In a message dated 4/7/00 5:05:28 PM, [log in to unmask] writes:

<< The problem I fear the most from the advance of the AHB is not from the
bees
themselves but from something the US has in spades compared to Mexico and
South America- litigation. >>

   Great point. Maybe if we could develop some strategies to deal with this
now, the irrational hyper-reactive types could be stymied in some places.
   How about this for a strategy: One way to influence government is to wield
the credibility and authority of even bigger government.
    What if all beekeepers were required to register with the state apiary
inspection system? (This may already be true in some places) Apiary sites
would be inspected more than once a season to ensure AHB had not become
established. Beekeepers would pay a low flat fee to ensure funding for random
testing. It could even be argued out of such a system that only state
government has the jurisdiction to shut down an apiary, not localities, which
employ no trained staff that could determine if a threat actually exists.
   Insurance companies would be protected by the state certification. And who
says we have to ask insurance companies to insure AHB? Provide documentation
of your regular requeening practices with pure European or Russian honey bees
(and inspections) so you can get the "good beekeeper" discount. Does all this
ensure a 100% AHB-free apiary? No, but it shows you were responsible and made
every effort to protect the public and yourself.
   If beekeepers could enlist the state apiary inspection systems to come out
and inspect each season for AHB, and then provide certification that an
apiary was AHB-free, local authorities could be placated. Or beekeepers could
show documentation (provided by queen breeders) that they requeened regularly
with certified queens from European or Russian stock.
   The practicality of this would hinge on whether the state apiary
inspection system has the resources. If people are greatly motivated by fear
to do all kinds of things about AHB, then maybe that fear could be turned
productively to extract more funding to reinvigorate apiary inspection in the
U.S.
   Here's another idea: What if a representative from the apiary inspection
program could come and out and talk at local government committee meetings
when these types of laws are being considered? This could be the single most
important role an inspector could step into to protect honey bees (and
beekeepers) in an area: Use his credibility and authority as a representative
of the state to prevent local fearmongers from outlawing honey bees (and
beekeepers).
   Lacking this type of vigorous state support, is there anything a local
beekeeper can do if he finds himself in front of a committee trying to defend
the continued legality of beekeeping?
   Sure. Save all your documentation of when and who you buy queens from. And
requeen frequently. It's not a total guarantee that AHB won't move in, but
you'll know it immediately and correct the situation when it develops, the
argument goes.
   Another argument that has worked for some in the gardening world is that
you are somehow involved in important or special work, and outlawing what you
are doing would be grossly irresponsible or illegal. When gardeners have been
confronted by draconian landscaping laws in some places (putting greens for
all), they have sucessfully challenged them by planting native endangered
species and arguing that the city law was forcing the homeowners to violate
the Endangered Species Act. A beekeeper could talk about the great experiment
going on right now with the introduction of Russian honey bees, and point out
that by keeping Russian bees you are making a significant contribution to the
experiment. Get the focus off the AHB and onto the good things that you are
doing with your bees that keep them from being Africanized honey bees.