Hi All
 
As you know, varroa has appeared in Ireland.
 
I have heard this morning that the Department of Agriculture in Dublin has
decided to destroy about 100 hives in the counties affected. But surely
infected feral colonies will re infest clean hives even given that all of
the infected hives have been destroyed (quite a presumption). Maybe the
Department has slowed it down but for how long?.
 
There is much less migratory beekeeping in Ireland than in the UK, so this
will help to slow down it's progress. But at the end of the day we are stuck
with it, with all the added time and effort that must be expended.
 
I daresay that some of the older beekeepers will lose heart which is a pity.
I understand that something like half of the beekeepers in the UK gave up in
the first five years. Seems like a profound effect on the craft.
 
Sincerely
 
Tom Barrett
49 South Park
Foxrock
Dublin 18
Ireland
 
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