I have been thinking this for quite some time and the recent thread regarding OA has really underscored it for me: US beekeepers need a FIFRA primer that plainly states in easy to understand language what their responsibilities are when it comes to using pesticides. There is so much bad information or misinformation out there about how the system works. Perhaps EPA and AAPCO could work together to produce a draft that could then be “translated” for beekeepers. EPA and AAPCO don’t speak the beekeeper language and beekeepers don’t understand the regulator language. Perhaps use AIA as a translator to try to bridge the gap between the two and work towards compliance.
As far as the cost of ApiBioxal compared to the off label alternatives…Even at its most expensive ApiBioxal will cost a beekeeper 50 cents to treat a colony with 2 grams. If you buy the 350 gram package the cost goes down to 25 cents per colony. Let’s just assume you are getting your off label OA for free. This would yield under the worst case scenario a savings of 50 cents per colony. If 50 cents is going to break your business plan I believe you need to rethink beekeeping as a vocation or hobby.
Beekeepers hate it when their market is subverted by funny honey but many US beekeepers have no problem subverting the miticide market with off label active ingredients to save a few bucks. Beekeepers will clamour for new actives while at the same time subverting the market of current formulated products. What is industry’s motivation to help us when it is obvious that we will subvert their market to save even 50 cents? We are our own worst enemy. We can and must do better.
Lewis
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