National Beehive Count ..... Hmmmm.

[Barbarian]

I have received an email from Beebase/NBU asking me to take part in the pilot for this scheme. I gather from the thread "Log into Beebase" that I am not the only one.

I am still thinking about this pilot.

Any thoughts ?

 

[oliver90owner]

Do you want the government knowing how many colonies you have? Belonging to beebase on one site with one colony might be good, but osborne will be trying to raise revenue from you, if at all possible.

 

[Hivemaker.]

I have received an email from Beebase/NBU asking me to take part in the pilot for this scheme.

There is a lot of junk e mail out there... scheme eh! ... or scam.

 

[For want of a better word]

I have received an email from Beebase/NBU asking me to take part in the pilot for this scheme. I gather from the thread "Log into Beebase" that I am not the only one.

I am still thinking about this pilot.

Any thoughts ?

Easy... do not include any colonies of bees you have in Darlingtons, WBC'c Modified Dadants Langstroths Top Bar hives or Long boxes, Smiths, greens Fleur de grumph French Warre type thingies, Tupperware boxes Beehausens, Skeps, Coffin hives or old Wellingtons etc etc... or even hollowed out tree logs... and you will bee OK!!

Mytten da

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

I have received an email from Beebase/NBU asking me to take part in the pilot for this scheme. I gather from the thread "Log into Beebase" that I am not the only one.

I am still thinking about this pilot.

Any thoughts ?

What's the big deal? - one thing these figures will do is determine how much funding we get from the EC so do you really want to give the impression of a lower figure?
Beebase is there for a good reason and it's no big deal to pop in now and then to update it. I usually do it a couple of times a year - once when all the hives are prepared to go through winter (as they are then brought in to a couple of apiaries for convenience) and then at the beginning of the summer when the colonies are settled and at their summer quarters.
I think it's beholden on a beekeeper to register with beebase and keep apiary records up to date, anyone who doesn't is a reckless fool IMHO

 

[For want of a better word]

What's the big deal? - one thing these figures will do is determine how much funding we get from the EC so do you really want to give the impression of a lower figure?
Beebase is there for a good reason and it's no big deal to pop in now and then to update it. I usually do it a couple of times a year - once when all the hives are prepared to go through winter (as they are then brought in to a couple of apiaries for convenience) and then at the beginning of the summer when the colonies are settled and at their summer quarters.
I think it's beholden on a beekeeper to register with beebase and keep apiary records up to date, anyone who doesn't is a reckless fool IMHO

Yep... like the reckless fool who brought EFB infected colonies from across the greatgreygreengreasyslimeyTamarriverallsetaboutwithsecondhomes....... from S Devon and dumped them in my back yard!

Yeghes da

 

[madasafish]

Yep... like the reckless fool who brought EFB infected colonies from across the greatgreygreengreasyslimeyTamarriverallsetaboutwithsecondhomes....... from S Devon and dumped them in my back yard!

Yeghes da

Don't start me on AFB!

 

[pargyle]

Easy... do not include any colonies of bees you have in Darlingtons, WBC'c Modified Dadants Langstroths Top Bar hives or Long boxes, Smiths, greens Fleur de grumph French Warre type thingies, Tupperware boxes Beehausens, Skeps, Coffin hives or old Wellingtons etc etc... or even hollowed out tree logs... and you will bee OK!!

Mytten da

All the more reason for the NBU to know where hive/bees/beekeepers are .. can't see any reason not to be on beebase myself and if this count leads to better funding from the EU for beekeeping then there's a tangible benefit there as well.

 

[Hivemaker.]

All the more reason for the NBU to know where hive/bees/beekeepers are ..

Compulsory registration is coming in soon anyway.

 

[pargyle]

Compulsory registration is coming in soon anyway.

I don't have a problem with it ... anyone can inspect my colonies and records any time they like. The only issue I would have is if the bureaucrats start trying to enforce some of the misinformed thinking we occasionally see from national beekeeping supposed 'authorities'.

 

[alldigging]

Funds are allocated to each member state based on their % share of hives in the Community. Commission Regulation (EU) 726/2010 sets out the % share of each member state - the UK has around a 2% share.

http://www.nationalbeeunit.com/index.cfm?pageid=281

The UK’s allocation is £672k in 2011, £670k in 2012 and £667k in 2013 of which Defra/Fera’s allocation is £467k in 2011, £465k in 2012 and £464k in 2013.

 

[Hivemaker.]

I don't have a problem with it ... anyone can inspect my colonies and records any time they like. The only issue I would have is if the bureaucrats start trying to enforce some of the misinformed thinking we occasionally see from national beekeeping supposed 'authorities'.

You won't have any choice if you wish to keep bees, you'll have to do as your told, and most likely pay for it.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Funds are allocated to each member state based on their % share of hives in the Community. Commission Regulation (EU) 726/2010 sets out the % share of each member state - the UK has around a 2% share.

http://www.nationalbeeunit.com/index.cfm?pageid=281

Perhaps Google can do a count by helicopter?

I'm with JBM. Nothing fishy in my mind. I've updated my info.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Perhaps Google can do a count by helicopter?

I can actually see all of mine on Google Earth! (nucs are a bit tricky though )

 

[Michael Palmer]

Compulsory registration is coming in soon anyway.

We've had compulsory registration forever. In July past, they levied a $10/apiary registration fee. After much debate with our Dep't of Agriculture, we got them to promise us they would use the $$ to help fund the inspection program.

In the last few years, the State has used the bee inspector's time to fill in jobs within the department. This of course to balance the budget. So last spring, I couldn't get an inspection for the nucs I planned to sell. I know they're not diseased, but I wanted a certificate to protect myself. Nope...not enough time.

Now the inspector has taken the "early retirement" scheme...again to balance the budget. The plan is to slim down the work force, and these retirements aren't being refilled. Now we have no inspector, and the job hasn't been posted, and we still have to pay the fee.

And this with my apiaries being surrounded by new beekeepers with onesies/twosies...and suckers for cheap used equipment found in old barns. And these new bees thinking they are helping to improve the bees by having a couple hives in their backyard...which they never examine and never do anything for controlling varroa, and couldn't identify brood diseases if one bit them on the ass. And our inspector is gone. Cute!

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

And these new bees thinking they are helping to improve the bees by having a couple hives in their backyard...which they never examine and never do anything for controlling varroa, and couldn't identify brood diseases if one bit them on the ass.

Hmm - sounds familiar, over here a lot of them go by the name of 'Natural Beekeepers'

 

[Hivemaker.]

We've had compulsory registration forever. In July past, they levied a $10/apiary registration fee. After much debate with our Dep't of Agriculture, we got them to promise us they would use the $$ to help fund the inspection program.

In the last few years, the State has used the bee inspector's time to fill in jobs within the department. This of course to balance the budget. So last spring, I couldn't get an inspection for the nucs I planned to sell. I know they're not diseased, but I wanted a certificate to protect myself. Nope...not enough time.

Now the inspector has taken the "early retirement" scheme...again to balance the budget. The plan is to slim down the work force, and these retirements aren't being refilled. Now we have no inspector, and the job hasn't been posted, and we still have to pay the fee.

And this with my apiaries being surrounded by new beekeepers with onesies/twosies...and suckers for cheap used equipment found in old barns. And these new bees thinking they are helping to improve the bees by having a couple hives in their backyard...which they never examine and never do anything for controlling varroa, and couldn't identify brood diseases if one bit them on the ass. And our inspector is gone. Cute!

Registration is compulsory in many countries now, as for paying a registration fee, it is a good idea, many only keep bees as a hobby and have plenty of money to throw at their hobby, but it would be important that the money is used to maintain the inspection service, and not go the same way as over there.

Another good thing they could do is make it compulsory for every beekeeper to have to pass a test on bee disease recognition and control, and charge a small fee for this also, this would at least help to cut the general ignorance about bee diseases with regards not knowing what they are looking at.

 

[user 6228]

Compulsory registration is coming in soon anyway.

and it wont be free

 

[Hivemaker.]

and it wont be free

No one would expect it to be free, these things cost money.

 

[dpearce4]

Registration is compulsory in many countries now, as for paying a registration fee, it is a good idea, many only keep bees as a hobby and have plenty of money to throw at their hobby, but it would be important that the money is used to maintain the inspection service, and not go the same way as over there.

Another good thing they could do is make it compulsory for every beekeeper to have to pass a test on bee disease recognition and control, and charge a small fee for this also, this would at least help to cut the general ignorance about bee diseases with regards not knowing what they are looking at.

Shame they don't bring back dog registration as well. It will help with all the F****** dog **** that is still over the pavement and paths and parks from the middle class peoples dogs that don't think there little pooch can cause anyone any problems. Or bag it up and hang it on a tree or fence which is just disgusting, you wouldn't hang a babys filled nappy bag like that so why do it with dog ****!!!!

These are the same middle class people that think natural beekeeping is the right way to keep bees.



sorry rant over. I think my morphine is wearing off.