>How can one obtain "certification that the loss of honey bees was due to
CCD" if the "precise reasons for honey bee colony losses are still
unknown"?<

Our local FSA Agent gave a brief overview of the new ELAP at a recent
beekeepers meeting.  ELAP covers losses other than CCD, including weather
and fire events. It also covers loss of 'feed'. Paraphrasing our agent: "If
your colonies are used for commercial production, and you had losses
greater than the USDA certified 'average loss', there is a good chance your
loss is eligible."

CCD (as defined by FSA the symptoms below) is still covered. This is what
FSA requires to "certify" a CCD loss claim:
"Required Documentation for Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD):
To be eligible for honeybee colony losses due to CCD, the honeybee producer
must provide proof of honeybee colony losses because of CCD, including but
not limited to the following documentation:
--for 2008 and 2009 calendar year losses, a self-certification that the
loss of honeybees was because of CCD and documented by the existence of at
least 3 of the 5 symptoms of CCD, as identified by FSA;
--for 2010 calendar year losses, third party certification that the loss of
honeybees was because of the existence of at least 3 of the 5 symptoms of
CCD, as identified by FSA;
--proof of beginning and ending inventory of honeybee colonies;
--proof of good management practices."

The FSA identified symptoms of CCD (2010):
"-- loss of live adult bee populations in hives
-- rapid decline of adult bee population, leaving brood poorly or
completely unattended
-- absence of dead adult bees inside the hive and outside the entrance of
the hives
-- absence of robbing of collapsed colonies
-- at the time of collapse, varroa mite and nosema populations are not at
levels known to cause economic injury or population decline"
(www.fsa.usda.gov/Internet/FSA_Notice/ldap_17.pdf)

FSA ELAP for honeybees overview:
http://www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/newsReleases?area=newsroom&subject=landing&topic=pfs&newstype=prfactsheet&type=detail&item=pf_20100401_distr_en_hone10.html
or:
https://tinyurl.com/pyndawa

Dan O'Callaghan
Irish Hill Farm
Xenia, OH

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