Dave Green wrote:
> [log in to unmask] (John D Schneider):
> >First of all, I love beekeeping, and have the highest regard for it,
> >both as a profession and as a hobby......
>
> I won't flame you; you raise some good points, and I am inclined to agree
> with you on philosophical grounds. But you are missing a couple of very
> relevant input points......
Indeed!
As an example, the value of beekeeping to the UK economy is difficult to
estimate, however I believe most estimates put it between 300 million
UKP and 3 billion UKP. Britain's governmental investment in beekeeping
is a few tens of thousands of UKP. British beekeepers collectively
probably make only a few hundred thousand.
Most UK beekeepers are hobbyists and those who aren't, frankly scratch a
living -- nobody here gets rich in beekeeping, few if any people
anywhere get rich beekeeping. As a hobbyist, the money I make goes to
help fund my hobby. In truth, I don't make enough to cover the costs,
but then that isn't my primary concern -- I do it for the beekeeping
(even if the little beasties did give me a pasting today). By the way,
for those of you who earn a living in this game, I know it's not perfect
but I make a point of _not_ undercharging for honey, wax, pollination
etc. (Well actually, I help out a couple of local guys occasionally
when the pollination contracts are a bit tight and they need a few extra
bees).
The chemical companies here openly admit that they are unlikely to
follow the present treatments for varroa with anything else because
"there's no money in it". Directly they are undoubtedly right,
indirectly they are almost certainly wrong. But then who supports
infrastucture in a go-getting economy.
I sincerely hope that Dave's fears of a famine are unduly pessimistic.
I believe that the human race rises well to these challenges, even if as
so often at the eleventh hour. However some things change _very_
quickly and this may be one of them. Beekeeping _could_ collapse and
the effects would be catastrophic. Famine *is* a possibility and if
it happens, it won't be 'just' America, it will be the whole world!
That's enough railing. To echo Dave's first line, this is *not* a
flame. It *is* a statement of real concern for beekeeping in particular
and ecology in general.
Best regards,
--
Gordon Scott [log in to unmask] 100332,3310 on CompuServe
Newsletter [log in to unmask] ditto
Beekeeper, Kendo Sandan, sometime sailor.
Basingstoke, Hampshire, RG22 5HP, UK
|
