Dee writes:
> Please correct me if I am wrong to thinking this.

Wrong again!

> The Australian Government this [month] announced the sentinel hive program, which will alert authorities when foreign bees potentially carrying varroa arrive, will be funded for the next two years. The tiny varroa mite has wiped out wild-bee populations across the world, most recently in New Zealand. Experts fear if it arrived in Australia, the cost of pollination for crops such as stonefruit, almonds and pome fruit could double overnight. Free pollination from wild bees could become a thing of the past. Honeybee Research and Development Advisory committee chairman Des Cannon said baited hives would attract newly arrived bees, so an extermination could be carried out by the Australian Quarantine Inspection Service. "It would be good if (the sentinel-hive program) were topped up with a baited program," Mr Cannon said. "Our effort (at keeping varroa out) has been good but if you look at what NZ spent on the South Island alone, they spent $800,000 on surveillance."

> Agriculture Minister Tony Burke said the Government "recognises the importance of rigorous quarantine and biosecurity measures to protect our valuable agriculture, fisheries and forestry industries. The Australian honeybee industry is fortunate to be free so far of varroa," Mr Burke said.


-- November 12, 2008
-- http://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/

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