>To: [log in to unmask]
>From: [log in to unmask] (Walter Patton)
>Subject: bee disease spread
>
>Hello Susan Cobey < bee-l readers  & bee lovers
>        V copper suggested that I write you and ask which honeybee disease
and pest might bee transmitted with seman and pollen? Here in Hawaii the
most isolated place on earth we are concerned about protecting the only U S
honeybee stocks certified to bee free of V & T mites and without Afracanized
genes. Since 1985 Hawaii has prohibited the entery  of honeybees and bee
equipment to prevent the introduction and or spread of bee disease.Hawaii
should bee declared a honeybee site sensitive location for the future
security of U S honeybee s. We lost a battle to stop N Z bees from entering
our state on the way to Canada.Thanks to free trading leaders of America and
the Gatt treaty we have to let them sit on the tar mac at Honolulu Int.
Airport and hope that no accidents occur. Accidents do occur and N Z bees
are acknowledged to bee loaded with honeybee viruses. 14  viruses/pests to
bee exact.We recently got reports that some Hawaii  bee's sent to Beltsville
were found to bee free of Kashmir, cloudy wing and black queen viruses.
Other bee research people have admitted that mites and viruses are deadly
and unable to control. The USDA has been VERY VERY slow to show concerns for
the bee viruses which only recently have been found in the mainland US. I
think the viruses have come to the North American Continent via N Z bees to
Canada and Canadian bees to the U S ,which if true will bee an example of
the complete failure by USDA to protect U S honeybee stocks from the
"Introduction and or spread of honeybee disease and pest " as per the
original intent of the Honey bee Act of 1922.
>            Regarding the HB Act 1922 .The act was gutted of it's original
intent by the last round of the Uraguy Treaty to ratify the Gatt agreement .
This all became effective 1-5-95.The original Act had a strict prohibition
against the import of Bees to the U S. That strict prohibition does not
exist any more. Now the Honeybee issue is left to the discretion of the
Secretary of Agriculture and all of these changes were done without notice
or imput from anyone.Troy Fore did sit on "the sweetners advisory board"
that was supposed to advise on the effects of the changes and HE says the
panel only addressed the issues of Honey as a sweetner and never talked
about the potential impact on honeybees. Yet another example of industry and
government officials without any true bee sensitive feelings.
            I believe that this issue is real and will get worse. A German
bee  person was brought to our Big Island Beekeepers Association meeting
several years ago by some of the local USDA people and he talked of famines
being a possibility in Europe with their more advanced problems and his
comments made a BIG impression on me . We must give our collective energies
to the honeybee which we are dependent on for our own survival.Man with his
better ideas and bigger ,faster means of transportation have already spread
honeybee problems around the world and  we may bee too late and let's hope
for the best.
>   Thank you for your time and your comments will bee appreciated
>Sincerly Walter Patton
>
 
Walter Patton- Beekeeper      "BEE HEALTHY EAT YOUR HONEY DAILY"
27-703 A Kaieie Rd.           "The Beehive the Fountain of Youth and Health "
Papaikou,HI. 96781            " You are never too old for a little honey "
 
Ph.fax 808-964-5401            " Honey Eaters Stick Together Longer "
 
 
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