On Fri, 12 Apr 1996, BLANE WHITE wrote:
 
> Tom,
> Please corect me if I am wrong but it appears from your posting that
> you have been sampling for varroa and tracheal mites but have not
> untaken a statewide survey.  You have been sampling your queen
> producers and maybe the area near them but what about the rest of the
> state...
> My guess is that you are looking at fewer beekeepers and much less
> area than we have so a reasonable survey would not be too big an
> undertaking.  Some of us in watching the transshipment issue really
> wonder what you are basing your claims of freedom from mites and
> diseases on and have not been able to find any information on any
> surveys you have done.  Without such survey information it really
> appears that your opposition to the transshipment of bees is to
> protect your beekeeper's market rather than any real fear of
> introduction of new disease.  Conduct the surveys and then more of us
> may be willing to stand with you if there is a reasonable disease
> concern on the issue.
> blane
>
> ******************************************
> Blane White
> State Apiary Inspector
> Minnesota Department of Agriculture
> 90 W Plato Blvd
> St Paul, MN 55107
> http://www.mda.state.mn.us
>
>
> ph 612-296-0591
> fax 612-296-7386
>
> [log in to unmask]
> ********************************************
>
 
Again, for the record, the Hawaii Dept. of Agriculture collects samples
of honey bees from all islands on which there is a significant beekeeper
presence. This excludes the islands of Niihau, Lanai, and Kahoolawe.
 
In an effort to correct a misapprehension that may be floating around
out there in the beekeeping world, the following disclaimer is posted:
 
        The opinions (and unfounded suspicions) of individual Hawaii
        beekeepers do not necessarily reflect the views of the Hawaii Dept.
        of Agriculture.
 
HDOA has never questioned the competency or integrity of New Zealand's
MAF and its apiary inspection program. An acceptable transshipment
protocol has been worked out between the two agencies that satisfies the
biosanitary and quarantine concerns of both. For a second season, NZ
package bees have passed through Honolulu International Airport without a
problem. We continue to monitor the shipments, but are quite satisfied
with the way things are going.
 
Tom Culliney
Hawaii Dept. of Agriculture
Plant Pest Control Branch
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