journal has reported another incident where the technique was used for a tigersnake bite. That individual survived a six-hour trek to the hospital, again without venom movement.
The elastic bandage sufficiently compresses lymph vessels so that the flow of lymph and tissue fluids is halted. Straight still considers the concept that venom might
se-lectively choose the lymph system 11
Unproven" but an "exciting idea.11
So intrigued are
researchers at his Utah labor-atory that studies have already begun there to explore the
physiology of venom transport and action during compression. If the technique proves as effective in his controlled animal studies as the human anecdotal accounts would suggest,
it would become the preferred treatment for snake-bite emergencies. (Science News, Vol. 121)
Well, what do you know?-- In some parts of Asia, communities with an unusual life span
-eat propolis scrappings from the hives. In Greece, 2000 years ago, Hippocrates used honey to cure ailments. He lived almost a hundred years. The Greek Gods and Vikings fed on honey. They probably were the first to discover that honey is instantly absorbed into the blood stream. It is a quick supplier of energy. (KY. BEELINE Apr. '78)
·HONEY BALLS: This recipe comes from Marilyn Jordon who lives in Kentucky. It's
un-usual, nutritious and especially loved by kids up to 70 years old: 1 cup peanut butter, 1 cup honey, 1 l/2 cups dry milk, 1 l/2 cups wheat germ, l/4 cup peanuts. Mix ingredients
together, form into balls, then roll balls in crushed corn flakes.
LOCAL HAPPENINGS
Mr. and Mrs. Dooley Toyne have a grandson born March 21, 1982. Glenn and Kathy Toyne
are the proud parents.
Mrs. Rose Crause of Salida had a stroke on January 2, 1982. She is now at home with her son Albert.
FOR SALE. Approximately 75 colonies of bees with extra equipment. Contact Albert L. Crause, 7735 N. Hwy 285, Salida 81201, Phone 539-6090.
-7-Colorado Bee Notes
Department of Zoology and Colorado State University .Fort Collins, Colorado 80523
~
~
~
r
'"
PERt-HT 19 ~ THIRD CLASS ~ TOM JONES 605 NORTll COLUMBUS XUMA, CO 60729 BEEFort Coli ina. Colorado 80521
ENTOMOLOGY SECTION
DEVOTED TO EDUCATION AND RESEARCH FOR THE COLORADO BEE INDUSTRY
COLORADO BEEKEEPERS ASSOCIATION ANNUAL ~EETING
Date: December 4th and 5th, 1982
Place a Denver
vi
est Holiday Inn, 14707 West Highway 40, Golden, Colorado (Colfax Ave. at I-70 Steve Taber, a.n internationally recognized bee researcher and queen breeder, willbe the featured speaker at the Colorado Beekeepers Association (CBA) annual meeting. Mro Taber has been involved in beekeeping for over 40 years and has been raising queens for
JO
of those years. He has conducted bee research at the Baton Rouge and Tucson Bee Labs for the USDA and is now applying his knowledge of bee behavior and genetics toproduce queens commercially. Taber is also a monthly contributor to the American Bee Journa He will speak on his current breeding project to develop a disease resistant line of
bees through artificial insemination of selected queens. ife has recently returned from South Africa where he consulted with queen breeders, and will offer some remarks on is experience with the African beekeepers.
PROGAM SCHEDUlE
Saturday, December 4th, 1982
Ba00-9a00 a.m. - -Manufacturers exhibits, dues collection, registration. 9:00a.m. --Call to order, welcome, annoucements.
9•05 a.m. - - "Beekeeping and the State Entomologist: Looking Toward the Future"
Dr. William Hants"OO.rger, Extension Entomologist, Colorado State Universityo
9•25 a.m. - - ••Preventing Bee Kill Through Applicator/Beekeeper Communication" Jack Tanner, President, Colo. Ag. Aviators Association
9:.50 aomo - -"Honey and Bees in Literature ..
Ms. Kathryn Wallis, Colorado Beekeeper and Teacher English, Rocky Mtno High. 10:15 a.m.- - "Using Chemical Stickers to Reduce Pesticide Losses to Bees"
Dr. Adair Stoner, USDA Bee Research Lab, Laramie, Wyoming. 11a15 a.m.- -"A Breeding Program to Develop Disease Resistance in Honeybees"
Mr. Steve Taber, Commercial Queen Breeder and Former USDA Bee Researchero 12a00 noon - - Lunch Break
1s30 p.mo - -"Beekeeping in South Africa" Mr. Steve Taber
2a25 p.mo - - "Queen Replacement fV!ethods Used by Colorado Beekeepers" Panel Discussion Danny Culhane, Bill Baublits, Bill Morris, and John Haefeli
3:10 pcmo --"High Altitude Honey Production: Beekeeping on Colorado's Flattops" Paul Limba.ch, Limbach's \~!estern Colorado Honey
3:4o p.m. - -"Proposed Changes in Colorado's Bee Law"
Jim Thurman, Chief, Apiary Section, Colorado Department of Agriculture 4:00 porno - - Meeting Adjourned
5a00 porn.-- Beekeeper's Social (Location to be announced during meeting). Beekeepers and j wives can meet socially and should provide their own brand of liquid refreshm~
Sunday, December 5th, 19R2
• ,f
...
CHANGES P?OPOSED IN COLO~.?ADO 'S BEE Li\H
The Colorado beekeepers advisory boe.rd met on October 22, 1982, to discuss
sorne needed changes in Colorado's bee law. Attending the meeti.np." were Danny Culhane, Bill Baublits, Paul Rickey, Roger Wadleigh, Ernie Most, Tom Jones, and nandy Fischer. Jim Thurman of the Colorado Department of Agriculture called the meeting in order to present his nroposals for changes in the law. It has long been thought that the exemption of hnbby beekeepers with fewer than 25 hives seriously weakened the larz and negated its original intent which was to control contagious diseases of honeybees. The result of tbis advisory boan1 meeting was 1o hammer out a law more fC~.vora ble to
the state's beekeepers and to plan strategy for getting it tassed by the legislature. The most important 1)roposed change in the law is the re·Hording of section 35-25-107. This section entitled "Registration of Beekeepers," is to be reamended to read,
(1) All and
(a~
(b (c~~~
beekeepers in Colorado shall be reqnired to be licensed annurtlly •••
pay a fee based on the number of colonies ~1s follm-ls: One to three colonies, no fee;
Four to fifty colonies, ten dollars;
Fifty-one to three hundred colonies, tHenty dollars;
Tbree t·undred-one to one thousand colonies, thirty dollars;
One thousand-one or more colonies, fifty dollars •
This wi11 have the effect of reaniring all beekeepers, including hobby beekeepers, to
be registered and to be inspected 1)eriodically. It also h(.~S the effect of doubling the fee schedule for licensing. This inc:-ease in the fee schedule 1--ras seen by the bo&,rd
members as necessary to pay for a greater share of the cost of enfo!"cement of the bee law. Jim Thurmg,n said that there is a movement by legislators to have all self-regulating industries pay for a greater share of the cost of regul;:;,tion. Thurman estimated the
cost of enforcement of the bee law at ~11,400 annually, yet only $2190 are collected from license fees. Therefore, this fee increase was seen e,s necessary so that the
-legislature would look more favorably on pas~-;ap;e of the changes.
Other proposed chanr;es include the complete elimination of section 35-25-114 known
as the \~inckler Exemution. This exemution specifically excludes anyone with fewer than 25 hives from all -provisions of the law. Of particular importance to commercial beekeepers is a recommended change to section 35-25-107.4 which will require that
alJ.. inspections requested for out-of-stR.te movement of bees be paid for by the beekeeper on the basis of time and mileage spent 'Jy the inspector. Here ar';a.in, this is in an
a ttem1)t to have the beekeepers pay a greater share of their own self-regulation. Lastly, the provision for sunset review of the bee law will be omitted. Jim Thurman pointed out that the bee law is the only law of its kind that i.s still subject to neriodic
review. Beekeepers have until July 1, 19R.5, to change this si tua.ti ::.n or to face the nossibility of losing the bee J.m-1 altogether. It was, however, recommended by Thurman that the hobby beekee-per exemption be dealt ·Hi th before ta.ckling the sunset provision.
Thse proposed changes to the bee law are of tremendous importance to every beekeeper in the state. They will have rtn effect on nearly everyone either financially or otherwise.
Honefully, the net effect will be beneficial to all. These changes must be ap~roved, however~
by-the votingmembership of the Colorado Beekee-pers Association. It is, therefore, crucial that a large number of beekeepers attend the annual meeting of the CBA to make
thejr feelings known on these changes. T:·,en, we must all roti.ke our opinions known to
our state legislators in order to make them the law.
"C
c..
HONEY IMPORTS AND PRICE SUPPORTS
In the eyes of many, the problem of price supports and honey imports has reached crisis proportions. This issue was the focus of attention at the 1982 summer meeting of the Wyoming Beekeepers Association, was addressed by Charlie ~1iller, our regional Sioux representative at the Colorado Beekeepers Association (CBA) summer meeting in Salida, and was the main topic of discussion at a special meetir:tg of the. American Honey
Producers Association (AHPA) held in Denver on July 10-11th. This meeting was attended by John Haefcli and Jim Rice, both CBA members.
The problems involved. in this issue are
as
follows:(1) In 1981 nearly 80 million pounds of honey Here imported into this country at a price substantially lower than support prices;
(2) Support price for white honey reached 61.5 cents per pound in 1982, making the government loan program highly attractive to producers;
(3) Honey packers, unwillinG to pay support prices, found an inexpensive alternative to domestic honey in the glut of imported honey;
(4) In 1981 beekeepers pk~ced nearly
50
million pounds of honey under loan, raising fears that the government may someday seek to limit honey price support payments to rid itself of a huge surplus of honey.The net result of these problems is a vicious circle of increased foreign production fed by a strong u •
.s.
market for imported honey which is caused by high government support prices Manyu.s.
producers see this as a problem because if congress reacts negatively to theprospect of an ever-increasing surplus of government owned honey and decides to abandon the program of price supports, the domestic producers will be caught without a market ·. for their honey. The AHPA forsees the foll01~ing scenario:
"A rapid reduction of world honey prices;
A number of bankruptcies amon& commercial beekeepers; Severe belt-tightening among surviving producf~rs;
Lower quality homey; A flood of imports;
A gradual change from a world surplus to a 1vortd shortage, which will result in higher prices dictated by foreign producers."
As bob Bryant, president of the WBA, said at this summer's meeting, "This surplus of honey is going to come back to haunt us!" ·
An atmosphere of urgency pervaded the AHPA meeting this summer in Denver. A
consensus was, however, difficult to obtain. Members were unable to agree to recommend that imports be limited by quotas or other government action because it wae felt that the government looked unfavorably on this approach. No action was taken on the price support issue except to recommend that the supports be maintained until a " mo:ce pragmatic
solution" was found. It was resolved that the AHPA recommend that the surplus of honey be reduced by giving the honey to the school lunch program at no cost. Some large packerswho attended the meeting admitted that they would continue to buy imported honey until the situation improved.
Regardless of one's opinion on the subject, beekeepers should keep themselves
informed of the issues. Those who have strong opinions should write their representatives in Congress and become involved in their state and r~tional association's efforts to combat the flood of imported honey.
Submitted by Randy Fischer 1
