From: "deelusbybeekeeper" <deelusbybeekeeper@excelonline.com>
Date: Sat, 7 Jul 2001 22:40:18 -0700
To: <BiologicalBeekeeping@yahoogroups.com>
Subject: Re: AOS Apiculture section

Hi to all on Biological Beekeeping

Joel wrote:

> This needs to be modified. As it reads it gives a bureaucrat arbitrary and
> dictatorial powers over any beek at any time. All that agent has to do is
> "deem it necessary" and you're stuck. It should be qualified so that the
> agent is required to meet some minimum standards which demonstrate a
> legitimate need for a given case exception, and the beek should be given an
> avenue of appeal.

Reply:

Better yet the policy should be uniform for everyone. Having the power to
pick and choose makes for too much questionable decisions, especially if
politics is involved. We do not need beekeepers being singled out with hard
policy to follow, while others that agree have opposite treatment. There has
been enough of this in the past!

> >1.1.3.2. Regular renewal of queen bees;

> comment: what does this mean? Does it mean that if I happen to have an
> exceptional queen, and want to keep her going for 2 or 3 seasons to get more
> daughters from her, that I can't do that?

Reply:

Actually if it is your regular renewal I would see it as being your interval
for working the problem. But actually as worded, much is to be desired in
the choice of words and meaning. Therefore your comments are justified for
wanting more clarification.

> >1.1.4.6. Wing clipping;

> comment: I feel no need to clip wings, but why does it specifically need to
> be outlawed? Some people apparently feel that this is a good swarm control
> technique, and if it works for them, why should any one else care?

Reply:

We have been talking quite a bit on this. The organic laws should pertain to
safe food and feed first. Even going back to Rodale's (at the beginning of
the movement back more than 20 years ago) or even care of livestock (of
which bees are) prior to treatments via chemicals/drugs in their beginning
in the middle to late 1800s, this would fit in with traditions of how bees
were kept.More comment will probably be needed, but bear in mind that the
rules must encompass not only honey producers, but also breeders of clean
bees for both resale to producers and food industry also, plus misc
industries i.e. fishing!

> >1.1.5.3. Equipment which comes in contact with honey must be made of
> >stainless steel, glass, or other food grade materials.

Reply:

The comment back on excess verbage was excellent for clarifying.

More comments to come Joel?