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This from a letter that I received from Kevin S. King, Director of Plant Industry, NYS Dept. of Ag&Mkts, "The main focus of the apiary staff (the Apiculturalist and two seasonal staff, ie inspectors) will be certification of bee operations to go to other states. They will also be taking samples from 25 apiaries to support New York's participation in the National Bee Survey being conducted by US Department of agriculture. There are apporoximately 39,000 colonies going out of state this year from over 40 beekeepers and the senior inspectors will be checking approximately 10% of these colonies to certify them."
"The National Bee Survey is to look for the parasitic mite Tropilaelaps. It is not expected to be found in the US, but the government has a stronger argument if it is not found to keep bees out of the US that are exposed to this mite. The survey will also be checking for varroa levels, Nosema ceranae, viruses and genetic background of the bees we have in the US."
Is anyone else aware of this survey? Is anyone here on beesource being surveyed? What has been your experience? Is "25 apiaries" a per state thing as per USDA's idea? I wonder why all of the migratory operations in NYS wouldn't be surveyed, the inspectors have to do almost all of the above for interstate transport anyway?
I'd be interested in hearing about what you know and have experienced.
"The National Bee Survey is to look for the parasitic mite Tropilaelaps. It is not expected to be found in the US, but the government has a stronger argument if it is not found to keep bees out of the US that are exposed to this mite. The survey will also be checking for varroa levels, Nosema ceranae, viruses and genetic background of the bees we have in the US."
Is anyone else aware of this survey? Is anyone here on beesource being surveyed? What has been your experience? Is "25 apiaries" a per state thing as per USDA's idea? I wonder why all of the migratory operations in NYS wouldn't be surveyed, the inspectors have to do almost all of the above for interstate transport anyway?
I'd be interested in hearing about what you know and have experienced.