What do seasonal bee inspectors do in the winter?

[Geb]

Do they have second jobs or do they hibernate?

 

[Bosleeu]

Mine walks all over the countryside and counts Beech trees for somebody, I think the Environmental Agency.

 

[psafloyd]

Do they have second jobs or do they hibernate?

Contrary to common belief, they don't hibernate. They cluster.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Our SBI is a farrier

 

[waverider]

I know what they don't do!

Inspect colonies where EFB has been reported within 5km.

I noticed the EFB report whist logging on to BeeBase earlier this year. Never got a call from the inspector.

 

[Stiffy]

Do they have second jobs or do they hibernate?

Make matchsticks for crown boards ????

 

[oliver90owner]

Fill in a UB40? That is what the 'seasonal' means - employed only during the (normal) beekeeping season. Just like the innumerable Santas at Christmas time - seasonal.

 

[madasafish]

I know what they don't do!

Inspect colonies where EFB has been reported within 5km.

I noticed the EFB report whist logging on to BeeBase earlier this year. Never got a call from the inspector.

Ours did.. or rather visited and will inspect next year - when it's warmer and easier to inspect TBHs (propolis)

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Fill in a UB40? That is what the 'seasonal' means - employed only during the (normal) beekeeping season. Just like the innumerable Santas at Christmas time - seasonal.

Not quite - they are employed permanently by Fera but on 'seasonal hours' so they get a monthly salary paid into their bank accounts but on a 'pro rata' basis as they only attend work during the beekeeping season - they don't get sacked at the end of the summer. Unless they resign they will go on the refresher at the start of the year and carry on where they left off the previous season.

 

[Erichalfbee]

I've just emailed mine a query so will see if he is awake

 

[bontbee]

If he does, he'll be answering in his own time!!

 

[Monsieur Abeille]

Fill in a UB40? That is what the 'seasonal' means - employed only during the (normal) beekeeping season. Just like the innumerable Santas at Christmas time - seasonal.

Perhaps that's the answer, they and the ice cream salesmen compete for Santa jobs

 

[oliver90owner]

Not quite - they are employed permanently by Fera but on 'seasonal hours' s

Government ploy to pretend they are in work all the year round? One third of the real salary for the job, but paid as though they were working the whole year? Might even make the job pay rate below the minimum wage? Simply moving the goalposts to reduce the numbers of unemployed counted/reported by the government in office, as I see it.

 

[midnight sun]

Not quite - they are employed permanently by Fera but on 'seasonal hours' s

Government ploy to pretend they are in work all the year round? One third of the real salary for the job, but paid as though they were working the whole year? Might even make the job pay rate below the minimum wage? Simply moving the goalposts to reduce the numbers of unemployed counted/reported by the government in office, as I see it.

Cynicism RAB? I definitely approve!

 

[Moggett]

Not quite - they are employed permanently by Fera but on 'seasonal hours' s

Government ploy to pretend they are in work all the year round? One third of the real salary for the job, but paid as though they were working the whole year? Might even make the job pay rate below the minimum wage? Simply moving the goalposts to reduce the numbers of unemployed counted/reported by the government in office, as I see it.

I think/guess the reason for the retainer is to save going through the 'just hired' costly CRB checks for all the seasonal staff every year. They can also be called up to immediately assist if there is a foot and mouth or similar problem as well.

 

[MuswellMetro]

I've just emailed mine a query so will see if he is awake

My SBI only replies to email/phone messages from April to September and her emails are divert to the RBI outside those dates

Though i know she is around as I see her in the Waitrose supermarket

 

[Erichalfbee]

I got an answer back from mine. 10/10

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

They can also be called up to immediately assist if there is a foot and mouth or similar problem as well.

First Varroa, then SHB now the threat of foot and mouth! truly our bees are doomed

 

[pargyle]

First Varroa, then SHB now the threat of foot and mouth! truly our bees are doomed

Noooooo ... I've had my foot in my mouth for years and I survive ... I only take it out to change feet ...

 

[BeeJayBee]

They can also be called up to immediately assist if there is a foot and mouth or similar problem as well.

Are you saying that the other FERA staff would be called upon to deal with SHB if it were to be discovered here?