> Ps. Hell the bee inspection service could be tracking Randy down as
> we speak to levy a $10,000 fine for his use of oxalic acid ! Kidding!
Stranger things have happened.
Some time back, a Texas sideline beekeeper was persecuted by USDA for merely
_describing_ (not recommending), on an AOL bee group, how some commercial
beekeepers were using a commercial miticide in their beehives to control
varroa. FWIW, the method described was definitely off-label, since the
product was not registered for bees.
At any rate the ACLU had to get involved to protect his freedom of speech,
and it took a while to get the matter resolved.
As far as oxalic is concerned, I don't know why you guys down there in the
'land of the free' don't get together and register oxalic. Regardless of
what a few naysayers claim, oxalic _can_ be handled safely, works well, and
leaves no detectable residues. Moreover, oxalic is used freely in some of
the most discriminating countries. In Canada, CHC has now raised $23,000
Canadian dollars and has the approval process underway. See
http://honeycouncil.ca/users/folder.asp?FolderID=876&nID=409
Oxalic may not be the magic bullet in areas where there is brood year
'round, but oxalic -- evaporated or drenched -- is another low cost, safe
weapon in the fight against varroa. For some up in the north, oxalic seems
to control well enough that nothing else is required. And, did I say oxalic
is cheap?
Don't wait for some big chemical company to register it. I doubt thay can
figure out how to get a slice of the 2c per hive that a treatment costs or
figure out how to make beekeepers dependant on their proprietary formula.
Beekeepers will have to dig into their pockets and pony up some of that
$1.98 (or maybe $3.98) per hive they stand to save each year to earn the
right to use oxalic without looking back over their shoulders.
allen
A Beekeeper's Diary: http://www.honeybeeworld.com/diary/
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