BBKA magazine recommending open feeding?

[ericbeaumont]

there is a significant anti BBKA faction here, which I often feel uncomfortable with, but my original post was not in that vein. It was just a reaction to what I consider was an outlandish bit of advice in a publication that is often taken as gospel by new beekeepers.

how this new member feels reading posts that appear to insult, demean and show complete disrespect to other beekeepers

Look past the mob desire to reach for the pitchfork and see instead a real need to challenge the professionalism of those paid to inform beekeepers accurately.

The new Editor of the BBKA News has kept bees for nearly twenty years, runs 17 colonies and is a Director of Bee Diseases Insurance (BDI) which (among other matters) funds research into limiting the spread of honey bee disease. Anne Pike has also spent a career in communications, working as a newspaper journalist and as a BBC producer, and later in public relations and marketing.

If that experience cannot prevent dodgy copy going to print, what will?

 

[Erichalfbee]

Wow! I was about to create my New Member Introduction and I saw this new thread. I joined a couple of nights ago just before this discussion appears to have started. Having read through the thread I think the big boys don't pull their punches in the playground. My perception is that things can get a bit acrimonious to say the least. I will err on the side of caution and say nothing other than how this new member feels reading posts that appear to insult, demean and show complete disrespect to other beekeepers.... I made a mistake joining!

Please reconsider. This forum is a treasure trove of really good information. The subject of the discourse is really important and people get heated about it. If you extrapolate....the World is a good place to live in despite having lots of bad bits in it. Bit like us, here, really.

 

[user 20297]

Look past the mob desire to reach for the pitchfork and see instead a real need to challenge the professionalism of those paid to inform beekeepers accurately.

The new Editor of the BBKA News has kept bees for nearly twenty years, runs 17 colonies and is a Director of Bee Diseases Insurance (BDI) which (among other matters) funds research into limiting the spread of honey bee disease. Anne Pike has also spent a career in communications, working as a newspaper journalist and as a BBC producer, and later in public relations and marketing.

If that experience cannot prevent dodgy copy going to print, what will?

That's what I call, "carefully considered criticism". I particularly like the phrase, 'the mob desire to reach for the pitchfork".
More like that please folks.

 

[enrico]

Wow! I was about to create my New Member Introduction and I saw this new thread. I joined a couple of nights ago just before this discussion appears to have started. Having read through the thread I think the big boys don't pull their punches in the playground. My perception is that things can get a bit acrimonious to say the least. I will err on the side of caution and say nothing other than how this new member feels reading posts that appear to insult, demean and show complete disrespect to other beekeepers.... I made a mistake joining!

That is a pity. There is so much help and info on here. Winter brings on debate and discussion which, although not always healthy, does stimulate thought. It does get personal and it should not but we are a varied bunch from a myriad of backgrounds. The choice to go is of course yours but .... it would be a shame on the basis of one lively thread over a million good ones
Best of luck with your beekeeping

 

[user 20297]

That is a pity. There is so much help and info on here. Winter brings on debate and discussion which, although not always healthy, does stimulate thought. It does get personal and it should not but we are a varied bunch from a myriad of backgrounds. The choice to go is of course yours but .... it would be a shame on the basis of one lively thread over a million good ones
Best of luck with your beekeeping

I agree. As @enrico didn't say explicitly, there are a few twits (auto-correct saves the day ) on this forum just as you find elsewhere online and in the real world. But he is possibly the best example from many, of a wise and experienced beekeeper who shares balanced opinions and advice here.
As @Far2Old appears to be someone who appreciates politely delivered discussion and advice, I hope that they stay here and dilute the effect of the grumpy ones.

 

[JamezF]

Wow! I was about to create my New Member Introduction and I saw this new thread. I joined a couple of nights ago just before this discussion appears to have started. Having read through the thread I think the big boys don't pull their punches in the playground. My perception is that things can get a bit acrimonious to say the least. I will err on the side of caution and say nothing other than how this new member feels reading posts that appear to insult, demean and show complete disrespect to other beekeepers.... I made a mistake joining!

I think that on this particular subject at least, there's understandable cause. The practice of open feeding doesn't just have the potential to put your own bees at risk, but any belonging to other beekeepers that happen to find the food source, as well as any feral bees in the area.

Based on the figures from Beebase and assuming an even distribution it might be reasonable to assume there are at least a dozen apiaries within comfortable flying distance of my home apiary. I know of at least four feral colonies within the same distance along a single road so I'd have to assume there are many more, particularly as I collected two swarms (not from my colonies) in bait hives at home last season and there's no-one other than me keeping bees within half a mile or so that I'm aware of.

Around here we seem to be having a bit of a problem with EFB at the moment after some time when my experience is that it's been quite quiet. I've never had so many notifications that there's been an outbreak locally as I have in the last three years. Quite possibly I've never had as many notifications in total as I have in the last three years. When you consider the potential consequences and how distressing (and financially damaging, for those who rely in the income) a case, or multiple cases, of EFB can be, I'm not entirely surprised that people are up in arms over the suggestion that it is acceptable.

I count myself very fortunate that I've never had to deal with EFB in my colonies, but I know another long-term beekeeper who was so upset when it happened to him that he had to walk away and ask the SBI to set fire to the remains for him. I imagine that sort of experience leaves those who have gone through it with little tolerance for actions that might put their bees at risk again.

James

 

[essex b's]

it's pretty easy when it comes to the BBKA comic - it is renowned for churning out lacklustre and inaccurate contributions, if it's printed in there, assume it's bad advice then do some research to either confirm or prove it correct.

It is rather amusing though when the usual suspects quickly scrabble to defend the rag when in reality they have nothing to offer in its defence

Not as amusing as being referenced as a "usual suspect" when I have posted less than 20 times over a twelve year period. Or perhaps you were referring to Enrico, who has always struck me as one of the more sensible and respected members of the forum. Furthermore at no time have I suggested that I support the contents of the original article, quite the opposite. This is more about the nature of debate here. You should realise that by resorting to insult and personal abuse, you all too frequently deter others from posting for fear their comments will be met by ridicule and contempt.
As for scrabbling to defend "the rag" my response was only motivated by the initial charge to condemn it, which I felt was disproportionate but nevertheless seems to occur on the day of publication of most issues.

 

[essex b's]

Wow! I was about to create my New Member Introduction and I saw this new thread. I joined a couple of nights ago just before this discussion appears to have started. Having read through the thread I think the big boys don't pull their punches in the playground. My perception is that things can get a bit acrimonious to say the least. I will err on the side of caution and say nothing other than how this new member feels reading posts that appear to insult, demean and show complete disrespect to other beekeepers.... I made a mistake joining!

I would urge you to stay. There is much to learn here, especially from the archives. Almost every issue you encounter will have been experienced and commented on by others. As with every publication there is useful advice interspaced with a fair amount of drivel. My advice to you would be to listen and observe more than you comment, especially for the first ten years!
On that note, I think I have said everything I needed to say on this thread, so my contribution is now at an end. I shall return to the shadowy corners of the forum, from whence I came

 

[Swarm]

I'd rather see more posts from the people who avoid posting.

 

[madasafish]

I find this forum polite and good tempered compared to the comments pages of the Daily Telegraph which appears to have a modicum of intelligent and civilised commentators and more than a sprinkling of : conspiracy theorists, racists, Trump supporters and those who believe that all Conservative Governments after Mrs Thatcher have been composed of raving socialists. (I am serious) Edit : and a large number of people who not only do not believe in global warming but think 2cms of snow and -2C in London equates to a harsh winter.

 

[rolande]

I'd rather see more posts from the people who avoid posting.

I often wonder what the people who don't post think of us, then I quickly think that its probably best not to know.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Well gentlemen can we cool it. With reference to the BBKA this forum was born as a direct response to some of the shenanigans on its forum and old habits die hard.
Let’s welcome constructive posts from everybody new and old.
It was a thoughtless article encouraging a very dubious practice and it needed to be called out.
There’s nothing to add so I’ll close the thread.

 

[pargyle]

I would urge you to stay. There is much to learn here, especially from the archives. Almost every issue you encounter will have been experienced and commented on by others. As with every publication there is useful advice interspaced with a fair amount of drivel. My advice to you would be to listen and observe more than you comment, especially for the first ten years!
On that note, I think I have said everything I needed to say on this thread, so my contribution is now at an end. I shall return to the shadowy corners of the forum, from whence I came

And where you are very welcome to lurk if that's what you prefer..we have thousands of long term members who log in daily or at least regularly but don't feel the need or desire to post. There's nothing wrong with that ... others are more vocal and that's fine too. It does get a bit rough round the edges at times but that's life isn't it. Join in or watch from the ringside