Honey Producers and Importers Vote to Continue National Research and Promotion Program
Honey may become a staple ingredient in the growing snack food market.
Recent research funded by the national Honey Board found that honey
enhanced browning and added flavor to low-fat and fat-free snacks. |
The USDA Agricultural Marketing Service reports that 82% of the honey producers and importers voting
in an August referendum favored continuing the national research and promotion program. Those favoring
the referendum produced or imported 77% of the honey sold in the United States.
To continue, the program required 1) approval by a simple majority of voters, and 2) those voting in favor
had to produce or import more than 50% of the honey entering the U.S. market.
The National Honey Board administers the program which is funded by an assessment of one cent per
pound on honey produced commercially in the United States and on imported honey. The program's
goal is to raise honey consumption.
Recently, the Honey Board sponsored a study by the Department of Food Science and Technology
at the University of Nebraska to use honey in extruded low-fat and fat-free snacks. The study focused
on how honey could enhance browning, flavor and visual appeal in extruded snacks. Researchers
developed optimized formulas for three extruded products: a non-expanded multi grain chip, an expanded
corn-curl product, and a semi- expanded, high temperature toasted bread stick. Of the three products
developed and tested with honey, the multi grain chips and corn curls produced the best results in
preference tests. Honey enhanced the browning effect and imparted a distinct yet subtle honey flavor.
The added bonus of honey's wholesome reputation will appeal to consumers' health-conscious preferences
for reduced-fat snacks. The Board provides the results of sponsored studies to food processors, beekeepers
and honey packers upon request.
Watch for honey recipe contests in the October and January issues of Redbook and McCall's magazines,
respectively. The grand prize is $1000. Prizes of cookware, cooking baskets, and the Honey Board's new
low-fat cookbook will also be awarded. In addition to sponsoring research and advertising, the Honey Board
has a new publication describing 26 promotional items available to producers to enhance their honey sales.
For more information, write the National Honey Board, 390 Lashley Street, Longmont, CO 80501-6010 or call:
800-553-7162.
Avoid Potential for Varroa Mite Resistance; Use Chemical Control Measures Strategically
When varroa and resistance are mentioned in the same phrase, most beekeepers dream of bees
resistant to mite injury. The long-term goal of many researchers and beekeepers is to develop bees
that resist varroa; however, a bigger short-term varroa resistance issue is the possibility of varroa
developing resistance to fluvalinate (Apistanr). Varroa mite control will become very difficult if this
product can't be used. Varroa resistance to fluvalinate has already appeared in Italy. An article
published in Apidologie by Lodesani and his colleagues reported that in 1992, the effectiveness
of Apistanr was only 44.5% in northern Italy. Miticide resistance has also occurred with products
used to control crop pest mites. Resistance management is essential to prolong the useful life of
fluvalinate.
Varroa mites on brood comb. Resistance management is critical to protecting bees
from miticide failures. |
Varroa resistance to miticides could result in widespread colony population crashes
as shown in the remains of this once prosperous colony. |
Resistance develops because individual varroa mites differ in their tolerance to a given miticide.
Repeated use of any single miticide removes the susceptible individuals from the population, leaving
only the most resistant mites to reproduce. Over time, as each new generation is selected, the
percentage of resistant individuals increases. Over enough time, the overall level of resistance in
the pest population can be expected to increase to the point where the miticide fails to provide
adequate control.
It's difficult to predict how long it will take for resistance to develop because resistance is affected
by many factors: number of applications per year, number of mite generations per year, varroa
movement from untreated colonies, miticide efficacy and mode of action, application dosage
and thoroughness of application coverage. However, scientists believe that beekeepers can
reduce the rate of resistance development by using a resistance management strategy. Special
precautions that need to be taken to prolong the useful life of fluvalinate include:
- Reduce the selection pressure on mite populations. The most important way to manage
for miticide resistance is to reduce the selection pressure on mite populations. Monitor colonies
for mites, and take management action only when numbers exceed treatment thresholds. We
still have much to learn about treatment thresholds, however, the best information available
suggests that, in the Midwest, beekeepers should treat in the spring when mites are detected.
Fall treatments should be made only when mite levels exceed five mites per jar on an ether roll
test conducted in August.
- Do not leave Apistan strips in colonies longer than the prescribed treatment period. Leaving
strips in colonies throughout the year provides a constant selection pressure. Under constant
treatment, only highly resistant mites will live to reproduce. Constant selection pressure would be
the method of choice for a mite breeder seeking to breed mites resistant to fluvalinate.
- Do not reuse strips. While some active ingredient remains in used strips, the amount is often
inadequate for controlling enough mites to prevent colony injury. When less than 95% of Varroa
mites are controlled by a treatment, Varroa populations rebound quickly.
- Do not treat bees with fluvalinate formulations that are not labeled for bees. Lodesani and his
colleagues reported that widespread use of formulations not labeled for bees contributed to the
rapid development of fluvalinate resistance in Italy. Varroa was first detected in Italy in 1981.
Various products for controlling Varroa were registered including Folbex VA, Apitol, Apivar and Perizin.
Nevertheless, operators often complemented or replaced the strategies and legally adopted drugs
with other products or treatments. Products based on fluvalinate were not authorized for use in
beekeeping but were widely administered. In 1989, these practices were largely curtailed when
Apistan was registered, however, by 1992, Apistan failed to control 95% or more of the mites in
79.5% of the colonies tested.
- If alternate miticides become available, rotate between different miticides. Do not combine
treatments. It is much better to rotate or alternate treatments. Formic acid is registered for use in
Canada. If it is registered in the U.S. (which appears likely), incorporate it into your resistance
management plan.
- Use biological means of mite reduction when feasible. Place drone combs in colonies and
remove them when sealed to lower mite loads.
- Cull combs carefully. By reducing the amount of drone combs available to colonies, beekeepers
can reduce the Varroa population growth rate.
- Discourage robbing in your apiaries. Robbing exposes your colonies to mite invasion from
nearby apiaries and wild colonies. Mite invasion reduces the time interval between treatments.
Place entrance reducers on colonies in the spring and fall when robbing is most likely to occur.
Do not open feed or stack wet supers in the open for bees to rob. Interestingly, the movement
of Varroa from untreated colonies will theoretically slow down selection for miticide resistance,
however this must be balanced with the increased frequency of treatment required when mite
invasion occurs.
Unfortunately, many beekeepers are better mite breeders than bee breeders. Protect your beekeeping tools
by incorporating miticide resistance management principles into your beekeeping management.
Plan Sugar Feeding to Achieve Specific Goals
If temperatures drop below 550 degrees F., place feed pails directly on the top bars
above the cluster and cover the feeders with an empty hive body or winter carton. |
A two-gallon plastic pail prepared for fall feeding. |
Candy lids can be made by adding 25 pounds of sugar to a quart of boiling water.
Candy is cast into 2" rims and allowed to cool. The hard candy board is then placed
directly above the cluster. |
Spring feeding should stimulate brood rearing. A slow influx of thin syrup
or nectar combined with a good supply of pollen is best for colony growth. Too much
nectar or syrup can jam the nest during expansion. |
Before feeding bees sugar, carefully consider what you are trying to accomplish. Following are some reasons
to feed bees sugar:
- Adding food reserves to colonies.
- Stimulating the queen to lay and expand the colony population.
- Stimulating bees to lavishly feed newly grafted queen larvae.
- Stimulating nest cleaning and recovery from diseases, parasites, pesticide injury, or a poor honey flow season.
- Aiding newly hived packages to draw foundation.
Your management objective will determine when to feed, how much to feed, the type of feeder to use, and
the desired syrup concentration. As an example, fall winter and spring feeding recommendations are compared.
Late fall feeding to add weight
Strong honey bee colonies require about 55 pounds of honey to overwinter in Nebraska. A colony in 2
deep hive bodies that weigh 125 pounds will contain 55 pounds of honey. The best time to feed bees to
add weight is in the fall. (Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 is ideal.) Use a feeder that allows the bees to take the syrup
quickly, and keep the feeder full constantly until the bees have added sufficient weight. Make a thick
syrup by dissolving two parts sugar in one part boiling water. Use a feeder that allows the bees to remove
the syrup as quickly as possible. Your goal is to plug the nest with syrup quickly before the queen, who is
stimulated to lay by the incoming syrup, has an opportunity to fill the nest with eggs. A feeder that allows
only slow removal of syrup or intermittent feeding, which allows a feeder to remain empty for a period before
being refilled, often results in colonies that convert feed into brood in excess of their needs. Colonies fed to
125 lbs. in late fall can be packed away and forgotten about until mid-March.
One or two gallon plastic pail feeders inverted over a hole in the lid or inner cover make good feeders for
adding weight. Drill a 1/2" hole in the pail lid and cover the hole with a 2" by 2" window screen mesh.
Embed the screen into the plastic lid by running an electric soldering iron around the edge of the screen.
If temperatures are below 55 degrees F., place the pail(s) directly on the top bars above the cluster and
cover the feeder with an empty hive body or winter carton.
Emergency winter feeding
Emergency winter feeding is stressful to both bees and beekeepers. Fall feeding to add weight not
only provides food stores, it also provides a heat sink which moderates temperature fluctuations in the
hive. Colonies that are wintered on low food reserves are subjected to more stress. Colonies only
require about 3 pounds of honey per month to winter when no brood rearing is occurring; therefore
most colonies do not starve until late winter or early spring when they begin brood rearing and accelerate
honey consumption. However, waiting until spring to add the necessary weight usually gives unsatisfactory
results. The bees are more stressed from winter and they have often restricted brood rearing to conserve stores.
In general, it is best to avoid emergency winter syrup feeding. Manipulating and curing syrup requires a
lot of activity. Activity generates waste, and bees need to take cleansing flights to void their waste when
they are active. Winter weather is usually not conducive to cleansing flights. The best way to provide
emergency stores is to add supers or combs of honey. Be sure the honey came from colonies that were
free of American Foulbrood. If combs of honey are not available, candy lids can be made by boiling a
quart of water and adding 25 pounds of sugar. This will require a lot of stirring and a lot of heat. Candy is
cast into 2" rims and allowed to cool. The hard candy board is placed directly above the cluster. Making
these once in your kitchen will motivate you to remember to fall feed next year. It is a lot of work and mess.
Beekeepers who routinely make candy boards have gas burners and mechanical agitators to facilitate the
process. Be sure to remove the candy lid in the spring before the bees fill the empty space with comb.
Another emergency measure is to remove the lid, place newspaper over the exposed top bars, place a 2"
rim on the newspaper, fill the rim with granulated sugar and replace the lid. The sugar will absorb moisture
from the cluster and form hard candy-like stores. These can be a mess to work around when doing spring
work in your apiary.
Spring feeding to stimulate the queen
Spring feeding is a beekeeping tool to accelerate colony build-up. Use a thin syrup (one part water to one
part syrup) to stimulate the queen to expand her brood nest faster than she normally would. Use a feeder
that does not allow the bees to take a lot of syrup in a short time. A tin or plastic pail with two small nail
holes in the lid inverted over a hole in the lid or inner cover serves this purpose. You want the bees to
take about a pint of syrup every day. Too much syrup coming in too fast will plug up the nest and retard
colony expansion (more is not always better). Feeding syrup early in the season will encourage swarming
if colonies are not divided or otherwise managed for the control of swarming.
Know your management goals and schedule feeding accordingly. You want to peak your colony populations
June 1 - June 10 for maximum productivity in eastern Nebraska and by June 15 in other regions of the state.
Fall is the optimum time for drawing foundation
Fall is an ideal time to draw new foundation. Populous colonies that are very low on winter reserves
are excellent resources for drawing foundation. These colonies cannot be wintered economically,
and are best used to draw combs and store syrup before they starve. In general, it is not practical
to feed bees enough to overwinter them if they have no reserves going into the fall.
To draw foundation in the fall, remove the comb drawing colonies from their hive stands and replace
them with a deep super of foundation and a division board feeder. Then, remove the combs and
shake all of the bees on the ground at the hive entrance. Fill the division board feeder with syrup,
and keep it full until all the comb is drawn and filled. The process is like hiving an extremely large
package or swarm. After combs are drawn and filled with syrup, the bees can be shaken out to
perish and the new combs stored for use the following spring. Bees, like other livestock, must be
culled and selected if beekeepers expect to have good winter hardy stocks.
Shaking bees to foundation releases a tremendous amount of the colony's energy for comb building.
Combs drawn in late fall using this method are invariably free from drone cells. Most beekeepers
draw new combs in the spring, and if flows are not intense, end up with drone combs in some frames.
Also, colonies develop much slower when they have to draw foundation so providing colonies with
frames of syrup accelerates colony development. While this method may not be suitable for beekeepers
with only a few hives, it provides beekeepers with larger numbers of stocks a way to use stock they
cull from their operations to perform one last valuable service.
Subscription Information
Bee Tidings is published jointly by University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension and the Nebraska
Honey Producer's Association six times a year. A subscription includes membership to the association.
Subscriptions are for one year and begin with the November issue.
To subscribe to Bee Tidings, send a $10 check made out to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln along
with your name, address, and phone number to:
-
- Bee Tidings
- Box 830918
- University of Nebraska-Lincoln
- Lincoln, NE 68583-0918
- This newsletter was respectfully written by:
-
- Marion D. Ellis
- 209 Plant Industry, Box 830816
- University of Nebraska
- Lincoln, NE 68583-0816
- Phone: 402-472-8696
- Fax: 402-472-4687
- Internet address: mellis@unlinfo.unl.edu
Your comments and suggestions about the newsletter are always welcome.
