Canadians not worried about Tropilaelaps
In response to Charles Linder’s February article: Canada imports honey bees from New Zealand, Italy, Australia, Chile, and Ukraine. And the danger of importing the new, devastating Tropilaelaps mites.
While at the Alberta Beekeepers meeting, one of the provincial apiculturists told Charles Linder flat out: “Tropi is not a problem in Canada. With six months of winter it won’t hurt us.”
They do realize it would be very devastating to the bees in the USA. Apparently they are not worried about our bees. After all, once our bees are dead we will surely pay very dearly for Canadian honey.
The way to set them straight very quicky? Close the border to all hive products including honey if they import bees from overseas.
Sam Kanagy
Romulus, New York
Charles responds
Sam, thanks for the comment, and a chance to elaborate! You read that correctly, that was the exact comment and a bit of the mentality! And it’s not unique.
However, instead of a call to battle, it is really a chance for two valuable things. The first is understanding how the Canadian government will think. They use scientific research almost exclusively. So if that literally says it’s not a problem for them, that is the line they will follow. Knowing that now is a key tool for us, in that we need to shape the research. The truth is, most of the T-mite research is coming from us; Apis m. and Auburn are leading that charge.
The second stage is public awareness. Myself and several others have been doing just that. We have been traveling to Canadian meetings and having these discussions. That tide is quickly turning. There is a lot more on it to be said shortly, I promise, but understand I appreciated his open and honest comment. He told me what the people up there will say to their officials. This is a golden opportunity to negotiate!
In the meantime, we have a government agency APHIS, and a whole lot of industry people working on the topic on both sides of the border. Stay tuned, a full update will be coming shortly. Right now we are waiting on a response from one of the agencies.
Charles
“Best article” on prison beekeeping
Just wanted to say, best article I’ve read in 6 months or more in ABJ [“Beekeeping Behind Bars,” February]. Great ideas, great feedback from those involved. Would love to hear more about the actual program, does each student get their own suit, what about tool management (keeping a count of items)? Where do they process the honey and who keeps it? Anyway, thank you Julia Mahood for sharing.
Name withheld by request
Julia responds:
Thank you for the kind words!
Facilities differ somewhat depending on security level, but in the maximum-security prisons all the tools, (hive tools, frame racks, smokers, uncapping knifes, etc.) are kept in a locked closet and hang on a peg board with the outline of the item. Each item is etched with a number. When we use them we sign them out on a sheet with a date and time and nobody leaves before all the items are accounted for and returned to the closet. (It’s never been a problem. When we can’t find something it’s usually in my pocket!) Most programs have enough suits for everyone but some have to work in shifts and share.
All the classes process their honey on site. The students get to enjoy honey while we are in class and in some facilities they get to take a bottle back to their dorms for personal use. Most of it is given away to staff and visitors. It’s illegal to sell for money. But I will say giving honey away to staff makes everyone become invested in the program!
Julia
