Latest News from Project Apis m.
Visit us on the Web at
www.ProjectApism.org
September 1, 2009
Welcome to the latest edition of the Project
Apis m. Newsletter
What is Project Apis m (PAm)? A
non-profit organization focused on finding practical solutions to beekeepers'
challenges by supporting practical, results-oriented in-field research.
-
PAm website now includes almond industry
updates - - If you are a
commercial beekeeper, thoughts on the health of the almond industry are not
far from your mind. PAm has now added to its website an almond
update. Currently, you can learn about almond pricing. In the future, you
will find pricing updates and good, solid information about the status of
the almond industry. Visit our home page at
www.ProjectApism.org and click on the almond image.
- PAm-sponsored research on HFCS
makes the news - - You’ve had access to the same information on PAm’s
website for over a year, but hitting the news right now is research
performed by Dr. Blaise LeBlanc and Dr. Diana Sammataro at the USDA-ARS Carl
S. Hayden Bee Lab in Tucson on high fructose corn syrup (HFCS). A recent
publication in the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry has
prompted wider distribution of the results of one of PAm’s first research
projects. Here’s the bottom line: hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) is a toxin
and it can be formed when HFCS warms to temperatures that can easily be
reached in field conditions. Watch your temperatures, adding new syrup to
older syrup in tanks, and the types of containers you use.
Click
here for HFCS storage guidelines.
- Preliminary results show bees
live longer on sucrose vs. HFCS - - Dr. Sammataro and group are
continuing their work on HFCS vs. sucrose feeding of bees. Bees on sucrose
lived 28 days; bees on HFCS lived 16 days. The HFCS did not have high
levels of HMF. Results are preliminary, but interesting. About 200 bees
per treatment were tested.
Click
here for more information.
- The latest marker for CCD
- - Thanks to the honey bee genome project, researchers from the U of
Illinois and USDA have found a difference in gene expression between CCD and
non-CCD colonies. They found considerable amounts of ribosomal RNA fragments
in CCD colonies. And viruses too. Ribosomes make proteins. If you have
trouble synthesizing proteins you’re likely to be more susceptible to
viruses and other stressors. Advancements in science provide us more tools
that help us dig deeper, but we truly do not have the smoking gun for CCD
yet. Several of PAm’s research projects are providing more information
about viruses, though. Because mites vector those viruses, keep a keen eye
on those mites.
Click here for more information on the U of Illinois study.
- Quick summary of the EAS and
WAS meetings –-The Eastern
Apicultural Society (EAS) met August 3-7 in Ellicottville, NY, followed by the
Western Apicultural Society (WAS) meeting in Healdsburg, CA, August 17-21.
The EAS theme was reducing the dependence upon chemicals in hives. There
were several excellent presentations on pesticides from Drs. Maryann Frazier
(PSU), Reed Johnson (U of Nebraska), and Jennifer Berry (U of GA). Glenn
Card’s presentation on Migratory Beekeeping was fascinating. Though WAS
attendance leaned heavily toward Bay Area hobby beekeepers, the event drew
some highly informative speakers. Dr. Michelle Flenniken (UCSF) provided an
update on the bee pathogen chip project, Beth Kahkonen impressed the group
with the numerous studies being conducted at WSU Pullman, and Sue Cobey (UCD)
reminded us most of our bee problems can be solved with a good breeding
program. PAm has contributed funding toward Frazier’s pesticide surveys, to
the bee pathogen chip project, WSU’s program and Sue Cobey’s invaluable
breeding program. WAS presentations on nutrition and honey by Drs. Liz
Applegate and also Ron Fessenden were pleasant diversions from the more
technical bee biology presentations.
- Effort launched to focus on
microbial flora of the honey bee colony - - the natural microbial
community in a colony is established early in the development of the hive
and is vital in the interaction of food sources, food storage and bee
health. Know the status of the microbes in the colony and you have a good
indication as to the health of the colony. In an effort to advance
awareness of this concept and to solicit federal funding for more research
in this area, the “Healthy Hive Initiative” has been developed. Contact
Russell Vreeland rvreeland@wcupa.edu
and Gloria DeGrandi-Hoffman gloria.hoffman@ars.usda.gov
for more about this interesting project.
- Donate
now to PAm! -- Why PAm? Because PAm funds
bee research that is selected and guided by beekeepers. We are suggesting
$1 per colony to support PAm's research efforts that seek to find
practical solutions for managed colonies. Click
here to donate.
If you
sent hives to Paramount Farming Co. orchards during the 2009 pollination
season, Paramount will generously match your contribution to PAm,
dollar-for-dollar. Write your check to PAm, send it our address below,
and include a note that you were a Paramount beekeeper. “A buck a hive” becomes
two bucks and will go a long way to help resolve our many bee challenges. Do
your part, and Paramount will help!
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Got News?
Please send us your news item to Christi Heintz
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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