SF6035 - Enhancing the Food Safety of Honey Bee Hive Products Through the Use of Organic Beekeeping Practices and Effective Monitoring of Pests and Diseases

Researcher:

Alison Skinner, Ontario Beekeeper's Assoc.

Objectives:

1. To operate and maintain honey bee colonies without the use of antibiotics or pesticides.
   

2. To compare various methods of monitoring parasitic mite levels and to determine practical and effective techniques.
   

3. To determine effective methods and timing of controls for mites and diseases using organic management.
   

4. To develop recommendations for organic beekeeping practices and to transfer these to the beekeepers of Ontario.

Expected Benefits:

The results of this project will include organic management strategies and disease monitoring methods for bee industry. An availability of disease monitoring information and management strategies will direct the Ontario beekeepers to work towards a decreased dependency on chemicals, which will result in safer food products and cleaner environment and at the same time, thus increasing the marketability of Ontario hive products

Summary of Research Results:

Two mites have become an economic issue for the beekeeping industry, the varroa mite and the tracheal mite. If left untreated, these mites will kill an entire apiary in a short amount of time. American Foulbrood (AFB) is a bacterium that affects the developing bees in a colony and is of great concern to the beekeeper. It is highly contagious and easily spread by bee-to-bee contact or with the use of infected tools or bee equipment. Antibiotics are used to prevent infection in conventional beekeeping operations. Beekeepers are advised to burn the bees along with the equipment if AFB is found.

The use of organic beekeeping practices to manage honey bee colonies is a proactive type of management to keep pace with emerging issues in the bee and food industry. Maintaining healthy honey bee colonies is a challenge for beekeepers. This project amalgamated beekeeping techniques and information to attempt to manage the bee colony organically and to produce a crop of honey.

Cultural management techniques such as screen bottom boards and drone brood removal were tested from September 2003 to August 2005. These techniques keep the varroa mite population below the economic threshold throughout the summer. No antibiotics or hard pesticides were used. Mite-AwayII (formic acid) and oxalic acid, both soft chemicals, were effective for varroa mite control in the spring and fall.

Mites and diseases were monitored thoroughly. Bees were dissected to determine tracheal mite infestation. Varroa mite levels were monitored using a sticky board, an ether roll, an alcohol wash, a sugar dust and by uncapping brood. Visual examinations for American Foulbrood were completed on a regular basis. Monitoring information will be used to educate conventional beekeepers to treat when economic injury levels are reached. The act of monitoring for disease will benefit the beekeeper economically and lower the risk of residues in the hive products, therefore enhancing the food safety of hive products.

Results of this food safety project have provided the foundation for making recommendations for organic management and disease monitoring methods. Through several publications and presentations to beekeeper associations, the findings of this project have been transferred to the beekeepers of Ontario. The concept of monitoring and managing a hive organically has been favourably received by the industry. Beekeepers are aware that they need to monitor their colonies, to adapt cultural management techniques and treat with soft chemicals, in order to manage their operation optimally and to keep pace with the emerging food safety issues.