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2002 & 2003 Season
The 2002 almond
crop could (again) be a record one in spite of some frost damage
in Northern California. Almond prices are likely to remain depressed
due to the large crop. The cherry crop is also good (early cherries
bloom with almonds) and is nearing harvest in our area. As this
is being written (4/26) rains have started; if rains continue,
cherries can incur cracking damage.
We plan on making a modest
price increase for the 2003 almond pollination season (we will
know our '03 price in July). Your current agreement with us remains
in effect for 2003 unless cancelled by June 1st. We hope to continue
to work with you next year, but if you wish to cancel, please
let us know by June 1.
Late-season bee losses
in almonds
Every year we have
some almond bees that suffer spray damage and/or decline at the
tail-end of almond bloom. In many cases, these losses occur after
the bees are released, and almost all occur after pollination
is over (after there is no more pollen in the orchard). Because
most growers apply a petal-fall spray, fungicides are often blamed
for such late-season losses (with the combination of good weather
+ low almond prices this year, many growers skipped the
petal-fall fungicide spray).
In my opinion, the reason for
late-season bee losses are twofold: 1. insecticide sprays on
crops in the area (these sprays can be well over a mile from
the bees; over 2 miles, if they are on an attractive crop)
2. Starvation conditions at the end of bloom. As bees go from
feast to famine, they expel drones and pull brood. Dead drones
near the hive entrance are a tip-off.
Traynor goofs (again)
Shortly after the first bees (288 colonies) were delivered to
an orchard that had been dormant sprayed (with Supracide) 3 days
earlier, the bees started dying and continued to die for a couple
of days. In previous years, we've had no problems placing bees
2 days after Supracide but this year conditions were such that
the bees suffered. It was a good learning experience for me (and
an expensive one - I paid for 100 additional make-up colonies).
Small cells - The idea
that won't die
Ed and Dee Lusby (Tucson, AZ) have pushed small-cell beekeeping
for years and have slowly gathered a following. A foreign manufacturer
will be making small-cell foundation and Dadants will be selling
small-cell foundation this year.
Small cells are 4.9 mm diameter
vs. the standard 5.2 to 5.5 mm. Small cells give shorter bee
development time, thus imparting some varroa resistance. The
Lusbys haven't used mite-control chemicals for years. See http://www.beesource.com/pov/lusby/index.htm
for more information. And look for articles on the subject in
upcoming issues of Bee Culture and the American Bee Journal.
Euc-Nosema connection?
Frank Eischen relayed some 1979 information from the S. African
(or Australian) researcher Kleinschmidt: "Heavy Nosema
infestations without physical symptoms occur if hives are managed
on cool-cold flows. This appears to further reduce longevity
and is disastrous if in association with nutritional decrease
of longevity." Eucalyptus honey is a "cool-cold
flow". This could explain high nosema counts in "warm"
areas like San Diego county.
Mandarin Madness
Mandarin oranges command a premium price (at least at
present) in the citrus market and there have been a number of
recent plantings in the Southern San Joaquin Valley. Most mandarin
varieties need bees to set a maximum crop, but most will also
set a good crop without pollination (by bees).
Fruits that set without pollination
are called "parthenocarpic" fruit; parthenocarpic fruit
have no seeds. Mandarins are sold as "seedless" if
they have less than about 3 seeds per fruit and "seedless"
Mandarins command a premium price in the market. If the seed
count goes above 3/fruit, the fruit is down-graded and the grower
gets less money. As a result, most Mandarin growers don't want
bees near their groves.
One large Mandarin grower in
southwest Kern county sent a letter to his neighbors requesting
that they not allow bees to be placed within 2 miles of his Mandarins.
Mandarins only set seed if they receive pollen from another variety
(esp. Valencia). U.C. recommends planting a buffer of 4 rows
(or trees) of Navel oranges (Navels produce no pollen) around
a Mandarin planting. This should reduce or eliminate the possibility
of "contamination" with foreign pollen.
Great News!! (at least for us)
Our staple gun was found! By Jim Rodenberg and his crew. Jim
refused to accept our reward (after learning what it would be
- something about "dignity").
Marketing 101 (short
course)
Beekeepers shake their heads when strolling the aisles of a supermarket
and seeing the small amount of shelf space devoted to honey.
A major reason (as Sioux Bee has told its members over the years)
is "slotting fees". In a cover story on Kraft Foods,
the April 15 issue of Forbes discusses the subject:
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For a new product the standard
price of admission to the shelves is a slotting fee - up to $25,000
per item for a regional cluster of stores. (A California food
producer says he met with a buyer at a chain grocer who demanded
$250,000 for ten stores and wouldn't even take a meeting until
he received a $100,000 check.)
Obviously, a giant retailer can pummel a tiny supplier with greater
impunity than it can a big one. "Wal-Mart isn't able to
put the
squeeze on suppliers who are dominant in their market,"
says University of North Carolina professor Paul Bloom.
Retailers have another way
to extract money from food manufacturers: Make them pay for the
advertising circulars that jam your Sunday paper... - up to $3000
for a one-inch square color photo.
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Over the years we have given
Sioux Bee BBQ sauce to clients who then complain they can't find
it in stores. The reason? "Slotting fees". One answer:
a buyout, by Kraft, of Honey (fill in the blank) which would
result in a dramatic increase in shelf space for honey -and greater
honey sales. In the category of "be careful what you wish
for, you might get it" a large food company in the honey
business could also wind up dictating price to beekeepers (just
as some large almond growers dictate pollination rental fees
to beekeepers)
How about all U.S. beekeepers
selling under one honey label, with entire shelves devoted to
different kinds of U.S. honey? Nah, it would never work.
Upon Further Review
I'll take back
that statement in our March 6 newsletter ("Be prepared when
we ask you next December: 'What are your tracheal and nosema
counts?") for a couple of reasons: first, no one likes to
be told how to run his business; second, sampling methods can
give widely varying results. Also, the 2 beekeepers that supplied
us the best bees this year didn't sample. The best incentive
to taking measures (including testing) to reduce tracheal-nosema
damage is knowing substandard colonies won't be paid for in almonds.
Late fall to early spring is
the best time to sample for tracheal-nosema (populations are
low at other times but build when bees are confined). Eric Mussen
recommends sampling older bees at hive entrances, a few from
a number of colonies with emphasis on weaker colonies. Put the
bees (about 100) in a plastic bottle, and add drug-store alcohol
(we use Priority Mail cartons for shipping; free from Post Office).
We'll pick up the tab for 1
free analysis (worth $35) from Jan Dormaier (see enclosed coupon).
Thanks!
We would have no business without your efforts.
- Joe Traynor
SCIENTIFIC AG CO.
OFFICE: 1734 D STREET, SUITE #2
MAILING: P.0. BOX 2144
BAKERSFIELD, CA 93303
(661) 327-2631
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