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NEW ZEALAND BEEKEEPER, MAY 2017
FROM THE COLONIES REGIONAL REPORTS
The speakers programme concluded with Byron Taylor presenting an overview on AsureQuality and the beekeeping industry, Jason Uden on farm safety, and Fiona O’Brien on varroa management plans. After that it was a quick afternoon tea, and then to the practical breakout sessions. Outside the hall, beekeepers and suppliers demonstrated and answered queries about varroa monitoring (sticky board, sugar and alcohol washes) and varroa control (correct strip placement and organic treatment options—oxalic acid vaporisation and mineral oil fogging). It was just as well that we had excellent weather for the day, giving us so much more scope for the practical demonstrations. Four beekeeper utes provided an ideal stage viewable by lots of people, as well as further opportunities for beekeepers to meet and greet. The day concluded around 4 pm. I heard many favourable comments such as “What a neat day” and from a seasoned beekeeper, “It was good to go back to basics”. We have had unsolicited feedback since the event from beekeepers and exhibitors, all of it positive. Hopefully this will encourage many to expand on their knowledge and maybe make more connections by attending the Apiculture New Zealand conference in Rotorua in July. The field day was four months in the planning stages, initially by a committee of five (Hub President Kim Poynter, Vice President John Bassett, Secretary Pauline Bassett, Treasurer Fiona O’Brien, and member Sarah Hughes). We met face to face twice and the rest of the planning was done by email. Closer to the event, we shoulder-tapped extras to assist on the day. Although the weather on the day was perfect, the preceding days had been anything but, which unfortunately meant that a number of people were unable to travel. That is one of the hazards of running such a day. It spelled out to us the necessity of having a covered venue. In that we were very lucky, as the church hall is designed for large numbers and has suitable breakout areas if required. It also has excellent microphones, overhead projector, large screen – techno stuff that Aaron Martin utilised most capably and ran it like clockwork on the day. The committee again wishes to thank the exhibitors for their participation and their generosity, the church workers for the excellent catering (and traffic control), the ‘volunteers’ who helped with everything from doorkeeping, directing traffic, selling raffles, etc. And, of course, all those who attended—we are sure you had an enjoyable and informative day.
WAIKATO
[Editor’s note: seems like we’ve been saying this every month in 2017, but our thoughts are with everyone who has been affected by flooding. Fingers crossed for settled weather conditions over winter! ]
Jo Telfar took this photo of Mount Te Aroha reflected in the floodwaters near her hives.
BAY OF PLENTY
There are lots of feed tanks on utes in the BOP. Some areas are wintering down well; others are starving. The higher density of hives is definitely one of the reasons for hungry hives. It would be handy if Apiweb could show us all apiary locations and beekeeper names so we could plan accordingly. [Editor’s note: for privacy reasons, only Authorised Persons are allowed to access this information when doing inspections.] It has certainly been a mixed season with honey quantity and quality, with reports from beekeepers from one extreme to the other (not so much of the other). As I am writing this report (5 April), we are being hit with the remains of Cyclone Debbie. She is being a bit of a witch. Any low-lying lands around the BOP have turned into pretty big lakes as a result. It sounds like the Whanganui River is taking a hammering again. I have not heard of hive losses as a result but I am sure we will. Honey buyers are slow setting prices this year but understandably so, given the delay in setting mānuka honey standards.
John and Pauline Bassett on the day. Photo: Chrissy Simmens.
Good wintering, everyone, and see you at conference.
- Bruce Lowe continued...
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