A story called “What’s Wrong with the Bees?” will be airing this Sunday on the television program 60 Minutes.

Also, starting Sunday night, you can watch clips from the program, as well as some extras that weren’t on TV, at http://60minutes.yahoo.com/.

Beekeeper Dave Hackenberg has been stung so many times, he’s become immune to the pain and discomfort. But losing more of his honeybees to a mysterious disorder this fall and winter will be a sting he may not recover from.

The disorder and the ramifications of Hackenberg going out of business along with others like him, whose bees help produce a third of the foods we eat, are examined in a Steve Kroft report to be broadcast on 60 MINUTES Sunday, Oct. 28 (7:00-8:00 PM,
ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.

That’s 8:00 - 9:00 p.m. in the Atlantic time zone.

See also
CBS News: Colony Collapse Jeopardizing Beekeepers: Steve Kroft Reports On The Mysterious Disappearance Of Bees

Wondering who is doing research on honey bees these days, and what they’re learning?

The website of the International Bee Research Association allows visitors to browse the browse the Tables of Contents of the award-winning quarterly Journal of Apicultural Research, to subscribe, or to read a back-issue of the publication. The journal was just awarded a gold medal in the scientific journals category at Apimondia 2007 in Melbourne — its third Apimondia gold medal.

IBRA is a charity working to increase awareness of the vital role of bees in the environment and to encourage the use of bees as wealth creators.

While much of the bee research information is available to IBRA members or for purchase in the online shop, the site has much of interest for non-members and casual visitors with an interest in bees.

Do check the “Information Services” category for a listing of “Free Downloads” available. For example, a sample copy of a past issue of the Journal of Apicultural Research and other periodicals are available in PDF format, as are samples of parts of some of the books on bees that have been published by the IBRA. At the moment, offerings include a sample of Form and Function in the Honey Bee by L Goodman, and Honey and Healing edited by P A Munn and R Jones.

See:
http://www.ibra.org.uk/

Thanks to CBA member John-Michael McPhee for the tip on this website.

In response to last winter’s heavy losses of honeybee colonies, the Province of New Brunswick has announced its 2007 Honey Bee Revitalization Initiative.

The objective of this program is “to assist New Brunswick beekeepers to revitalize the honey bee industry in the province by rebuilding 3,100 colonies through the purchase of colonies, nuclei colonies and /or provision of financial incentives to encourage splitting of existing strong colonies.”

Rationale:

Many New Brunswick beekeepers manage honey bee colonies and provide pollination services to wild blueberry, apple, cranberry and vegetable crops, with the largest requirement for pollination coming from the blueberry industry. The New Brunswick wild blueberry industry requires a minimum of 12,000 colonies annually (based on 1 hive per acre). It is estimated that pollination from honey bees contributed 5.5-6.5 million pounds of blueberries (valued at $5.5-6.5 million) to the overall crop yield in 2006. Beekeepers also extract honey from their colonies and market either bulk, wholesale, and/or retail honey (2006 production of 230,000 lbs).

The number of New Brunswick colonies available for pollination has been slowly increasing over the last five years from 4,700 colonies in 2002 to approximately 6,000 colonies in 2006. After severe overwintering losses suffered in the winter of 2006-2007, it is estimated that only 3,500 colonies from provincial beekeepers were available for blueberry pollination in 2007. In order to rebuild to the number of colonies which were available in 2006 and eventually work towards self sufficiency for blueberry pollination in New Brunswick, a honey bee revitalization initiative is required.

Financial assistance will be directed at those beekeepers who plan to remain part of the industry and rebuild their colonies. The funding is not intended to take the form of a payout to all beekeepers who suffered a loss. This targeted approach will help ensure that financial contributions will go to those beekeepers who are intending to rebuild. The Honey Bee Revitalization Initiative will assist beekeepers with the purchase of new colonies and nuclei colonies and will encourage them to split strong New Brunswick colonies. It is anticipated, that with this assistance, industry may be able to rebuild approximately 3,100 colonies by fall.

The deadline for applications is November 16, 2007.

Beekeepers are asked to review the Guidelines (english/french) to determine whether or not they are eligible for this program.

Press Release

Bill Bygarski, Chairman of Bee Maid Honey Limited is pleased to announce the continuation of apicultural research funding by Bee Maid Honey.

Bee Maid will consider project proposals in any area of apiculture or pollination research. Preference will be given to the area of honey, and the production of pure quality honey in the Canadian beekeeping industry.

Proposals for projects are to be submitted to Bee Maid Honey by December 3, 2007. Projects are expected to be completed within one year of funding, although renewal applications will be considered.

Bee Maid Honey Ltd. is the marketing arm of the Manitoba Cooperative Honey Producers Limited and the Alberta Honey Producers Co-operative Limited. Honey produced by beekeepers in western Canada is processed and packaged at Bee Maid’s Winnipeg, MB and Spruce Grove, AB plants. BeeMaid Honey is North America’s largest single source honey marketer, proudly packing 100% pure Canadian honey.

For further information and to receive an application for research, please contact:
Gordon Marks – Bee Maid Honey Ltd.
Phone: 204-786-8977 ext. 235.
Fax: 204-783-8468
E-mail: gmarks@beemaid.com

Following are the up-to-date recommendations for the use oxalic acid as a treatment for varroa mites in honey bee colonies. The article includes:

• Oxalic Acid Treatment Protocol — Trickle Method (preferred) and Vaporization Method
• Oxalic Acid Safety Sheet — including an Emergency Overview
• Oxalic Acid Facts

This information is published here by kind permission of the Tech-Transfer Team of the Ontario Beekeepers Association.

Oxalic Acid Treatment Protocol

Trickle Method

(Recommended method in Ontario)

Preparation:
• Prepare 50% sugar syrup (eg. 1 kg of sugar in 1 L of water).
• Measure 1 L of syrup and add 35 g of oxalic acid dihydrate (min. 99.6% purity) crystals.
• Agitate the solution by stirring vigorously or shaking.
• The crystals dissolve best if the sugar solution is warm (not hot). All of the crystals must be dissolved.
• Prepare the solution within days of treating the colonies and keep refrigerated until use.
• 1L of the oxalic acid solution will treat 20 colonies.

Trickle Application:
Oxalic acid should be applied late in the fall after brood rearing has ceased. Treat when the temperatures are cooler (in the morning or evening) to ensure that the bees are in the hive to receive the treatment. Using a 60 ml syringe or an oral drench gun (both available at farm supply stores), apply 50 ml of the solution directly onto the bees in the cluster. Trickle the solution between each frame containing bees. When treating doubles, split the boxes and treat the bees in both boxes (25 ml in the bottom box and 25 ml in the top box). The colony may be wrapped for winter immediately after application.

Safety:
When handling the oxalic acid crystals, always wear gloves and a dust mask. Gloves and protective clothing should be worn when treating colonies using the trickle method. If oxalic acid crystals or the treatment solution contact your skin, wash affected area with water.

Storage:
In all forms, oxalic acid is odorless. The crystalline powder should be stored at room temperature in an airtight container. This will prevent absorption of moisture, which causes the loose powder to solidify. Do not store leftover oxalic acid treatment solution. The oxalic acid changes in composition and becomes toxic to the bees.

Vaporization Method

There are different vaporizers available for use in the hive. Instructions for use are specific to the vaporizer purchased. Goggles, gloves and a respirator should be used when vaporizing oxalic acid crystals.

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