>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 *********************************************** The BEE-L mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html