The media presents the CCD map without explanations - these are states from
which we have received reports of CCD from beekeepers. The results reflect a
16 month period of time, and do not imply that CCD is in all states at the
same time. We don't have any control over how the maps are used/presented,
which is unfortunate.
As per the reliability of our survey compared to the so called 'on the
ground reports' from Bee-L -- we may see some bias, considering how the data is
collected -- BUT, it is based on the reports of 639 beekeepers in 43 states -
which is a relatively large and dispersed number of beekeepers. Also, over
70 of our respondents were large scale beekeepers.
Both our survey and Bee-L show that many beekeepers are working hard at
trying to help solve this problem. How to best do that is a question of merit.
Unfortunately, NASS doesn't track bee losses or even bee movement, so getting
accurate information is difficult.
Bee-L has the same bias as our bee loss survey - all information is based on
input from only those people who decide to contribute information, mostly
electronically. Bee-L has far fewer people providing input (at least with
respect to on-line discussions) about CCD than our surveys, so I'd be careful
about sweeping statements about who is getting a more accurate picture of CCD in
the U.S.
Neither our survey or Bee-L is unbiased (random sample). On the other
hand, we only count the input from each person once - 639 individual reports,
whereas the opinions of a few Bee-L members are repeated over and over.
Many times we've seen the information, provided by the more than 600
respondents to our surveys, disprove the opinions on Bee-L. For example, feeding
sucrose syrup compared to high fructose does NOT provide CCD protection.
Non-migratory beekeepers have sustained CCD, as well as migratory beekeepers.
Organic beekeepers do report CCD, as well as beekeepers who throw everything and
the kitchen sink at their bees in attempts to control mites. Beekeepers
with mite problems, out of control, experience CCD. Beekeepers with mites under
control, or with almost a total absence of mites, also experience CCD.
Feeding fumagillin does not eliminate CCD.
I'm sorry, but I work with data, and we have over a quarter of a million
answers to many critical questions. Our survey approach will not accurately
provide the total number of colonies or beekeeping operations affected by CCD,
because a volunteer survey has a sampling bias.
However, the information provided by more than 600 of the nation's
beekeepers, including 70 of our largest, provides a wealth of data about the affects
of differing styles of bee management, overall causes of bee death,
distribution and timing of bee loss problems, and other contributing factors important
to an epidemeology investigation. The most important lesson learned,
beekeepers in the U.S. are sustaining far greater losses of bees to a variety of
causes than what be tolerated by any other aspect of our agriculture. We used
to think 5-10% overwinter loss was about the norm, and pesticides were an
occasional problem. We now have beekeepers accepting 50% losses as normal. Its
hard to make a living or profit under those conditions.
Jerry
Jerry
************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com.
******************************************************
* Full guidelines for BEE-L posting are at: *
* http://www.honeybeeworld.com/bee-l/guidelines.htm *
******************************************************
|
