 Photo Courtesy of the USDA Bee Lab, Baton Rouge, LA Varroa mites are a plague to all honey bees and beekeepers in the US and most of the world, but beekeepers have limited tools available for Varroa control. One widely used tool is Amitraz/Apivar strips. Although Amitraz has been effective for almost two decades, we know from experience that using synthetic compounds puts pressure on Varroa populations and can lead to mite resistance. This happened with fluvalinate (Apistan) and Coumaphos (Checkmite) within 10-15 years of use. As we pass those landmarks using Amitraz for Varroa control, beekeepers and scientists are on the lookout for treatment efficacy and any signs of resistant mites.
0 Comments
 Zac Lamas is the 2019 PAm-Costco Scholar. He is a PhD candidate at the University of Maryland, studying at the vanEnglesdorp Bee Lab. Zac started his career as a beekeeper and queen producer, and recently switched his focus to honey bee research. PAm recently caught up with Zac to hear more of his story. We are excited to be investing in researchers like Zac, who bring unique experience and insight to the fold of scientists that are supporting honey bee health.
 FREDERICK, Colo. (September 4, 2019) – The National Honey Board (NHB) is pleased to announce it is celebrating National Honey Month with free listings for the Honey Locator.
 USDA NASS resumes data collection for the Colony Loss Survey
Issued Sept. 13, 2019 by the Agricultural Statistics Board of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's, National Agricultural Statistics Service. For more information, contact Travis Averill at (202) 720-3570 or travis.averill@usda.gov. After a one quarter suspension due to resource constraints, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will resume the Colony Loss Survey with the October 1 reference date. The survey results, which include quarterly data on honey bee colony numbers and death loss, will be released in the August 2020Honey Bee Colonies report. This report allows USDA, researchers, beekeepers, and other interested parties to compare quarterly losses, additions, and movements and to analyze the data on a state-by-state basis. For more information about USDA NASS survey programs, including the bee and honey program, visit www.nass.usda.gov/Surveys/Guide_to_NASS_Surveys From Pacific Nut Producer Magazine  "Cover crops in almonds can help with pollinators... The Almond Board verifies no negative impact on harvest" Click Here to read the full article from Pacific Nut Producer.  Have you ever thought about planting a cover crop in or around your orchards? Now that fall is here it’s time for action! Apply online with the Seeds for Bees® program and receive up to $2,000 worth of seed.
With this year’s late harvest (growers report 2-3 weeks later than normal) it may seem too soon to start thinking about post-harvest management but the first rains of the year are right around the corner. If cover crop seed is planted in time, the fall precipitation will be enough to germinate the seed without irrigation. However, if California does experience a dry fall then irrigation might be required to ensure bee forage like the PAm Mustard Mix will bloom before almonds. Growers with micro-sprinklers, solid set or flood irrigation options maximize efficiency by timing planting so the obligatory post-harvest tree irrigation germinates the seed.  The California State Beekeepers’ Association (CSBA) is seeking proposals for research conducted in the area of honey bee health and management. Proposals should be designed to cover a single year of highly focused research devoted to finding practical solutions to beekeeping problems.
Please Click Here to view the Press Release and Application Guidelines  The Bee Informed Partnership has been instrumental in the management, loss and field surveillance efforts since 2011 and has teams on the ground working with many commercial beekeepers nationwide.
Karen Rennich, who has done a wonderful job as the helm, will be stepping down as Executive Director at the end of this year. To that end, the BIP transition committee is actively seeking those interested and qualified persons who would like to apply for the position of Executive Director. Please see job description at the BIP website (www.beeinformed.org) or Click Here to download. Applications are due by July 31, with interviews to follow in late summer and early fall.  Congratulations to the 2019 USA PAm-Costco Scholar Fellowship Awardees!The Canada PAm-Costco Scholar Fellowship Application period is open and applications will be accepted through July 8, 2019. Click Here for more information, and to apply
We have a winner (winners)! Congratulations to our 2019 Pollinator Week #nowstedland Photo Contest winners! We received over 40 photo entries and over 800 votes. Scroll through to see the winning photos and learn more about the stories behind them. #NoWastedLand is one of Project Apis m.'s tag-lines. As the landscape changes, it is becoming more important to create and preserve habitat for the honey bees and other pollinators that are so important! Our Seeds for Bees® program and The Bee and Butterfly Habitat Fund are working to put more pollinator habitat and forage on the landscape where it is needed most! Thank you to all of our participants. 1st Place Grand Prize Winner:Morgan Hay, Mellifex Farm, Bastrop Texas
A native megachile bee! In my pollinator field theres an abundance of native pollinators. My favorites are leafcutter bees and green sweat bees. There's also wasps, beetles, and bats (that pollinate the prickly pear)
|
Categories
All
News Archives
September 2019
|
RSS Feed