A gravel company is planning to build an asphalt plant in the next few months. This will be less than one mile from my home and bees. We have meet with the company president as a community to raise concerns about pollution; water, air, noise. It appears the plant will be built. I would appreciate any thoughts on the possible effects to my honey bees. Will the smell affect their foraging? Will the emissions settle on plants and affect the honey? Will pollutates get into their wax? Although regulated, these contaminates enter the environment. I am considering moving the bee to another location out of the area, but this would be very inconvenient. Any thoughts or opinions are appreciated.
Asphalt Plant
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Talk to your agricultural extension service to see about getting your current honey & wax tested for pollutants. I'm not sure what you'd look for. This is important to determine, because if you don't specifically look for something, the test won't show it...just like when the doctor checks your blood sugar, it doesn't tell him whether or not you are anemic or if you have an elevated PSA (prostate specific antigen--which is a good marker for prostate cancer).
If you can establish a baseline now, you'll have a basis for a future comparison with honey & wax from next year or the year after.
It is perhaps worth considering whether or not your home's property value has already tumbled to a point that you wouldn't be able to move your home to a different community. Your health is even more important than the bees'.
If you can establish a baseline now, you'll have a basis for a future comparison with honey & wax from next year or the year after.
It is perhaps worth considering whether or not your home's property value has already tumbled to a point that you wouldn't be able to move your home to a different community. Your health is even more important than the bees'.
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Check EPA approval of products used by the plant. A lot of information in usually provided about a specific chemical.
We are in the process of scheduling a public hearing with the environmental quality agency of the state. In talking with them, the company has to meet state environmental regulations. That may not be good enough when it comes to honey bees. We are all concerned about our and our children's health and have asked many questions. The county supervisor is all for it; jobs. My concern here is the affect on bee population in the area, their honey, and wax. Thanks again
You are right Roland.I own land next door and have an out yard next to the asphalt plant.About all you will have is the noise from the tailgates from them slamming.The biggest release is the moisture and steam coming from the wet gravel when heating to get it ready to mix in the hot asphalt.
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In my area, my entire apiary thrives because there's a big mining operation. If that mining company were to sell the land, I'd be very concerned. The Jonses are more destructive than the mining company.
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It will hurt nothing ! Your grasping for straws !
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As Roland said, the spraying (especially aerial) of cotton fields and other crops would be much more or an issue to me. As a salesman I spent a lot of time on the road in your area and marveled at the planes spraying the fields.
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