Randy
>Such doom and gloom would have been appropriate in 2008, but by now, it
just
> shows how far behind the times "Time" has become.
Colin and I spent over an hour with this reporter, then sent him on to talk
to Randy. We stressed that the media focused on a myth - bees aren't
going to completely disappear any time soon.
From our perspective, the loss of beekeepers and increased barriers to
keeping bees combined with lack of good quality plentiful food resources (such
as encouraged by poorly thought out programs like alcohol fuels turning the
corn belt into a green desert) were more substantive issues.
We also stressed that PPB beekeeping was a factor in some beekeeper
failures, but we dislike the term. As Pete mentioned, what was good beekeeping
management a decade ago won't cut it in the current situtation - too many
newer variables. When I started, we only worried about foul brood. Now
we've an ever growing list of pests, parasitoids, and diseases.
Yet, we get the same old story - apparently walking through a beeyard with
a failed beekeeper, who really doesn't know what caused his failures,
trumps common sense and data.
Finally, he didn't pay much attention to the good news - people world wide
are now aware of a problem, even if the media continually spreads the wrong
messages. And, lots of new people getting into beekeeping, worldwide.
The bubble may have burst in UK, but some of those beekeepers are going to
stick.
Jerry
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