How Randy got started in Beekeeping with a Diving Mask.
What does Randy enjoy about beekeeping
The Internet doesn't have any editor
Don't give up on a new treatment that you have only use once. Check that you are using it correctly for your conditions.
What are Randy's Top three ways to control varroa mites
Does America have a true Varroa resistant bee yet?
Randy's thoughts on what causes 'CCD'
Randy's thoughts about neonicotinoid class of pesticides
The Anti-GMO movement is misguided according to Randy
Randy's beekeeping plans for the next season
What did you think of this chat? Have you had success with using any of some of Randy's methods in your Beekeeping?
Gary Fawcett
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Great listening to Randy. Thanks for posting the podcast. Randy is great doing research on what we need.
One concern I have noticed that might be of concern.... From what I have seen many of the trials he runs are conducted with samples that are so small the data is marginal at best. Nothing against Randy or his work. Funding needs to be bumped up to do it right!!! What he's doing is terribly expensive....
He does a split on every hive in spring and on day 19 hit with OA, keeps swarming to a minimum, and really knocks down the mites. I may need to put this on the list (about minute 20).
i really cracked up after randy's comment about if you have a beekeeping question just ask a second year beek because they know everything. (made me think about myself )
i also like the balance randy strikes between the need for treatments under certain circumstances and the merit in pursuing a treatment free approach in areas with feral populations showing resistance.
i really cracked up after randy's comment about if you have a beekeeping question just ask a second year beek because they know everything. (made me think about myself )
May I add another observation... These big mouth dults which Randy was mocking tend to almost always lean towards the 100%treatment free way of thinking. A very high % get out after a few years of failure when they come to acknowledge their stupidity was bigger than their ego...
I look at Randy's "Scientific Beekeeping", occasionally. In his podcast, he presents some good balanced views. A very good speaker.
Even though Randy says that the GMO issue is not really a problem for bees, I do question and am very suspicious of the GMO issue. Namely the BT GMO plants, (with the insecticide gene built in). Sorry, I just can't help being a bit paranoid about the long range effects of these things.
I would say that he represents a good balanced view of the commercial beekeeping community. Somewhere in the middle of his interview he made a statement that both hobby beekeeper and commercial beekeepers have a lot to learn from each other. I don't know about that. It is like trying to adapt experience of a mass producing furniture factory to a hand made one of a kind furniture shop. Like Randy mentioned in his podcast, for a commercial bee farmer profit is paramount, thus everything is geared toward maximizing it. Bees themselves are incidental, could be cows, or sheep, or beets. Hardly anything in that approach can be beneficial for a hobby beekeeper. All the money and time spent on the research still geared toward big machine called commercial beekeeping. Example - why would a beekeeper who cares about his/her bees would go intentionally stress a bee colony to the point of failing and then after that "experiment" go ahead and split it five ways and see what happens. However if the profit is what driving you, it makes total sense. You send you hives to almond pollination (which I think everybody can agree not necessarily beneficial to bee health in general) and then do splits from each hive, because it is not going to be good for anything else after that.
I'm all about scientific methodology in bee experimentation and agree that it would do good for anybody trying to experiment with bees to follow those guidelines before jumping to any conclusions. Unfortunately Randy seems to favor the faith based science regardless of his criticism of it, only he comes from the other side of the spectrum. For example, he made a statement the Neonicotinoids had no effect on CCD and later that CCD is largely over. Now what happened to scientific methodology here? Last time I checked, there was no definite peer reviewed results linking CCD to anything in particular. The same goes for the affect of Neonicotinoids on bees. Yet it is very scientific to assume that this group of pesticides is safe for bees (however at the same time he wasn't sure about effects on people). His statement about GMO falls in the same category. There is really not enough scientific evidence to lead to any definite conclusion - one way or another. Unfortunately, this is how FDA operates - kind of like our justice system - not guilty until proven otherwise. So all kind of chemicals and practices become approved for use on our food without extensive research of their effects and if, down the line, they prove to be harmful then they would take a second look at them. Meanwhile all the science is being done by the educated guys monetary motivated in maintaining the status quo.
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Very well written Bee-52. I heartily agree with your summary.
Also...I wonder if Randy considers oxalic acid and it's various methods a type of chemical treatment like Apistan or considers it to be a natural treatment?
For example, he made a statement the Neonicotinoids had no effect on CCD and later on that CCD is over. Now what happened to scientific methodology here? Last time I checked, there was no definite peer reviewed results linking CCD to anything in particular. The same goes for the affect of Neonicotinoids on bees. Yet it is very scientific to assume that it is safe for bees (however at the same time he wasn't sure about effects on people).
Exactly, so how do neonics have an effect on CCD, particularly since there has been no recognized case of CCD in the last few years and neonics are still in use. I don't believe he's ever said that neonics are safe for bees. They are insecticides and bees are insects. What he's said is that there are no studies that indicate that neonics are causing major hive losses. You are probably too young to remember the serious losses of hives to the organophosphates. Personally I am much more worried about the fungicides than the neonics. I know I've lost hives to fungicides and don't think I've lost any hives to neonics.
You send you hives to almond pollination (which I think everybody can agree not necessarily beneficial to bee health in general) and then do splits from each hive, because it is not going to be good for anything else after that.
I don't know where you got this idea. Hives often come out of almonds bursting with bees and need to be split to prevent swarming, not an indication that they're not good for anything else.
And that's exactly why I compared his approach to that of the FDA. He could've as well said there are no studies that indicate that neonics are NOT causing major hive losses
Didn't realize that it was such a rejuvenation experience for the bees. I was going by what I've heard from other people on this forum. However, if we stick to the subject of the podcast, I believe that Randy himself states that it is hard to get a booming colony second year in a row from the one that came out of almonds. That's why he capitalizes on the natural stimulating effect that swarming (in this case splitting) provides and at the same time helps him to unload the problems associate with accumulated chemicals in the beehive to other people.
And that's exactly why I compared his approach to that of the FDA. He could've as well said there are no studies that indicate that neonics are NOT causing major hive losses
He told me that he uses thymol, oxalic acid dribble method only, & quickstrips if I'm not mistaken.
Not just for experimental reasons. He does almond pollination in Feb & needs strong hives to do it.
Like all of us Randy would prefer to refrain from using any chems. Since he is wise enough to acknowledge that doing so is not a viable option in commercial beekeeping at this point he has decided to use the natural softer ones.
He's not TF.... He's Synthetic chem free if I understand correctly.
Thanks to everyone that has listened to our chat with Randy.
Here is the transcription of the recent interview with Randy Oliver. Randy started as a hobbyist beekeeper in 1967. Then went to study biological sciences, specializing in entomology at University.
We had some hearing impaired beekeepers contact us about providing this transcription. If this is useful to you please comment below. We may make it part of our regular show notes.
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