I ran across this article about
Wyman's blueberries supporting research for CCD. The blueberry crop is apparently heavily dependent on bees for pollination. Perhaps we need to make more batches of Oskaarz "You Blue my Berriez" with Wyman's berries - accept no substitute!
I'm gonna spend the time to read that article Medsen, but there was a prog on the TV the other week about CCD. It seems that we have less of a problem here, but "they" are still looking into it.
The people in the programme weren't entirely convinced that it's a completely natural thing. They suspected it is in part, but that the US agri business might be making it worse by moving hives by train to the different areas where there's huge area's of single cropping. They were of the opinion that if the hives are left in one area then it's less likely that there would be any cross contamination of whatever might be the actual root cause of CCD.
One of the things that is supposed to be done here, is that if an apiarist wants to move hives from one region to another, then they're supposed to get approval/a permit from DEFRA. I think this was originated with trying to reduce/stop the spread of varoa, with the obvious thing that the south of the UK is more likely to get spreading infections/parasites due to it's proximity to mainland Europe.
Of course, there will be some who don't obey the regulations/law, but if they get caught the fines are quite large and the colony(ies) are destroyed.
I'd guess that that might be a little more difficult in the US, because of the extra tier of government you have in the States + "they" don't want to upset the already established industry (both farming and apiary)!
Right, off to read that article
regards
fatbloke
p.s. just back from reading it, shame it's a bit light on any detail. More of a "look how wonderful we are" type press release!
