DNA testing

[BjornBee]

In sending queens to Canada, a DNA test for AHB strain is to be performed. Anybody know how much, what/where are the options of sending them too, and how long does this take? Is this something done at the university level or some certified lab?

If I sell bees from my yard to some guy who I have no knowledge of where he is taking them (thats my story and I'm sticking to it), and he is stopped at the Canadian border with bees, will that come back to me? And yes, I have been approached.

[BerkeyDavid]

I would subscribe to don't ask, don't tell. You sold the bees in the US. End of story.

[BerkeyDavid]

As a side note, however, I assume that all subscribers to this board would engage in responsible and ethical behaviour, i.e. avoid selling or distributing diseased stock. That goes without saying.

[Jim Fischer]

> If I sell bees from my yard to some guy who I
> have no knowledge of where he is taking them
> (thats my story and I'm sticking to it), and he
> is stopped at the Canadian border with bees, will
> that come back to me? And yes, I have been
> approached.

Bees have been "taken North" for years by those
who were desperate for decent bees. Some of them
have been caught, and they were harshly fined by
Canadian customs. While it is not a crime to
sell bees to anyone who asks for them in the US,
not noticing that their car has Canadian plates
would be sort of hard to do. You might become
"a person of interest" if this happened too often.

As AHB has never (to my knowledge) been found
in PA, I would think that the Canadians would
cut you some slack on this specific requirement,
as long as the stock you used was 100% local,
or purchased from breeders/producers outside
the AHB areas.

Why not do the right thing, ask Canada about the
requirement, and offer to "certify" the AHB-free
nature of your bees, per the terms of the WTO and
NAFTA treaties?

The requirement for overt testing does not apply
to a region that has no history of a pest or
disease, so the only "problem" is that the
Canadians may persist in viewing the USA as a
single "region", which is not only silly, but
easily proven wrong.

The key point is how often (if ever) PA is
"surveyed" for AHB by Penn State and/or the
MAAREC team. I dunno.

[BjornBee]

Jfischer, not sure what you mean by "region has no history" comment. I have the form in front of me and it gives no indication, directions, or guidance for any exemptions. Are you just saying that if asked, they may cut slack, and/or has this been done previously? It is very clear as to the AFB, SHB, V-mite testing, along with AHB requirements. It says that AHB are not to of been found within 100 miles of the breeder apairy, and this is to be certified by the state ag dept. The next section specifically states that PCR-DNA testing is to be performed, period. This is not based on the 100 mile requirment.

Are there exemptions (you know of) not found or mentioned on the form?
Thank you.

[Jim Fischer]

> Are you just saying that if asked, they may cut
> slack, and/or has this been done previously?

Since the border has been closed for nearly
two decades, the whole situation is "new",
and nothing has been done before.

> It says that AHB are not to of been found within
> 100 miles of the breeder apairy, and this is to
> be certified by the state ag dept.

Reasonable, and permitted under the treaties
as a prudent biosecurity measure.

> The next section specifically states that
> PCR-DNA testing is to be performed, period.
> This is not based on the 100 mile requirment.

Unreasonable, given the certification required
from the state apiarist, which is why questions
are in order. DNA testing would be reasonable
if one were within 100 miles of AHB, but to
require it in addition to certification goes
beyond the WTO agreements as to what is a valid
biosecurity control, and what is a "non-tariff
barrier to trade".

In short the DNA requirement is unwarranted, and
if bees where a "big business", would become
the subject of the usual bickering that goes
on between "trading partners".

Problem is, bees will never be "worth bickering
over", as the US trade representative has much
bigger problems to address. So, we are on our
own.

[NC Beeman]

Speaking of DNA testing. If memory serves me correctly, when the africanized bees were first found in Texas, the breeders in africanized areas were required to have have federal DNA tests every so often. Is this still required? Have the results of the tests ever been published? Our friend in Pa may not be within 100 miles of an africanized bee find, but he may be having them delivered to his front door by a UPS truck. Who knows what the story is on this?

[BjornBee]

I can understand the bee spread by truck and all. I also know that too much red tape is self-defeating. It makes me wonder about the two contacts that were made to me by Canadians...

First one was a beekeeper who mentioned in the conversation about needing to purchase the bees north of the mason-dixon line. This for AFB concerns. I did not know enough at the time to ask further. He wanted them early and I passed him along to another producer as he wanted a one time quantity of 1000. Not this year. smile.gif

The second contact was in reference to me making a trip down south. I normally do but I have probably made my last trip. He did not care if they were raised by me or not. He just wanted me to make the purchase or "find" him the bees in need. I mentioned my position and that I would not take that risk. The conversation ended.

I mention the above two contacts because it seems that if the need is that great and I could pose as a middle-man and profit from purchasing bees in the south and selling them off through my business, than AHB will still cross the border. And it could be done without a business/certification as Jim mentioned as its been done before. He wanted bees. Period. He didn't want questions.

I wonder how hard the next beekeeper will look at the license plate as mentioned before?

Does anyone know if bees raised north of the mason-dixon line are somehow exempt or have different requirements? I am not sure if the one contact knew or not. He may of had bad info.

[BULLSEYE BILL]

Would the Mason-Dixon line run between Ks and OK? I guess it would go coast to coast?

It appears that we now have AHB within 100 miles from our state line. :(

Bjorn, I would be VERY careful of being set up.

[magnet-man]

Bill in Oklahoma the DNA test runs $50. Also the counties that have AHB are more than 100 miles from the Kansas line. I know everyone in Tulsa was hoping for a very cold winter. Unfortunately it was the warmest winter that I can remember, so I guess the bees will make some more progress into the state.