Bees on Radio 4

[theeggman]

On the trail of the American Honeybee

Radio 4 Tues. 26/3 11.00-1130 am and repeated Thurs 28/3 9.00-9.30 pm

Following migratory beekeepers to the annual almond pollination (not propagation).

Tim

 

[dn170221]

Great
thanks for the heads up!

 

[rolande]

Great
thanks for the heads up!

Agreed. But, with a write up on the BBC's own site like this...

...life is far from honeyed for keepers or their bees. The industrial nature of migratory beekeeping in the US means many are forced to split and even kill off some their own colonies in order to create younger, more productive ones, in a process referred to as 'nuking the hive'.

It may, possibly, not be the most beekeeper friendly programme.

 

[itma]

It may, possibly, not be the most beekeeper friendly programme.

It is particularly useful for those that are unaware, to discover what our American cousins get up to in the name of beekeeping.
Without an awareness of the background of 'battery bees', one isn't in a position to discuss CCD and other facets of their distinctly industrial approach.

 

[theeggman]

Well put Itma.

Tim

 

[alanf]

Agreed. But, with a write up on the BBC's own site like this...
.

Probably not written by anybody associated with the production. A couple of misunderstood sentences to write a listings entry. We can hope

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

It is particularly useful for those that are unaware, to discover what our American cousins get up to in the name of beekeeping.
Without an awareness of the background of 'battery bees', one isn't in a position to discuss CCD and other facets of their distinctly industrial approach.

Well said that man

 

[melias]

I had a couple of aggressive hives I should have 'nuked'!

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Had a listen today, it was fairly balanced but a bit 'low calorie' typical of the Beeb really, one interesting thing though when discussing a newly collapsed colony the beekeper made sure we were aware that no pesticides were used in the area so in his opinion was not a factor in CCD (that wouldn't suit some on here!!) they were convinced it was some virus.
It was also recognized that constant migration could be a factor in CCD, as was the fact that vast monoculture priaries with little nectar income had an effect. Maybe they're starting to wake up?