-----Original Message-----
From: Walter Patton <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Wednesday, January 28, 1998 1:59 PM
Subject: Re: NATIONAL HONEY BOARD IMHO 2
>
>Thank you LLoyd for the compliment and the response. I always like
>statistic's and wonder where you got your information. I also question if
>it is 47 % of the honey consumed or 47 % of honey packed by packers.
At the ABF convention 2-3 weeks ago we were told that in 1996 only 47% of
honey used in the US in 1996 came from domestically produced honey.
Frankly, I wasn't surprised as I have the recollection the figure has been
around 50% for several years. The statement was made at one of the meetings
by a USDA guy, but I know the NHB is using the same figure. Suggest you
contact them if you want to know the source. http://www.nhb.com. My guess
is the data refer to amount of honey packed, not consumed, but I really
don't know.
>can't believe that more red blooded US Americans would not take up bee
>keeping if the wholesale prices of honey were better. Many made strong
>commitments by expanding their operations when the wholesale prices were up
>last year and now the expansion has come to a halt with the lower prices
Well...beekeeping is hard work, sometimes it "hurts", few today choose the
life of a "farmer", as in most agricultural pursuits today, the capital
investment is reasonably high, etc.
> I recognize that the NHB is a real part of the beekeepers life
mandated by
>congress at the request of honey industry ( mostly packers) . So we can not
>arbitrarily abolish the NHB and the bee keepers of America could control
>the growth and direction that the NHB takes in the future if we could get
>up off our collective lethargic dead behinds and make our voice heard .It
>has always amazed me that beekeeping takes more courage, grit and
>determination then most occupations and yet beekeepers are willing to be
>like the masses in America who are like oysters sitting on the ocean floor
>with their mouth wide waiting for whatever might fall in regarding
>Beauracratic Intervention into their lives. This bothers me and I fear for
>my children's future if these feelings of impotence expressed by the masses
>by not voting, staying informed about the issues, and not challenging the
>issues as they are brought forth by the Beauracrats at the urging of some
>special interest groups who have learned the ease of buying influence.
> I do not pretend to know the answers and I do know that the issues
should
>be decided by the group that the action will affect. The NHB pending action
>will cost all U S honey producers of any size a penny per pound in addition
>to the penny per pound that the bee keeper pays when his price is reduced
>by the first handler. The money could be well spent and the US producers
>should have the control always in how the program is structured. Hells
>Bells we pay for it. Whoops I'm about to over look the huge contribution by
>the packers for the 88,000,000 million pounds of honey that was imported
>last year. And man they should not be forgotten and they do have the
>control. If producers got control maybe the fee for foreign honey could be
>2 or 3 pennies per pound. All these foreign countries have Value Added Tax,
>Duties, and Tariffs or restrictive import regulations that make it costly
>and difficult to export US honey into their country. And the advertising
>dollars are important and we could spend more of the money on advertising
>at home to drive up per capita consumption in AMERICA. Maybe we could make
>the sources of origin statement accurately reveal the amount of US honey is
>in the jar. About corporate subsides why should US taxpayers pay for
>"Branded Marketing Program " which is brokered by the NHB to pay 50 % of
>cost that are incurred by a company trying to enter a foreign market.
>Mostly for large companies as there is a $ 10,000 minimum.
I did not know there was a $10,000 minimum. Now, that makes no sense at
all! How is one to "get started" with a minimum like that!
Problem is that
>the large packers get 50 % of there marketing efforts paid for by federal
>subsidy and they sell imported honey. I hope I ' m not too far off on my
>statements and if I am I can take the heat, flame away.
> My fellow beekeeper Americans it is time for us all to take a stand
and
>collectively, like our beloved honey bees worked towards the common goals
>that will reinforce and jump start the US Beekeeping Industry. We could put
>some of our young and retired people to work tending to the Divine
>pollinators, and keep America strong.
> Some one please advise if this posting gets on Best of bee-l.
>----------
>> From: Lloyd Spear <[log in to unmask]>
>> To: [log in to unmask]
>> Subject: Re: NATIONAL HONEY BOARD IMHO
>> Date: Sunday, January 25, 1998 6:45 AM
>>
>> Walter, I think you said it very well. The only problem is the "NHB" is
>all
>> we have. It would certainly be better to have something else, but the
>NHB
>> was established by an act of congress and as a matter of reality it
>exists
>> and we have to work with it. In my opinion, the real problem is that the
>US
>> only produces 47% of the honey that is consumed. If we were producing
>> 80%-90% and honey were sitting in warehouses because it couldn't be sold
>it
>> would be another matter.
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Walter Patton <[log in to unmask]>
>> To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
>> Date: Saturday, January 24, 1998 1:56 PM
>> Subject: NATIONAL HONEY BOARD IMHO
>
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