Gino de Graaf

How many staples would you place per hive over your season? I guess you add/replace as you work? Even a ball park number...

Nice hive. I think you're onto something about 'exposure' to the acid and treating according to strength. I think there is an initial whack of acid which can kill bees, then the acid level drops as the staples 'dry' out- giving no long term adverse affect. The staples do produce a large contact area. Others have had success, but had a dud experience trying to introduce queen cells in Feb (strong hives) at the same time as placing 4 x staples. Lots of queenless and some deads by April. I have to disclose that these sites did experience a heavy Willow Dew flow and not much pollen- so they shut down early and got bogged with Willow Poo. My breeders at home have had staples since Summer and today, 3 washes - 1, 2 and 4 mites. Ox/Gly staples work. Just need to understand how to manage.

I also noticed this effect last spring. Gave me a fright seeing dead and crawly bees out front. No ideas why, we did discuss maybe bees with some virus load getting hit hard with the oxalic. We also talked about the possibility that the younger bees get hit harder than the older ones, soft exoskelton. So a hive with a large amount of younger bees emerging at once may be more susceptible to an oxalic hit.

Yes,?

ha, ha. No, honey is not a big part of my business. Ox will get a go also,

Hi all, Any people working together for bulk deal on Apivar/traz? Bay of plenty area.

Well, the only significant 'rise' I have witnessed since the 80's - Manuka and all things associated with it (nucs, utes, beekeeping equipment, queens...) Kiwifruit pollination services was a smaller 'rise' - over time the fee has gone up from a paltry 80 odd bucks, partly due to lack of bees available due to Manuka (though a kiwi manager said a big outfit in Auckland -6000 odd hives available is sniffing around in the Bay) - The fee is still relatively small compared to the sheer importance of those bees relative to overall cost of kiwifruit. I don't think I will ever witness another Manuka boom- but am open minded. You know so? or think so? Have all forum members sold their 'manuka' crop this season? The feedback ( I am no expert as I only have pasture- which is sitting in the shed) is - 'bit heavy on manuka at present' - too much of it in buyers sheds to even consider more. Even good stuff. I reckon beekeepers with higher volumes of goods manuka, the well connected and ones with secure long term supply arrangements/partnerships are doing alright. And keep this information to themselves. My thoughts on 'new beekeepers' - some have injected some real value. Seeking new markets for their honey overseas and creating nice brands. We need to encourage this. They also bleed anyone they perceive as having any knowledge dry and seem willing to take a risks trying. Though these new guys are somewhat aggressive/inconsiderate/indifferent when searching for bee sites. The 'old guard' tend to do things the same. Just because they have been around for ages doesn't mean they do things well either.

Well if it is, that sucks. I now understand why the council wants a chat. F em. They took the risk. So very true. It's happening and it will help reduce hive numbers over time. There could be an excellent opportunity for someone to establish a 'get out of beekeeping' enterprise. Like the liquidators do. Salvage what you can. Not sure why we need to thrash this out- we all seem to agree- Too bad and too hard. What ever way you look at it, someone will pay for this. @Dennis Crowley maybe they could pay a 'retainer' for those boundary riders to stay away? A stocking rate is the only way I can imagine some control, but all a bit knee jerk. Everyone was smiling when clover sold for good bucks and average bush considered manuka.

Which council? Why does this council care about 'boundary beekeeping'? - what has it got to do with them... it's a business matter, do they own the land? manuka? Did the landowner/beekeepers instigate this 'issue' ? then seek to meet with council to help out. Then reframe it so look like the council has the issue? Spin. What's your role- from APINZ or as the beekeeper involved? Can anyone else come with you to this meeting? I won't be happy if this council decides to introduce some bylaws to protect private interest- in Manuka. Any such law will then have to be applied to all boundaries/areas, then other councils might get on board... A per hectare time of arrangement could work?? A small block gets fewer hives, vice versa. The stocking rate would have to consider land type. Imagine the cost of monitoring... and guess who pays... and guess who gets the moola If you choose to plant manuka, and then don't like your neighbour - too bad. Due diligence anyone.

Yes, is 3km a bees boundary,  so, no other bees within 3 kms of a manuka plantation? As the crow flies? how is it measured? it's a long way. Or else you are stealing high value honey... what happens when say clover/spring yard people use the same argument? They want to protect what they feel is valuable also. Can't see it working really. What happens when two manuka blocks are neighbours? Just because some jokes plant manuka doesn't mean there 'lot' is more valuable than mature plots. Bit like trying to protect something in hindsight really...

You probably have to define what is 'boundary riding' first? placing hives near a boundary? any boundary? too broad a term.

I went to a cricket match, a 20/20 last summer. Quite entertaining, but I had limited idea of what was actually happening. Reckon watching it on a big screen with replays and commentary could have been much wiser use of time and resources. And out of the blazing sun...

yes, probably a good buy. Bit of a risk though without a good look over it. See they replied to the tie down, I guess the rail is hidden?

Hey Maru, weird how that truck got no tie down rails...

Good question. I had a look at the programme- only really interested in 3 topics- over 3 days. Not really worth the investment I feel. I could be interested in heading over to check out the trade stuff and catch up with some other beekeepers, if allowed to.