Apis Newsletter Posted

See the latest Apis newsletter, which includes Gleanings from the August 2008 Bee Culture magazine.

Friday was occupied by a number of sessions. Dr. Larry Connor’s Serious Sideliner Symposium began and was held opposite the final presentations of the American Bee Research Conference. At the same time, the general session sported presentations on the futures of the current and proposed honey board and predictions about the state of the almond pollination industry from both beekeepers and almond growers (also themselves beekeepers). I presented some information on discussion lists and web sites in the sideliner session, and attended discussions in the ABRC of queen mating efficiency and sperm cyopreservation. There appear to be significant advances in the knowledge in the latter.

Joe Traynor, the industry’s traditional pollination “broker” (he prefers the term “contractor”) provided hints on the season; set a price around $140 - $150 and then communicate with your customers and don’t flinch. His advice was also seconded by others that now the word is out that pollination matters and beekeepers should not be shy about asking for a rental price that is appropriate. Each year there is significant “agitation” this time of year as both beekeepers and growers try to “read the tea leaves” with respect to supply and demand for bees. For everyone’s sake, all recommended coming to terms as early as possible (June- July if possible) to ensure the best experience for all.

The almond prices continue to support the bee industry; they are responsible for the income to beekeepers from pollination outstripping income from honey production. The almond board too deserves credit for keeping the price and demand up. However, there are clouds on the horizon. The weak dollar means that those purchasing with Euros are getting a big break and the actual market price peaked last year at about $3.00/lb and now has settled at about $1.75..still high, but not at record levels. No one knows what this might portend, however, another 50,000 acres of almonds is due to come online in the next few years. I remember the interest in Australia in almonds and hearing that that country too is eyeing the market that California has developed.

Of special significance to beekeepers is the development of an organization called Project Apis Mellifera <http://www.projectapism.org/> a development by almond growers in cooperation with beekeepers. This is an non-profit given over to bee research, inspired by almond growers who see their health intricately associated with bee keepers. The suggested donation to fund the various projects (see the web site) is $1/hive for both grower and beekeeper. At the present time donations are 2 to 1 in favor of almond growers. Dan Cummings, former Chair of the Almond Board, and now Chair of Project Apis Mellifera, discussed the advantage of doing research via this non-profit, useful because turn around time is quick and the Project can literally begin a study in literally hours as compared to other bureaucracies that take much longer.

The final presentations of the day began with an explanation by trade attorney Micheal Coursey concerning U.S. Customs and the fact that much of the money in duties owed by importers was not being collected. A new kind of honey “packers blend” has been developed by the Chinese to creatively get around countervailing duties.

A representative of U.S. Customs discussed Country of Origin Labeling and how this was being ramped up with reference to honey. A limiting factor is lack of suitable samples for controls from various countries, but that is being rectified in the future. One of the issues reported by Richard Adee in another situation was the Chinese use of “packer blend” honey; this ultra filtered product the Chinese say is less than 50% honey and so no countervailing duty is needed; however, it really is honey and so this represents an elegant way to avoid paying the duty.

A panel on the prospects of the world honey market discussed a number of issues from prognostications on the world crop (Argentina is thought to have a small crop, but this has surprised folks in the past), Brazil is ramping up export (its honey was not allowed into Europe but now that has been rectified). The world price appears to still be stable at best around $.50/lb. Richard Adee in an earlier presentation related that the honey loan deficiency payments in the new Farm Bill would probably be between $.52 and $.72 per pound. A big problem in the domestic market according to Dwight Stoller of Golden Heritage foods is that much of U.S. honey cannot be exported because it contains unacceptable levels of tylosin, a potential wake up call for all beekeepers in the country.

George Hanson provided a report on The Foundation for the Preservation of Honey Bees, Inc. <http://www.honeybeepreservation.org/>. Six students around the nation were supported by the Foundation by providing each with $2,000. Reports from these studies were given during the American Bee Research Conference. The luncheon honoring the students was keynoted by a spirited speech on scientific ethics and career prospects by retired USDA researcher, Dr. William T. Wilson. “Bill” was introduced using the words I wrote regarding his retirement at the meeting of the American Beekeeping Federation in the year 2000 http://home.earthlink.net/~beeactor/papers_htm/Meetings/ABF%20Meets%20in%20Fort%20Worth.htm

Dr. Marla Spivak discussed her concept of developing a bee lab as part of construction of a new natural history museum on the U. of Minnesota St. Paul campus in a place that is very near the outdated “honey house.” She is embarking on a fund raising effort to find donors interested in an attached honey bee exhibit to the museum.

Finally, Colin Stewart of USDA APHIS provided an effort to discuss the current status of importing bees and bee products. He was taken to task by many for what a lot of beekeepers see as inconsistent policy decisions by APHIS with reference to stock and semen importation. He said that the new research he had seen at the conference was a real eye opener and the kind he and his agency needed to make informed decisions. A special case is the existence of quantities of imported Chinese pollen in U.S. warehouses that APHIS seemed unaware of. Much of this pollen has been sterilized by irradiation, but some is not leading to several raised eyebrows and questions about the adequacy of irradiation and its impact on the pollen’s ability to nourish honey bees. The session ended with few agreements by APHIS and attending beekeepers exacerbated by an obvious problem of lack of communication between the two parties.

Thursday's Events

Thursday January 10, 2008 was given over to the topic of the year Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD). Although there continues to be no “smoking gun” in determining the cause of this, researchers are turning big research “guns” toward the project. Perhaps most innovative is Bee Alert Technology’s Integrated Virus Detection System (IVDS) <http://www.bvs-inc.us/honey_bees.htm>.

The American Bee Research Conference (ABRC) also began in conjunction with the American Association of Professional Apiculturists (AAPA). Traditionally these abstracts will be published in an upcoming issue of American Bee Journal. Concurrent to these presentations were updates on the University of California, Davis bee project (H.H. Laidlaw Bee Lab) and reviews from all the USDA bee laboratories. The afternoon culminated in a tour of the U.C. Davis bee lab.

January 8, 2008

The whole day was given over to the First International Symposium on Honey and Human Health <http://apitherapy.blogspot.com/2007/12/usa-program-of-1st-international.html>
. This was sponsored by The Committee for the Promotion of Honey and Health, Inc. <http://www.prohoneyandhealth.com/custom.aspx?id=4>.

This delightful event was put together supported by a number of sponsors. As part of the event, the Committee put up a web site and invited several internationally known researchers to present their findings.

This information was billed as the first of its kind presented anywhere and the objective was to move research on honey into a different plane as explained by Dr. Ron Phipps who moderated the session and is co-Chair of the Committee.

Dr. Stephan Bogdanov began the symposium with a comprehensive review of the literature on human nutrition and health. Dr. Bogdanov has spent a long time at the Swiss Bee Research Center in Switzerland http://www.apis.admin.ch and is responsible for initiating the International Honey Commission, which boasts about 100 members, several from the U.S.

Mike Mcinnis discussed the uniqueness of honey. He and his son published The Hibernation Diet. Relating a number of studies revealing how glucose metabolism in humans is regulated, including the glucose-fatty acid cycle and metabolism, which inhibits fat metabolism. Of special significance is the consequence of honey consumption that facilitates sleep. Although originally a work oriented toward weight loss, there is evidence that honey consumed at bedtime insures adequate liver glycogen stores, stablizes blood sugar level and contributes to melatonin release and this restorative sleep.

Jessica Beiler revealed that controlled studies show that honey is better at suppressing coughs than over-the-counter medications. Not only was this curative for children, but also for the parents.

Kirsten Traynor provided a comprehensive history of honey’s role in human health from early cave drawings through use in Sumerian and Roman times, by ancient Egyptians and finally early into the twentieth Century. Other presentations showed that with the avent of antibiotics, the medical establishment gave over soley to these at the expense of earlier, more traditional medicine like use of honey.

Other presentations revealed intriguing information about how honey contains beneficial lactic bacteria (Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium), originating from honey bees, how honey could have an effect on improving human cognition and potential weight gain. Dr. David Behr of theUSDA revealed graphic statistics about the incidence of obesity and type 2 diabetes and potential for honey use in this environment; he noted that many studies need to be done with better models and more statistical controls. Honey use by diabetics continues to be recommended in some instances as it is metabolized more quickly and clears the blood stream more rapidly. Finally, Dr. Shona Blair provided excellent evidence that in many situations, where honey has been applied as a last resort and has cleared up many serious conditions, there seems little reason for waiting so long to use honey. That in fact a better strategy is to use honey first, then broad spectrum antibiotics only if the honey doesn’t work as advertised. This would keep the current situation with respect to bacterial resistance emerging so quickly under control.

In summary, Dr. Ron Fessenden, M.D. provided a nice summary of the kind of research that will be needed in the future to move honey treatment out of the dressing room and onto the playing field. Dr. Fessenden it seems found some converts at this seminar, but of course he was “speaking to the choir.” It is thought the next edition of the Hibernation Diet, published in the U.S. (First edition was published in the UK) perhaps with a different name, might convince others that nutrition and wellness based on a natural substance like honey should be looked at by physicians instead of the current focus on diseases (what has gone wrong with the body.) This seminar was a welcome addition to much material already published. It now will be up to those attending this event to enroll others in the various salutary uses of honey.

I am about to depart for the National Beekeeping Conference to be held in Sacramento, CA from 7 through 13 January 2008. This is a landmark event as both the American Honey Producers Assocation (AHPA)<http://www.americanhoneyproducers.org/> and The American Beekeeping Federation (ABF) <http://abfnet.org/> are meeting at the same place at the same time. These two organizations have been at odds for a number of years and so this represents a beginning of sorts of cooperation between the two groups. Also at this event are meeting the American Association of Professional Apiculturists (AAPA) <http://entomology.ucdavis.edu/aapa/index.cfm> and the Apiary Inspectors of America (AIA) <http://www.apiaryinspectors.org/>. Finally the American Bee Research Conference (ABRC), and brand new Honey and Human Health Association <http://www.prohoneyandhealth.com/UserFiles/image/Symposium_2(1).pdf>. For many of the above organizations, I have written a piece about what many of the acronyms above mean <http://www.beeculture.com/storycms/index.cfm?cat=Story&recordID=444>.

I have done a number of reviews of the meetings of the American Beekeeping Federation over the years. For specific articles, see my vita at <http://squidoo.com/apis>. The 1995 meeting in Portland I subtitled it; “Has The Federation Come Full Circle?”

“The last American Beekeeping Federation (ABF) meeting in Portland, Oregon was in 1969. It was a momentous one according to all accounts. For it marked the secession of a cadre of members that became the American Honey Producers Association (AHPA). Ever since then, this group has vied with the Federation for the hearts, minds and dues of the United States beekeeper. The division resulted in two national associations walking the halls of the nation’s capital, each seeking to represent a very small beekeeping industry, but often with a different message. It took a long time and common foe, Chinese honey, to finally get both groups to cooperate once again. This culminated in the successful anti-dumping suit that almost doubled the price of bulk honey. Only time will tell, however, whether this auspicious beginning, a celebration of elevated honey prices in Portland in 1996, will bring the Federation full circle culminating in a reunion with the AHPA.

This was premature. I will be interested to see how this second attempt to “bury the hatchet” goes.

End of The Australia Apimondia Congress

This brings to a close the end of my experiences associated with the 40th Apimondia Congress in Australia. There was much more as I stayed a week in Perth after the congress and then flew on the New Zealand, visiting beekeepers along the way and doing a presentation for the Nelson Branch of the New Zealand Beekeepers Association, finally visiting Airborne Honey, before flying back to the United States.

Day 16 – Post Congress Tour, Day 6- Denmark to Perth

The next morning we leave Denmark for the town of Albany. Here the British flag was first planted in 1826 in response to French activity along the coast. This was the major port in this part of the world until Fremantle near Perth was dredged and made ready for shipping. Wood chips, grain are major exports. We visit the war memorial where the Australia and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) left for Europe during WWI only to finally land in Egypt, and after a long respite, be defeated in the debacle known as the battle of Galipolli by the Turks. This began Australia and New Zealand’s cooperative military adventures, ending with the latest war in Iraq. 25 April is celebrated in both countries as ANZAC day.

Albany was also the last whaling port in Australia and a U.S. submarine base during WWII. We see a replica of the vessel that planted the flag the Amity, which along with the whaling station is now a tourist attraction. I have a scare in that I can’t find my camera; I packed it by mistake in my bag and find it at the rest stop on the Albany highway going to back to Perth.