On Mon, 20 Mar 2006 Peter Borst wrote:
"http://pittsburghlive.com/x/tribune-review/trib/regional/s_434924.html
After 15 years of working with honeybees at his Marshall, PA home, master
beekeeper Bob Jenereski has been ......ordered him to remove his 16 hives
or face fines of up $500 a day."
To the List,
I suggest that those who may want to get involved in rescuing this
situation search the BEE-L archives. I believe that in the past we helped
persuade the officials in one or two situations including a particular
case in Aurora, Colorado which had concerns of Africanized bees as a
defense which helped the beekeeper keep his bees. If I remember correctly
several from BEE-L made contributions to the local Aurora, CO newspaper
citing the need for honey bees and with help from beekeepers all over the
prohibition was canned. Once again this can come to fruition!
I also offer the following for your consideration quotations in partiality
from the State of Florida’s Agriculture Commissioner, Charles Bronson as
was printed in “News For South Carolina Beekeepers, February 2006 Vol. 17,
No. 1 which listed as the source, “The Florida Beekeeper” Newsletter,
January 2006. The text in partiality follows:
The “News For South Carolina Beekeepers began, “Chief Apiarist Jerry
Hayes sent a letter to all county managers in Florida under the signature
of Florida Agriculture Commissioner Charles Bronson, which contained the
following derived from press releases and other information:”
‘It has become clear that the African honey bee population has
gained a foothold here and will continue to grow in Florida due to its
numerous pathways into the state and the lack of effective eradication
products or techniques…’
‘paragraph omitted…’
‘One of the fundamental rules of nature is that competition for
food and nesting resources keeps insect populations in check and low. If
not handled properly, gentle honey bees will be artificially excluded from
an area which would create an un-natural biological void or empty space in
the environment. Being so closely related to gentle managed honey bees,
AHB’s would then fill this void because there would be no competition for
food or mates and they would flourish.’
‘In order to deter such an environmental void, of major importance
to the long term mitigation of the AHB is to maintain managed honey bee
colonies in and around urban/suburban areas. Therefore, we are urging
municipalities to encourage Registered Florida Beekeepers to place their
gentle honey bees in those areas in the greatest numbers possible.’
‘Large populations of European honey bees managed by beekeepers
are probably our best defense against African bees, “Dr. H. Glenn Hall
said. “The European honey bees compete with African bees for food sources.
When they inter-breed with the African bees, their defensive stinging
behavior is reduced.”’
‘We would strongly encourage you to support and embrace
Registered Florida Beekeepers in your community. They are a major part of
the solution in lessening the negative impact from AHB’s and are a vital
component in the successful production of fruits, vegetables and nuts that
feed our growing populations.”’
From the archives: "WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Aurora,
Colorado has found that honeybees can be maintained within populated areas
in reasonable NOW THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF AURORA, COLORADO"
I am sure that much more can be found nowadays and that the threat of AHB
is far greater now than ever: Anywhere in the USA as migratory beekeepers
spread the AHB like the SHB has been spread and unscrupulous queen
breeders ship their AHB queens all over the US.
Chuck Norton
Norton's Nut & Honey Farm
330 Irvin Street
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