Defra’s Standard Letter (Ref: Tim Lovett on page 5 - August 2008 BBKA News)

[admin]

The pressure of letters to the Minister from individuals and MPs asking for an explanation of Defra’s position on bee health research has forced the department to use a standard letter response, an example of which is shown here. Much is said of the bee health strategy but this document is woefully short of commitment to research and provision of adequate funding. The department’s responses as expected, evade the key question as to why Defra will not find the modest funds needed to undertake urgent research on varroa management, Nosema ceranae and viruses – all strongly implicated in colony collapse disorder. Foul brood remains poorly understood posing the question whether the Defra’s current approach to its management is appropriate. These are just a few of the points to raise in your specific follow-up letters. Don’t let Defra off the hook with its obfuscation – go back to your MP and insist that a proper response is obtained from Defra. Winter colony losses have reached 30%. If this continues unresearched and without a solution, Lord Rooker’s statement that we may lose our bees in ten years may prove somewhat optimistic! Keep writing and don’t accept the answers you get until there is the sea-change we need!

To download the letter in PDF format visit the Members Area:
(http://www.britishbee.org.uk/members/bbka_research_campaign.php (http://www.britishbee.org.uk/members/bbka_research_campaign.php))


Regards Steve

[Jon]

There was a related article in today's Guardian.

Britain's honeybees have suffered catastrophic losses this year, according to a survey of the nation's beekeepers, contributing to a shortage of honey and putting at risk the pollination of fruits and vegetables.

The survey by the British Beekeepers' Association (BBKA) revealed that nearly one in three of the UK's 240,000 honeybee hives did not survive this winter and spring.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/aug/12/conservation.wildlife1

[m100]

Winter colony losses have reached 30%. If this continues unresearched and without a solution, Lord Rooker’s statement that we may lose our bees in ten years may prove somewhat optimistic!

30% year on year losses with 240,000 hives in year 1 leaves 9700 hives in year 10, 1600 hives in year 15...and total extinction in year 36. I'd hazard a wild guess this year in terms of bees survivability into winter has been no better than last.

Along similar lines there is a "Government response" to a Bee Research petition that was signed by 4,411 petitioners.

http://www.number10.gov.uk/Page16488

[ChrisBroad]

There are 2 sides to every coin:

Last winter I lost 60 out of 180 colonies. Through organic growth I'm back to about 200. The bees I have now are in much better shape than 12 months ago and I've had a good honey crop.

I have an apiary that has had no varroa treatments whatsoever since autumn 2006. Losses were 60%. But splitting increased numbers again and now 27 out of 32 were strong enough to go to the heather.

We've encountered 2 colonies 30 feet high in trees this season. In both cases swarms have issued annually according to witnesses, suggesting the colonies are long established.

I'm cautiously optimistic about prospects for bees in this country. We need to be careful about the gloomy messages being pumped out and try to present something more balanced. What if next winter's losses are only 20%? That could kill the research funding campaign because we're giving loss rates too much weighting. There are some serious threats to honeybee health out there, but at the moment they are only threats. Let's not appear to be "crying wolf" over winter losses that are largely understandable, when the real problems haven't yet arrived.

[V8landy]

Very well said Chris.

I lost a few colonies last winter, but I am going into winter this year with more colonies (through my own expansion not buying colonies or queens) which are stronger than last year.

To quick a knee jerk reaction can loose face. A compasion can be to oil prices, look how all the press speculation of $200 barrel by summer and it is now nealry back down to $100