My concern is that political forces not biological science will dictate the importation of Australia bees and lifting the current ban on that country’s bees.
Kim Flottum and other notable entomologists/biologist has made several compelling scientific arguments against lifting the ban, however, how often do politicians listen to science when campaign contributions and votes are at stake?
I fear (hope it is unjustified) that something is brewing between the two countries sponsored by big privet interest groups. Obviously, Australia’s beekeepers have a financial stake in opening trade between them and the U.S. Then you only have to look at the end user on our side to see who would be behind such a lifting of the ban.
Shortsighted economics say lift the ban to save the almond crop, to some that is all they will hear.
Honey -4- All, I have been involved for over 18 years in the bee business. I was a partner and had a small-undivided interest in a beekeeping business that owned about 8,000 hives and managed 3,000 other hives. I know all too well the repercussions of cheap hives flooding the California market.
You can claim all you want that the bees are weak and will not pollinate as well as bees from such states as Florida, the fact of the matter that many almond growers do not view it that way. Beginning in the early 2000s, as we geared up our inventory of hives, our growers began looking for a cheaper source of pollination. I remember vividly tens of thousands of what we called disposable nucs arriving at SFO. In one season, our growers replaced almost 3,000 of our hives with these Australian imports. To save other pollination contracts we had to reduce our rental fees just to save the account and to recover as much of our costs as possible. As the financial officer of our little Co-Op, I estimated that we lost in revenue, the equivalent of 4,000 hive rentals in 2004. That was the beginning of the end of our little venture. We were major supporters when Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) introduced a bill to ban Australian bees in September 2007. It was too late for us, but it protected other beekeepers from financial decline and prevented or at least slowed the Java Strain, Apis cerena and the mite it carries Tropilaelaps clarae from spreading in the U.S.
Honey - 4-All, If you wait to file a suit on the importation of Australia bees after the Federal, State and county agi-commissions give it their blessing, you have about as much chance prevailing as someone that sues you because your bee stung them. Most of the suits are heading in the wrong direction, Canadian Blueberry growers just filed a $200 million suit alleging crop damage due to the ban on imported American bees. How soon do you think it will be before California Growers follow suit? (no pun intended).
Honey- 4 All, I’m afraid you and I would be a small flea on a very big dog at taking on that type of financial legal costs.