>As pointed out by others, this was a common treatment in the U.S., until
residues in honey caused the regulatory folks to stop use of the drug in
beehives.

Actually the drug was NEVER registered for use in bee hives so no tolerance
was ever set. Which means zero tolerance.

The efeectivness in controlling AFB was discovered at the University of
Missouri in 1944. In those days the USDA was not as particular about
registration. The Beekeeping industry was in dire straits from AFB! All the
bee books after 1944 talked about sulfa use and gave mixing directions. If
the drug had been registered the level found in Canada might have been
within tolerance.

>As Allen points out, if the drug is put in open water for livestock or elk,
the bees could certainly pick it up.

I will keep quiet as a fellow beekeeper is involved .

>What other uses are there for this drug in the open environment in Canada?

Sulfa has a wide range of agriculture use for livestock. Honey bees was
never on the label.

Only one sulfa drug was recommended by MU for honey bees. Has been off the
market for over ten years. All the sulfa drugs  which are *not* water
soluble and spring use of sulfa leads to contamination problems.

In other words ignorance causes the problem.

The amount recommended by MU was only a quarter tsp. per gallon. Use of a
higher amount did not increase the effectiveness AND contaminated honey.

The amount in the beekeepers  honey is very high!

Bob

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