FEDERATED FARMERS BEES CHAIRMAN, JOHN HARTNELL

For our Canterbury members it has certainly been a very eventful period. The spread of varroa from the control area, though expected, was a disappointing discovery. There is no better time to work closely together and ensure we are communicating with our beekeeping neighbours. To add to the work load over the next six weeks, Federated Farmers Bees has the American Foulbrood (AFB) Pest Management review, the Biosecurity Surveillance Strategy review, the Tutin submission review and progress on the Honey Standards. Federated Farmers has also recently dealt with a submission on Checkmite and a genetically modified organisms onion submission. What next you may ask? Beekeepers should look forward to a good season and strengthening market prices for honey in 2009. The Bee Industry Group thanks Shona and Carly Sluys who have been extremely busy on our behalf dealing with a raft of policy issues and submissions.

Varroa update - As expected the first notification of varroa in Canterbury was a rude awakening for us all, subsequent surveillance by individual beekeepers provided a clear picture that the mite had set up camp some time at the end of 2007 or early 2008 and the infestation was far more widespread than first thought. Most apiary operations in the Honeydew producing areas of Oxford, Loburn, Glentui and Mount Thomas are infested or exposed to hives which have varroa. The industry is also aware that hives shifted back to traditional summer sites in the Canterbury plains are carrying the mite, therefore as a general comment varroa is now established or establishing between the northern side of the Waimakariri and the Rakaia, and will also be moving north towards Cheviot and Kaikoura.

Monitor or treatment - While some producers are taking a watch and monitor stance, others have already started to blanket treat their hives for varroa. Talk with the beekeepers in your operation area and where possible try to co-ordinate your treatment programmes. Remember, in the first 24 months it is acceptable to use the same miticide for all treatments, however the golden rule is to plan to rotate the type of miticide treatment used between summer and autumn; this avoids the potential for mite resistance to any one treatment product. Remember keep it simple and safe. If you find varroa outside the area detailed above, please telephone Shona Sluys at Federated Farmers Christchurch office on 0800 327 646 or John Hartnell 03 349 5590. Action will then be taken to contact beekeepers who are operating in the area concerned.

American Foulbrood - The National Pest Management Strategy for American Foulbrood AFB is to be reviewed. The current 10 year strategy expired on 30 September 2008 but the review means the strategy will remain in force until the review has been completed. The objective of the strategy is to reduce the number of beehives infected AFB. Federated Farmers Bees will be submitting on the review. A working group has been formed to consult for the Federated Farmers submission comprising: Geoff Hantz, Derek Newton, James Corson, John Syme. Additional participation is welcomed, meeting date to be confirmed first week November. Members with a view point can contact Shona Sluys, 0800 327 646 or John Hartnell, 03 349 5590 or make their own submission to MAF Biosecurity before 5pm on 28 November 2008. Read the full MAF report on AFB Strategy here.

Tighter controls for honey - The toxic honey incident caused by honey harvested near Whangamata in the Coromandel during Easter 2008 had serious consequences. After the Easter incident, New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA) began sampling honey in other areas to ensure it was safe. The subsequent sampling found widespread low-level contamination in late-harvest honey from the risk areas and another ‘hot spot' near Wairoa. The affected beekeepers have been notified that they cannot sell contaminated honey. The amount of contamination found indicates that significant improvements are needed in the way honey harvests are managed. This is to minimise the risk of toxic levels of tutin and hyenanchin finding their way into New Zealand honey destined for human consumption.

Working group - As part of the review of measures needed to minimise the risks of further outbreaks of tutin toxicity the Bee Products Standards Council (BPSC) has set up an industry working group and industry feedback was sought during June and July. This information has now being considered and subsequently it has been delivered to NZFSA. A new control programme needs to be in place for the 2008-09 honey harvesting season and NZFSA expects to be consulting on specific measures in October and early November 2008. Read more »

Honey standards - There has been much debate and lobbying over the honey standards requirement, to move forward, the BPSC has determined the following principles:

• Use the established definition of "honey" embodied in the ANZFA Food Code
• Abide by the Codex Standard 12-1981
• Scientific basis must be measurable and use repeatable methodology that is able to be used and replicated easily elsewhere
• The use of the whole pattern of the components of honey has more potential than the use of single markers.
• Pollen may be incorporated which is unrelated to the source of the nectar.
• Colour and conductivity are two important parameters that help clarify the exceptional pollen counts.
• In the case of "Manuka honey": "Manuka" is commonly applied to a wide range of species. This is supported by the standard reference "Nectar and pollen sources of New Zealand" by R.S. Walsh which included all the Leptospermums including Kanuka (which is now called Kunzea ericoides) into the manuka group; there may be additional factors such as UMF (Unique Manuka Factor) activity and Methyl Glyoxal.

The council agreed that these parameters could be set out in order of precedence. The council also recognized the influence of honey harvesting and processing practises on the results which need to be considered accordingly. It was agreed to collect and analyse samples in New Zealand and also at a European laboratory. The council noted HMF (Hydroxy Methyl Furfuraldehyde) levels have been reported to be well above the permitted levels, this was of serious concern, particularly as high valued honey was involved.

Control scheme - A comprehensive report was presented by Mike Clear Industry Manager for the National Residue Control Scheme (NRCS). A total of 69 samples were analysised for 2008, PDB was only present in 11 samples and the residue levels were very low, this downward trend will continue. Neo-Nicolinoids residues where not found (Gaucho). Miticide residues where found in low counts, a general recommendation that the practise of extracting brood chamber frames should cease immediately as this is likely to be the contributing factor.

Food safety invoice - New Zealand Food Safety Invoices for 2008 were sent out at the beginning of October, as an explanation $268 covers the Risk Management Programme annual registration. This is the same as 2007, the balance $300+ is the cost of the National Residues Scheme. The Residue Scheme cost recovery was previously collected from exporters, who deducted this cost from the return paid to the producer. It is now collected from all RMP operators through the NZFSA Invoice as it is the only means available to industry for fee collection. If you are an RMP operator who contracts services to other beekeepers then ensure you account for these costs in your charge out fees, it is desirable that the cost is shared by all beekeepers

WEST COAST WOES WITH GARY GLASSON

West Coast beekeepers have been very busy bees over the past month putting cells out and feeding hives. We have been on the lookout for the varroa mite, nothing has showed up on the sticky boards yet but with no more movement controls, I expect it to come to the West Coast with the usual migration of beehives this summer. We are all thinking how we will cope and manage our bees or how many hives we can run. I expect in a few years we will still be busy going about our work with varroa almost forgotten as there will be always some new challenge for us to focus on. Border Security is a significant issue for our industry and ultimately our country. The price increase on the New Zealand Food Safety Authority levy has made us unhappy. Just add the auditor's fees to this increase and finding the money for smaller businesses becomes quite a challenge.

STATE OF SOUTH CANTERBURY WITH PETER SYMTH

Varroa is only up the road from us now, and is likely to be here by Autumn. This will result in at least a third reduction of hive numbers. The dairy conversions in our area are also having an affect on hive numbers. These farmers are a totally different breed from the farmers I have previously dealt with. Their philosophy seems to be that "If it doesn't put milk in the vat, it's gone". Anything that is seen as not productive for the farm, which seems to include beehives, shelter belts, hedges or vegetation is unceremoniously dumped on a fire or put in a hole. This unfortunately means that even if the farmers wanted hives to stay on the property, there is absolutely nothing to shelter the apiary from the weather.

BANGING ABOUT IN CANTERBURY

Beekeepers are varroa hunting in Canterbury ........... both barrels are fully loaded.

YOUR NEWS

Federated Farmers Bees would like to include more news from the provinces. If you would like your area to be mentioned and you want to volunteer to write a brief blurb about beekeeping in your neck of the woods contact Shona Sluys, ssluys@fedfarm.org.nz or 0800 327 646.

Export load-out audits - If your Risk Management Programme (RMP) covers load-outs for export then you will be subjected to quarterly load-out audits, if you only load out one or two containers after extracting, then you can negotiate out of this for six months of the year. The process is: email your verifier and confirm that your RMP load-out will not be in use for the period aaa to bbb; confirm that you will notify the verifier should there be any change to the dates nominated or you are ready to commence load-outs again.

Canterbury beekeeper meeting - Meetings are held the last Tuesday of every month (February to November) at the Hornby Workingmen's Club in Christchurch. The next meeting will be held on October the 28 at 7pm. For further details contact Ross McCusker 03 314 4186, Trevor Corbett 03 314 6836 or John Hartnell 021 578 754.

AFB course and test - The Canterbury Branch of the National Beekeepers Association is running an American Foulbrood course and test on Saturday 22 November at the St Johns Rooms, Ashburton at 1pm. The registration form must be returned by 5 November 2008. The course will take beekeepers through what you need to know to pass the test and detect American Foulbrood in beehives. It will be based on the book ‘Elimination of AFB without feeding drugs' - commonly known as the yellow book. This book can be obtained from The Secretary, NBA, 10 Nikau Place, Otaki or from Ecroyd Beekeeping Supplies. The test will commence at 4pm for those who do not wish to attend the full course. Access registration form here.

AFB required - Frames containing AFB are wanted for the AFB Course and Test on Saturday 22 November in Ashburton. If anyone comes across AFB could you please contact Roger Bray 03 308 4934. Roger would like beekeepers to give him a call to arrange collection and storage etc. He has been granted the necessary permits to allow for this to happen. If you have not completed this course your DEKA will be suspended, please support this important requirement of the AFB Pest Management Strategy.

Your notices - Contact Shona Sluys at ssluys@fedfarm.org.nz or 0800 327 646 if you would like a meeting or notices included in The BIG Picture.

Member discounts - Remember to make sure that you show your Federated Farmers membership card when accessing member discounts.

Contracts and agreements - Federated Farmers offers a range of contracts and agreements discounted to members. These include: employment, lease, contractor, sales and purchase, agreements to grow, log books, access pads, and over dimension certificates. Order contacts and agreements online, or call 0800 327 646.

Contact us - New members to Federated Farmers Bees are welcome. As with any organisation or group there are meetings and opportunities to participate in discussion groups. Join Federated Farmers Bees and have your say on the future of beekeeping in New Zealand; there are plenty of challenges ahead.

If you have any questions or comments about matters in this newsletter, contact one of the team or Shona Sluys, ssluys@fedfarm.org.nz or 0800 327 646.