New renegade beekeeper Stirlingshire

[Anduril]

As a vet, please keep my profession away from bees unless as beekeepers. There are too many who do not have a clue and others who should know better that have provided/signposted information which contravenes UK law- including our regulator, the RCVS. The NBU does a darned good job, yes they need more funding but apart from that if it's not broken don't fix it. Too many people trying to find work to do that doesn't need doing.

On a side note, having studied alongside a number of American students at the same uni @PhilosopherVet is at, I am enjoying the considerable irony of Brits arguing against increased regulation with an American arguing in favour of it. The world just turned upside down!

Totally agree, vets have enough on their plate.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Totally agree, vets have enough on their plate.

This one has

 

[pargyle]

422 words later, I am off to check my understanding of the word "reluctant"

Too much time on your hands ... word counting ?

 

[Antipodes]

Down here there are a considerable number of bee laws and they are somewhat different depending on where you are (Qld, WA, NSW, Victoria etc.) and then each council area have their own bee laws too. Generally registration is compulsory as is branding or marking of hives. There are also laws about compulsory courses if you have a certain number of hives etc. Fees apply too of course.

 

[pargyle]

Down here there are a considerable number of bee laws and they are somewhat different depending on where you are (Qld, WA, NSW, Victoria etc.) and then each council area have their own bee laws too. Generally registration is compulsory as is branding or marking of hives. There are also laws about compulsory courses if you have a certain number of hives etc. Fees apply too of course.

Perhaps keep that quiet ... if the Government here find another income stream they will be on it like bees around a honeypot !

 

[Boston Bees]

Too much time on your hands ... word counting ?

I'll spare 5 seconds for you any day

 

[Antipodes]

Perhaps keep that quiet ... if the Government here find another income stream they will be on it like bees around a honeypot !

Sorry

 

[Newbeeneil]

Down here there are a considerable number of bee laws and they are somewhat different depending on where you are (Qld, WA, NSW, Victoria etc.) and then each council area have their own bee laws too. Generally registration is compulsory as is branding or marking of hives. There are also laws about compulsory courses if you have a certain number of hives etc. Fees apply too of course.

With such regulation how does the 2 hive owner react? Most beeks with a couple of hives here would baulk at the thought of having to donate the first dozen or so jars of honey (probably 50% of their crop) to the government.

 

[Antipodes]

With such regulation how does the 2 hive owner react? Most beeks with a couple of hives here would baulk at the thought of having to donate the first dozen or so jars of honey (probably 50% of their crop) to the government.

Well, say in Victoria, you must register if you have one or more hives (under the Livestock Diseases Control Act 1994) but registration is free if you have between 1-5 hives. 6 to 50 hives is $30 and you've gotta pay 60c for each hive once you have 51+ hives.

 

[B_north]

Well, say in Victoria, you must register if you have one or more hives (under the Livestock Diseases Control Act 1994) but registration is free if you have between 1-5 hives. 6 to 50 hives is $30 and you've gotta pay 60c for each hive once you have 51+ hives.

Here in Sask. you must register your hives as well, it is free. If you buy bees locally or bring them in from another province they must come with a certificate from a bee inspector showing no AFB, SHB, varroa.

ETA just checked mine from last year, it also includes other diseases such as chalk brood, what treatments and when they were applied for both varroa and nosema.

 

[Erichalfbee]

We have to record treatments dates and sources of such

 

[Boston Bees]

We have to record treatments dates and sources of such

Well, we're meant to. "Have to" implies consequences if we don't. There aren't any.

I wasn't asked, even when I was visited by a bee inspector.

 

[Newbeeneil]

Well, we're meant to. "Have to" implies consequences if we don't. There aren't any.

I wasn't asked, even when I was visited by a bee inspector.

I have never been asked and I have been visited 6 times by 3 different Bee inspectors. ( I'm on the cusp of 3 counties) TBH they haven't the time to monitor for the VMD but I was asked if I would supply a honey sample this time which I assume was for analysis.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Well, we're meant to. "Have to" implies consequences if we don't. There aren't any.

I wasn't asked, even when I was visited by a bee inspector.

Yes this reinforces my question. Who is to police any future mandatory rules if no attention is paid to the existing ones?

 

[Boston Bees]

Yes this reinforces my question. Who is to police any future mandatory rules if no attention is paid to the existing ones?

I agree

I don't believe there is any point in requiring mandatory registration. I think it might even harm sign-up rates, due to the resentment it would cause. Better to present it as a positive choice, imperfect as that is.

 

[Nige.Coll]

Out of curiosity, why do you think they refuse to register them?

Some of it is as already said "Big Brother Syndrome". I want to keep honeybees to save the planet brigade.

Some of it is ignorance, the companies supplying these are not beekeepers and are only out to make a few quid off the back of bees being big press atm.
Where my wife works the industrial estate management company has got involved with a company that wants to install some leave-alone hives. These hives are the newer ones advertised via crowdfunding pages on social media, the crowdfunding has been very successful.
Made from recycled products with inspection windows for sampling and a tiny cap that acts as a super. Nowhere near big enough for a colony in summer.
They look like a tampon on a stick, sorry for the crude description but that is what they look like.

The area the hives are being sited has had 85 cases of EFB and 2 cases of AFB in the last few years. The bee inspectors have been searching for some unregistered hives as it is a blackspot for EFB in the county.
There is no management program for the colonies or monitoring planned.
The cost is expected to be around £1000 per unit including installation.
2 bee farmers are close enough to be affected and also the county association training facilities.

My wife has asked the question about registration and raised the point that the hives will swarm and could possibly shut production down if the swarm goes into a critical area.

 

[Erichalfbee]

My God, Nigel. That’s horrifying! Don’t they need some sort of planning application that can be objected too, scientifically?

 

[emmac79]

They look like a tampon on a stick, sorry for the crude description but that is what they look like.

Trying to visualise that right now....

 

[plain_hunt]

Might have a stab at making my own following this

https://gallowaywildfoods.com/how-to-make-mead-easily-using-wild-plants/

I’ve made my own for several years, using the honey from frames I’ve melted down. I know the purists say to use the good honey, but I do like my blackberry mead, and the bog standard isnt bad either. Both have also won prizes in the shows, even from a judge who doesn’t like mead, so they can’t be too awful. I use a six month recipe, but usually leave it at least 12 months before trying it. I have some bubbling away at the moment hopefully ready for next year.

 

[Nige.Coll]

Trying to visualise that right now....

https://www.yankodesign.com/2021/08...-of-the-bees-natural-habitat-with-its-design/