apis m e-newsletter

Latest News from Project Apis m.

Visit us on the Web at www.projectapism.org

Welcome to the first edition of the Project Apis m. Newsletter.

What is Project Apis m? A non-profit organization founded in December 2006, Project Apis m is focused on finding practical solutions to beekeepers' challenges by supporting practical, results-oriented in-field research. PAm brings together representatives of the American Honey Producers Association (APHA), the American Beekeeping Federation (ABF), the National Honey Board (NHB), California State Beekeepers Association (CSBA), and California almond farmers. PAm includes representatives from both the pollination and crop production enterprises.

Feb. 6, 2008

Project Apis m. (PAm) helps beekeepers with virus screening - - Project Apis m (PAm) has pledged $30,000 to support the purchase of IVDS (Integrated Virus Detection System) equipment. In addition to support from PAm, the Almond Board of California, California State Beekeepers Association, California Bee Breeders and the Idaho Honey Producers have contributed toward this project. The IVDS equipment involves an expensive detection device engineered by the Army that can detect virus particles and particle sizes. It represents a creative cross-over technology, originally built for virus screening of humans, but now with tremendous value in assisting with furthering our knowledge of Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD). In addition, it can be used for breeding purposes to screen out bees with viruses in a breeding program. This equipment should be in place and available for sample screening by early March, 2008, under the direction of Dave Wick, Biological Virus Screening, Inc. (BVS, Inc.) and Dr. Jerry Bromenshenk (Bee Alert, Inc. and U of Montana). A donation to PAm of $40 per sample to be screened is being requested. This money will be re-directed to the IVDS working group to assist in covering the significant operating expenses necessary to provide this service to beekeepers. Please contact Dave Wick (mrwick@bvs-inc.us) or Jerry Bromenshenk (beeresearch@aol.com) for the protocol for sending in samples.
PAm approves third-party testing of SuperBoost brood pheromone - - At its January 29, 2008 Board meeting, PAm’s Board of Directors approved a proposal by Dr. Frank Eischen, USDA-ARS, Weslaco, TX, to test SuperBoost, Pherotech’s brood pheromone in honey bee colonies in almond orchards this pollination season. PAm was pleased Dr. Eischen could prepare the proposal and plan to implement this study within days of the request by PAm’s board, thus underscoring PAm’s commitment to efficiency and proactive efforts to find solutions and answers to beekeepers concerns in a timely manner. This objective, third-party test of SuperBoost will answer for beekeepers just how well the use of a brood pheromone serves to increase pollen foraging. Treatments include both large- and small-sized colonies as well as packaged bees. Results will be posted to PAm’s website.
Project Apis m. (PAm) rolls out its first color brochure at the National Beekeeping Conference held in Sacramento - - After being in existence almost exactly one year, PAm rolled out its first color brochure at the National Beekeeping Conference held at the DoubleTree Hotel in Sacramento, CA, January 8-12, 2008. This meeting consisted of a joint meeting of the American Honey Producers Association and the American Beekeeping Federation. In addition to this joint convention, the annual meetings of the American Bee Research Conference, the American Association of Professional Apiculturists, the Apiary Inspectors of America and the National Honey Packers and Dealers Association were also held. Project Apis m.’s Board Chairman, Dan Cummings, discussed PAm’s research focus and current projects on Friday, January 11, and then participated in the “Pollination 2008” Panel, moderated by PAm Board member Joe Traynor. The conference was a success, with over 1,600 in attendance. Research from the top scientists in the country was presented. Colony Collapse Disorder, varroa control, and bee nutrition were just a few of the numerous topics presented and discussed. PAm is in front of the curve in accessing Specialty Crop funding for beekeeping research. On the first day of the conference, Richard Adee of the American Honey Producers Association discussed the potential availability of federal Specialty Crop funding for bee research. PAm, in its first few months as an organization, applied for and received California Department of Food and Agriculture Specialty Crop funds to develop quick in-field tests to assess honey bee health.
PAm undertakes test of Australian packages -- At its October 3, 2007 Board meeting, PAm’s Board of Directors were given the top-line results of research by Dr. Frank Eischen, USDA-ARS, Weslaco, TX, on pollen collection by Australian package bees (AUS). The list of treatments in ascending order of pollen collected were : US 4-frame; US 6-frame; AUS colony established Dec06 from 4-lb pkg; US 4-frame + 4lb AUS pkg; US 8-frame; US 4-frame + US 4-frame (2 united 4-frames); US 10-frame; and US 14-frame. AUS colonies were small in strength and only grew slightly during bloom. They may handle pollen traps differently than US colonies. Complete results along with the materials and methods of the test should be published in the coming weeks.
A Sample Pollination Contract is available Click here to download (Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader) "The sample form is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as providing you with legal advice. Any use of the form should be made only after considering whether modification is required in light of your circumstances. Any questions regarding its use, completion or modification should be addressed to your legal adviser. "
Project Apis m awarded CDFA grant for research - - The California Department of Food and Agriculture has awarded a two-year, $100,000 grant to Project Apis m to develop field level testing on the health of honeybee hives. Click here to read the entire press release.
Colony collapse creates buzz at bee conference. Beekeepers and researchers discuss threat facing nation's 2.5 million colonies - - More than a year after it was first discovered, colony collapse disorder remains a mystery to bee researchers and a source of high anxiety for the nation's beekeepers. At a national bee conference here Thursday, a standing room only audience listened as beekeepers and researchers discussed the challenges of the disease, which threatens the nation's 2.5 million bee colonies and the billions of agricultural crops that they pollinate. Colony collapse disorder, known as CCD, causes a rapid loss of the adult bee population. Dr. Jeff Pettis, who heads up the research team at the USDA's Agricultural Research Service Bee Research Lab in Beltsville, Md., said the key for researchers is to look at the interactions of the various stressors to get to the bottom of colony collapse disorder. He said CCD is likely an interaction.<more> Jan. 11, 2008 Capital Press
Honey bee research is long-term solution to almond industry’s growing pollination needs - - California’s almond bearing acreage is expected to mushroom about 22 percent in the next five years, from 615,000 bearing acres in the 2006-2007 crop year to 750,000 bearing acres in 2011. Yet what’s a stinging concern in the side of almond growers is whether adequate and healthy honey bee numbers will be available for crucial pollination every spring. Research is a fundamental answer to honey bee issues, including the so-called colony collapse (CCD) disorder that killed millions of bees over the last few years. There is no single answer to the massive bee die-off that helped push colony rental prices up to the $135 per hive range during the 2006-2007 almond season. “For almond growers, the price of colonies of bees has tripled in the last five years. It has become quite a significant cost of our operations,” said Dan Cummings, owner and general manager of Cummings-Violich, Inc., Chico, Calif., which manages 7,000 acres of almonds and walnuts. Cummings is also co-owner of Olivarez Honey Bees, an apiary business. <more> Jan. 16, 2008 Western Farm Press

Subscribe Have a friend who would like Project Apis m News delivered directly to their email in-box? Email Mark Looker at mllooker@ainet.com and request their email address be added to the mailing list.

Unsubscribe. We respect your right to privacy. If you are receiving this message in error or would like to be removed from the mailing list, please contact Mark Looker at mllooker@ainet.com and request removal.

Got News? Please send us your news item to Christi Heintz christi@projectapism.org

Donations. Suggested contribution: A buck a hive - beekeeper and grower. Write this contribution for research into your pollination contracts. Send your tax deductible contribution to:

Project Apis m.
1750 Dayton Rd.
Chico, CA 95928