Inspecting Organic Apiculture

Transcription

1 Inspecting Organic Apiculture

2 April 4, 2008 Q and A NOP website Can bees be certified organic? Yes. Treat them the same as poultry, which is, raised from the second day of life as organic, fed organic food, no antibiotics, and no prohibited substances. Certifiers must verify that the bees forage over areas that are not treated with prohibited substances.

3 May 12, 2008 Q and A NOP website archives Where can I find NOP standards for bee keeping? Bees are considered livestock and would be covered under sections through of the standards. Honey may be certified to the NOP standards using the livestock and handling standards. Bees must be managed from the second day of life as organic, as with poultry. Feed organic feed; no prohibited substances. If certified in accordance with the NOP standards, they may be labeled according to the NOP regulations. Other standards may not be used in lieu of the NOP regulations for products labeled using the NOP logo or reference to the NOP regulations.

4 NOP Pasture Reg Preamable Feb 2010 Bees are members of the animal kingdom and are managed for pollination and the products of the hive (e.g., honey, pollen, propolis, bee venom, beeswax, and royal jelly). We note that the Canadian Organic Production Systems General Principles and Management Standards include bees in their definition of livestock. While the EU Council Regulation No.834/2007 (replaced EEC No 2092/91) does not define livestock, it does define livestock production as the production of domestic or domesticated terrestrial animals (including insects). OFPA includes the phrase other nonplant life, which includes bees. The wording other nonplant life is also included in the NOP definition of livestock

5 NOP Pasture Reg Preamable Feb 2010 Adding bee to the definition of livestock would be consistent with the standards of two major trading partners. Adding bee to the definition of livestock would help to clarify that apiaries may be certified under the NOP. As proposed, we are removing the exclusion of bees for the production of food, fiber, feed, or other agricultural-based consumer products. This action, however, removes the proposed addition of bee from the definition of livestock as unnecessary due to the presence of the phrase other nonplant life and removal of the exception of bees. Removing the exclusion of bees as proposed in the proposed rule eliminates a contradiction to existing policy and the current practice of allowing the certification of apiaries under the NOP.

6 NOP CFR Definitions Livestock. Any cattle, sheep, goat, swine, poultry, or equine animals used for food or in the production of food, fiber, feed, or other agricultural based consumer products; wild or domesticated game; or other nonplant life, except such term shall not include aquatic animals (or bees) for the production of food, fiber, feed, or other agricultural based consumer products.

7 NOP Pasture Reg Preamable Feb 2010 The National Organic Program has clarified that if an operation cannot meet the new DMI intake and grazing requirements for ruminants, due to climatic or geographic consideration, then the operation cannot be certified organic.

8 NOP Pasture Reg Preamable Feb 2010 The same can be said for apiculture standards, if the climate, geography, and forage zones etc. make it impossible for the beekeeper to meet the organic requirements, then the production from their hives cannot be certified as organic. There is pressure to make the standards more accessible to allow for more organic honey etc., but this would mean weaker standards.

9 NOP CFR Definitions Animal drug. Any drug as defined in section 201 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, as amended (21 U.S.C. 321), that is intended for use in livestock, including any drug intended for use in livestock feed but not including such livestock feed. Some management systems for honeybees include the use of a variety of drugs to control diseases.

10 NOP CFR Definitions Audit trail. Documentation that is sufficient to determine the source, transfer of ownership, and transportation of any agricultural product labeled as "100 percent organic, etc.

11 NOP CFR Definitions Breeder stock. Female livestock whose offspring may be incorporated into an organic operation at the time of their birth.

12 NOP CFR Definitions Detectable residue. The amount or presence of chemical residue or sample component that can be reliably observed or found in the sample matrix by current approved analytical methodology. Apistan strips in brood boxes. There is residue of Apistan in wax. This is why the replacement of foundation wax is mandated In ACA guidance and other Standards.

13 NOP CFR Definitions Drift. The physical movement of prohibited substances from the intended target site onto an organic operation or portion thereof. Aerial spraying Significant risk to honeybees Some states have registries for apiaries, vineyards, organic farms and other sensitive areas.

14 NOP CFR Definitions Emergency pest or disease treatment program. A mandatory program authorized by a Federal, State, or local agency for the purpose of controlling or eradicating a pest or disease.

15 NOP CFR Definitions Feed. Edible materials which are consumed by livestock for their nutritional value. Feed may be concentrates (grains) or roughages (hay, silage, fodder). The term, "feed," encompasses all agricultural commodities, including pasture ingested by livestock for nutritional purposes.

16 NOP CFR Definitions Feed Supplement. A combination of feed nutrients added to livestock feed to improve the nutrient balance or performance of the total ration and intended to be: (1) Diluted with other feeds when fed to livestock; (2) Offered free choice with other parts of the ration if separately available; or (3) Further diluted and mixed to produce a complete feed.

17 NOP CFR Definitions Field. An area of land identified as a discrete unit within a production operation. Forage. Vegetative material in a fresh, dried, or ensiled state (pasture, hay, or silage), which is fed to livestock.

18 NOP CFR Definitions Handler. Any person engaged in the business of handling agricultural products, including producers who handle crops or livestock of their own production, except such term shall not include final retailers of agricultural products that do not process agricultural products.

19 NOP CFR Definitions Labeling. All written, printed, or graphic material accompanying an agricultural product at any time or written, printed, or graphic material about the agricultural product displayed at retail stores about the product.

20 NOP CFR Definitions Livestock. Any cattle, sheep, goat, swine, poultry, or equine animals used for food or in the production of food, fiber, feed, or other agricultural based consumer products; wild or domesticated game; or other nonplant life, except such term shall not include aquatic animals (or bees) for the production of food, fiber, feed, or other agricultural based consumer products.

21 NOP CFR Definitions Organic system plan. A plan of management of an organic production or handling operation that has been agreed to by the producer or handler and the certifying agent and that includes written plans concerning all aspects of agricultural production or handling described in the Act and the regulations in subpart C of this part.

22 NOP CFR Definitions Pasture. Land used for livestock grazing that is managed to provide feed value and maintain or improve soil, water, and vegetative resources.

23 NOP CFR Definitions Pesticide. Any substance which alone, in chemical combination, or in any formulation with one or more substances is defined as a pesticide in section 2(u) of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (7 U.S.C. 136(u) et seq).

24 NOP CFR Definitions Records. Any information in written, visual, or electronic form that documents the activities undertaken by a producer, handler, or certifying agent to comply with the Act and regulations in this part.

25 NOP CFR Definitions Split operation. An operation that produces or handles both organic and nonorganic agricultural products.

26 NOP CFR Definitions Tolerance. The maximum legal level of a pesticide chemical residue in or on a raw or processed agricultural commodity or processed food.

27 NOP CFR Definitions Wild crop. Any plant or portion of a plant that is collected or harvested from a site that is not maintained under cultivation or other agricultural management.

28 NOP CFR 205 Land and Livestock requirements Land requirements. Any field or farm parcel from which harvested crops are intended to be sold, labeled, or represented as organic, must: (a) Have been managed in accordance with the provisions of through ; (b) Have had no prohibited substances, as listed in , applied to it for a period of 3 years immediately preceding harvest of the crop; and (c) Have distinct, defined boundaries and buffer zones such as runoff diversions to prevent the unintended application of a prohibited substance to the crop or contact with a prohibited substance applied to adjoining land that is not under organic management.

29 NOP CFR 205 Land and Livestock requirements Wild crop harvesting practice standard. (a) A wild crop that is intended to be sold, labeled, or represented as organic must be harvested from a designated area that has had no prohibited substance, as set forth in , applied to it for a period of 3 years immediately preceding the harvest of the wild crop. (b) A wild crop must be harvested in a manner that ensures that such harvesting or gathering will not be destructive to the environment and will sustain the growth and production of the wild crop. Forage zone- organic land or wild crop harvest land

30 NOP CFR 205 Land and Livestock requirements Origin of livestock. (a) Livestock products that are to be sold, labeled, or represented as organic must be from livestock under continuous organic management from the last third of gestation or hatching: Except, That: (1) Poultry. Poultry or edible poultry products must be from poultry that has been under continuous organic management beginning no later than the second day of life; Bees do not gestate their young, the queen lays eggs

31 NOP CFR 205 Land and Livestock requirements (3) Breeder stock. Livestock used as breeder stock may be brought from a nonorganic operation onto an organic operation at any time: Provided, That, if such livestock are gestating and the offspring are to be raised as organic livestock, the breeder stock must be brought onto the facility no later than the last third of gestation.

32 NOP CFR 205 Land and Livestock requirements (c) The producer of an organic livestock operation must maintain records sufficient to preserve the identity of all organically managed animals and edible and nonedible animal products produced on the operation. Bees to be tracked by hive, similar to poultry tracked by flock.

33 NOP CFR 205 Land and Livestock requirements Livestock feed. (a) The producer of an organic livestock operation must provide livestock with a total feed ration composed of agricultural products, including pasture and forage, that are organically produced and, if applicable, organically handled: Except, That, nonsynthetic substances and synthetic substances allowed under may be used as feed additives and supplements.

34 NOP CFR 205 Land and Livestock requirements (a) The producer must establish and maintain preventive livestock health care practices, including: (1) Selection of species and types of livestock with regard to suitability for site specific conditions and resistance to prevalent diseases and parasites; (2) Provision of a feed ration sufficient to meet nutritional requirements, including vitamins, minerals, protein and/or amino acids, fatty acids, energy sources, and fiber (ruminants); This requirement very appropriate for the management of honeybees.

35 NOP CFR 205 Land and Livestock requirements (3) Establishment of appropriate housing, pasture conditions, and sanitation practices to minimize the occurrence and spread of diseases and parasites; (4) Provision of conditions which allow for exercise, freedom of movement, and reduction of stress appropriate to the species; (5) Performance of physical alterations as needed to promote the animal s welfare and in a manner that minimizes pain and stress; and This requirement very appropriate for the management of honeybees.

36 NOP CFR 205 Land and Livestock requirements (b) When preventive practices and veterinary biologics are inadequate to prevent sickness, a producer may administer synthetic medications: Provided, That, such medications are allowed under This requirement very appropriate for the management of honeybees.

37 NOP CFR 205 Land and Livestock requirements (c) The producer of an organic livestock operation must not: (1) Sell, label, or represent as organic any animal or edible product derived from any animal treated with antibiotics, any substance that contains a synthetic substance not allowed under , or any substance that contains a nonsynthetic substance prohibited in (2) Administer any animal drug, other than vaccinations, in the absence of illness; This requirement very appropriate for the management of honeybees.

38 NOP CFR 205 Land and Livestock requirements (7) Withhold medical treatment from a sick animal in an effort to preserve its organic status. All appropriate medications must be used to restore an animal to health when methods acceptable to organic production fail. Livestock treated with a prohibited substance must be clearly identified and shall not be sold, labeled, or represented as organically produced.

39 NOP CFR 205 Land and Livestock requirements (a) The producer of an organic livestock operation must establish and maintain livestock living conditions which accommodate the health and natural behavior of animals

40 Amazing Honeybee Facts Bees fly about 55,000 miles to make just one pound of honey, that s 1½ times around the world! Bees have 5 eyes Bees are insects, so they have 6 legs Male bees in the hive are called drones Bees fly about 20 mph Female bees in the hive (except the queen) are called worker bees Number of eggs laid by queen: 2,000 per day is the high Losing its stinger will cause a bee to die Bees have been here about 30 million years! Bees carry pollen on their hind legs in a pollen basket or corbicula

41 Amazing Honeybee Facts An average beehive can hold around 50,000 bees Foragers must collect nectar from about 2 million flowers to make 1 pound of honey The average forager makes about 1/12 th of a teaspoon of honey in her lifetime Average per capita honey consumption in the US is 1.3 pounds Bees have 2 pairs of wings The principal form of communication among honey bees is through chemicals called pheromones Bees are important because they pollinate approximately 130 agricultural crops in the US including fruit, fiber, nut, and vegetable crops. Bee pollination adds approximately 14 billion dollars annually to improved crop yield and quality.

42 Quiz 1. How was the definition of livestock changed in the February 17, 2010 Federal Register? 2. True or False Organic beekeepers would not be mandated to actively monitor and manage parasites and diseases in their hives. 3. Name three management strategies for promoting colony health. 4. Organic bees can forage on certified organic land and?

43 Questions and Comments?

44 Bee Biology Basics Three types of bees Queen one per hive, lives 2 3 years, lays eggs to perpetuate hive. Virgin queens take one mating flight outside the hive where she is impregnated by drones. Worker only bee with stinger, performs all work from nursing young bees to foraging and guarding the hive

45 Bee Biology Basics Drone the only job is impregnating a queen, most drones do not fulfill this function and are pushed out of the hive during colder winter months. Drones leave the hive daily and congregate together, giving off pheromones to attract virgin queens.

46 Bee Biology Basics

47 Bee Biology Basics Worker bee life stages- Egg Larvae Sealing of Cell-Cocoon Pupae Emergence from cell as honeybee

48 Bee Biology Basics Metamorphosis from egg to larvae to bee

49 Bee Biology Basics Task Specialization Hatch from the cell In hive nest duties 1 15 days of age Cell cleaning and polishing Feeding larvae Feeding queen Capping brood

50 Bee Biology Basics Middle aged bees days of age In hive duties at the edges of the nest Build new comb Remove dead and diseased brood Undertaker bees Unload nectar from foragers Store and process nectar Entrance guarding

51 Bee Biology Basics Older bees days or more Foraging duties outside the nest Collect nectar, pollen, water and propolis Store pollen in cells Unload nectar Dance to communicate resource location Guarding of hive Ventilate hive by fanning wings

52 Guard Bees

53 Bee Biology Basics

54 Bee Biology Basics Queen genetics she is the source of all worker genetics good honey production, gentleness, mite resistance can all be factors of genetics Queen nutrition fed royal jelly from egg to capping Life stages of queen only flies once Virgin queens and how they mate Requeening and supercedure

55 African Asian Carniolian Caucasian Italian Other European Races of Bees Each race has its own personalities, ease of handling, honey production capabilities, overwintering and resistance to mites and diseases. Russian have some resistance to mites Mayan

56 Bee Biology Breeding has lead to a type of hygienic queen and colony, with strong propensity to clean out diseased and problem cells. This promotes a healthy colony. Marla Spivak of the University of Minnesota has developed this Minnesota hygienic queen. Pheromones in the hive communicate the presence of the queen.

57 Bee Biology Basics Individual and Colony Reproduction Swarming is the way the colony reproduces itself. Beekeepers can prevent swarming by reversing brood boxes

58 Bee Biology Basics Swarm Cells hang at the bottom of the brood frame. Supercedure cells are in the middle of frame. Beekeeper adding queen cage to nucs, to start new colonies. This mimics swarming. Queen wing clipping?

59 Bee Biology Basics Pollen is to feed larvae, high in protein Honey is made to feed workers for energy and calories. Honey is eaten by bees in winter, and by the queen, drones and workers in the summer, but in lesser degrees. Larvae Capped Honey Pollen Capped Brood

60 Bee Biology Basics Foraging habits Carrying of nectar and pollen Prefer some sources of nectar and pollen over others Can travel up to seven miles, but many bees will be lost along the way Cannot fly in the rain Bee proboscis Use the sun to orient where forage and hive are located. Some crops like buckwheat, whose flowers are open only in the morning, can be frustrating to bees and they may ignore this source for a different forage plant. Some clovers, with deep tubular flowers are also not favored by bees, more difficult to collect nectar than other sources.

61 Bee Biology Basics Long stretches of dark, rainy days can antagonize the bees, since they cannot forage on those days. If you are inspecting on a cloudy day, be prepared for angry bees. Drought conditions can also effect nectar flows. If a good pollen or nectar source is occurring during these unfavorable weather days, the bees will not have access to these sources and this can affect honey and pollen production for the season.

62 Bee Biology Basics If there is not sufficient pollen in the hive, the queen will not lay to her potential of up to 2000 eggs per day. This lessens the amount of worker bees that would be available in 39 days to forage for honey and pollen.

63 Expression of Natural Behavior Top bar hives allows bees to make 100% natural wax comb as they have in hollow cavities in the wild. Very difficult to extract this honey, all comb destroyed.

64 Joining two weak hives together, one with a queen and one without If a colony is found to be queenless, it can be joined with another colony by putting the boxes together with newspaper inbetween. This gives the bees enough time to accept each other, if no newspaper were present, they would fight. It takes a few days for them to chew through the paper.

65 Bee Feeds In the temperate U.S., dandelions are an excellent early pollen source for honeybees. Trees such as maple, box elder, basswood, locusts, wild cherry and more are also good early pollen and nectar sources. A clear chart detailing dates of bloom and type of sources, as well as a map with location of these sources should be part of the OSP.

66 Supplemental Bee Feeds Feeder is placed in the hive, by removing a frame of comb. There are many ways of providing liquids to bees: Jars and plastic tubs with small holes placed top down, top feeders above brood comb and more. Sugar, corn syrup or other liquid feeds, sometimes with medications are then provided to the bees in this manner.

67 Bee Biology Brood Patterns Brood patterns indicator of a healthy hive Wax light or dark cells Older frames are darker. Control disease by replacing frames with new wax.

68 Bee Culture is Both an Art and a Science. Conscientious beekeepers understand the natural features of honey bees. Understanding bee/colony biology is the essence of the science of beekeeping. The art of beekeeping is a skillful and timely application of that knowledge.

69 Quiz 1. What color wax in the comb is an indicator of old frames. 2. What foraged item is fed to developing larvae? 3. Approximately how many days needed from egg to foraging bee? 4. How many bees in an average hive?

70 Questions and Comments?

71 ACA Apiculture Guidance October 2009 It is understood that this document is not a standard, nor is it assumed that it would be the standard in the future without changes. This document was developed with the input from numerous Accredited NOP certification agencies, using the NOSB recommendation October 2001 as a starting point as well as the apiculture standards currently in use by MOFGA, NOFA VT, Oregon Tilth, QAI, OCIA and most importantly, the EC and Canadian Apiculture Standards.

72 Definitions Summary Apiary or Bee Yard An area where hives or colonies are kept. Apiculture The management of honey bees (apis= honeybee in Latin) Bee Products Honey, wax, pollen, propolis, royal jelly, bee venom Colony Queen Bee with workers and drones to produce bee products.

73 Definitions Summary Forage Zone Area which provides bees with water, nectar, honeydew, pollen and propolis. This is an area where the standards currently used by NOP ACAs, EC and Canadian organic certifiers have different sized zones with differing requirements. The ACA guidance has a 1.8 mile or 3 km radius from the bee yard or apiary. This matches the EC and Canadian standard. NOSB recommendation mile forage zone.

74 Definitions Summary Hive Equipment used in the production of bee products. Nucleus colony or nuc A smaller hive box and colony of bees used to split and increase colonies in the apiary or for sale. Replacement bees Bees introduced into an existing organic apiary to replenish existing colonies lost due to a variety of factors.

75 Definitions Summary Surveillance zone Land which is 2.2 mile radius or 3.4 km beyond the outer limit of the forage zone which may not contain high risk activities that could damage organic integrity. There is no other standard that has this type of surveillance zone, other than the NOSB recommendation which had a 4 mile forage zone. The certifier has the power to determine whether or not these risks are significant enough to deny organic certification.

76 Origin of Bees Transitioning existing colonies to organic Continuous organic management for no less than one year before the harvest of organic bee products. (Canadian, EC same standard) At the beginning of the one year transition, all foundation wax must be replaced and all brood comb must be new and produced by bees under organic management.

77 Foundation for transitioning colonies may be sourced from: Organic foundation Origin of Bees Plastic foundation dipped in organic wax Wax foundation or plastic foundation dipped in either organic wax or conventional (organic not available). Once an entire apiary has been converted, all plastic foundation must be dipped in organic wax. (Canada allows plastic foundation, EC does not)

78 Origin of Bees EC has allowance for nonorganic wax foundation When no organic wax can be found. Documentation that wax is from a noncontaminated source Nonorganic wax must be from cappings (wax removed from supers during the extraction of honey, no wax from brood boxes)

79 Replacement Bees Package bees permitted for replacement purposes (replenish lost organic hives) provided These nonorganic bees (these would not be purchased without foundation, brood or other equipment), are limited to 25% of the hives present in the previous honey flow (EC 10%, Canada no limit on replacement bees) AND Are managed organically for at least 60 days before harvest of organic bee products (no honey supers on hive during this 60 days)

80 Hiving Packages What type of foundation allowed in these hives, if the producer wants organic certification for this season s honey flow?

81 Expansion of Organic Apiary This is different from replacing hives lost due to winter, bears or other factors. Expansion may be done by: 1. Organic hives and bees can be purchased 2. Splitting existing organic hives to form nucs 3. Purchase nonorganic colonies, provided they go through the one year transition mandated for all nonorganic hives (replace foundation, organic management, etc.) 4. Can add up to 25% for expansion if this allowance has not been used for replacement.

82 Apiculture Organic System Plan Map of Each Apiary (there may be multiple locations many miles from each other) Apiary Map includes the location of each hive in the bee yard. Forage zone for each apiary (organic and wild harvest land) Surveillance zone for each apiary (including all areas of high risk as well as nonorganic areas)

83 Sample Maps 1.8 mile forage zone 4 mile zone includes forage and surveillance zones

84 Apiary Location closeup

85 Aerial Photo Google Earth, Forage Zone

86 Aerial Photo Google Earth, Surveillance Zone

87 Aerial Photo Google Earth, Forage and Surveillance Zone

88 Landowners in forage and surveillance zones Plat book One township, adjoining townships not included. This map demonstrates the large number of landowners in farming areas.

89 Forage Zone Considerations All organic crops in forage zone All wild forage sources must meet wild harvest regulation Quality and bloom times of these forages must be provided to certifier Approximate length of bloom period Forage density Competing species density

90 Honey bee colony density Colony health Colony strength Topography Climatic conditions Honeybee Foraging Considerations Any sources of potential contamination within forage zone

91 Description of crops grown

92 Forage Considerations Forage quality, density, bloom times all affect how busy the bees will be on these plants. Organic beekeepers can grow their own forages, or work with cooperating land owners, to offer organic nectar and pollen within the 1.8 mile forage zone. Bees will not work harder than they need to (fly to more distant areas), in order to obtain what they need for the colony. Some bees will fly to less desirable sources of food, but the majority of the foragers will work good sources close to the apiary.

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94 Foraging Considerations All water sources must be described so the certifier can determine risk.

95 Surveillance Zone Considerations High risk activities Sanitary landfills Incinerators Sewage treatment facilities Power plants Golf courses Towns or cities Other areas where prohibited materials applied Private homes, Conventional farms, GMOs

96 Split Operations List and describe management and prevention of Commingling Contamination What would constitute commingling in a split organic/nonorganic apiculture operation? What would constitute contamination in an organic/nonorganic apiculture operation?

97 Split Operations Bee drift Hives in close proximity to each other bees may move from hive to hive A beekeeper may put a weak hive next to a strong hive to gather extra field workers from the strong hive and strengthen the weak hive. Must prevent bee drift between organic and nonorganic.

98 Robbing Split Operations Weak hives are susceptible to robbing by other bees, they cannot protect their honey stores due to lack of population. Must prevent strong organic hives from robbing weak nonorganic hives. How would this beekeeper prevent robbing or bee drift?

99 Robbing There is a frenzied behavior during robbing which can be noticed by an experienced beekeeper, when approaching a colony. The colony being robbed could be weak or dead. Pests and diseases are spread by robbing.

100 Quiz 1. Describe the difference between replacement bees and bees purchased for expansion. 2. Describe the difference of the organic land status between the forage zone and surveillance zone. 3. What is a nuc? 4. What environmental factors affect the nectar available to honey bees?

101 Questions and Comments?

102 Hive Construction and Equipment Hives made of natural materials Wood Metal NO lumber treated with prohibited materials for hive construction. Painted with non lead based paints Plastic foundation can be used if dipped in organic wax

103 Top feeder Hive tool Pollen traps Super Queen Excluder Bee brush Inner cover Hot knife-decapping

104 Preventative Health Care Selection of bee stocks Hive density within apiary and forage zone Hive siting (i.e. shade, water availability) Respond to site specific challenges to prevent prevalent diseases and pests

105 Preventative Health Care Maintain adequate supplies of honey and pollen in hive This includes leaving enough honey and pollen for the colony to survive their dormant period. The colony s own honey and pollen is healthier than sugar or honey/pollen from other sources.

106 Preventative Health Care Provide foundation not contaminated with prohibited substances, diseases or pests Use management methods or modified equipment to control pests and diseases Use therapeutic application of approved nonsynthetic and/or synthetic materials to control pests, parasites and diseases

107 Preventative Health Care MUST NOT: Accept parasites, pest and diseases without initiating efforts to restore health of the colony. Organic by neglect not allowed Use prohibited materials, either synthetic or natural.

108 Preventative Health Care MUST NOT Use lumber treated with prohibited materials for hive construction. Use prohibited materials for smoker fuel Use synthetic bee repellants to remove bees when harvesting bee products. Annually destroy bee colonies after honey flow Rotate hives between organic and nonorganic management

109 Preventative Health Care Sell apiculture products as organic if they contain a residue of a prohibited material greater than 5 percent of the EPAs tolerance for that material.

110 National List prohibited non synthetics (naturals) Add Tobacco approved synthetics Add formic acid, thymol, carbon dioxide

111 National List Add folic, lactic and oxalic acid once they receive EPA registration for general apiculture. Folic acid annotation for varroa mites, after last honey harvest:discontinue 30 days prior to addition of honey supers Lactic acid annotation after last honey harvest, discontinue 30 days prior to addition of supers. The need for use must be documented and approved prior to use.

112 Recordkeeping Organic and split operations must maintain records to document adherence to standards. Split operations must identify hives that have been treated with prohibited materials.

113 Recordkeeping Map of forage zone for all apiaries Flowering times for all plants in all forage zones. Forage zone affidavits, no prohibited material use Sources of foundation wax, proof if organic Date of last use of prohibited substance use in colonies Identification system for individual hives and each apiary.

114 Recordkeeping Documentation all comb drawn out under organic management Production of organic honey etc. produced only on clean comb start date System for tracking hives, requeening, monitoring the apiary through the season List and labels of all inputs (feed, health products, apiary management inputs)

115 Recordkeeping Records of feeding food and dates Source of organic sugar, honey, pollen or pollen substitutes with documentation. Estimated yields of bee products to be harvested from each hive. Dates of harvest of all bee products. Sales records for all bee products. Packaging and labeling for all bee products.

116 Recordkeeping Colonies must be on organic land Colonies must forage on organic land or certifiable for organic harvest Colonies may be fed supplemental feed Organic honey Organic sugar or sugar syrup Organic pollen Organic pollen substitutes EXCEPT>>>>>

117 Recordkeeping No organic sugar or sugar syrup less than 15 days prior to the placement of bee product collection equipment. Why this concern?

118 Organic apiculturist MUST NOT: Maintain colonies where forage zone (1.8 mile radius) from apiary has significant risk of contamination. Excluded methods Recordkeeping Prohibited herbicides applied to nectar or pollen crops Prohibited pesticides applied to nectar or pollen crops

119 Quiz 1. True or False Organic beekeepers are encouraged to remove all honey from the hive and feed organic sugar for winter stores. 2. What 4 items are listed for possible addition to the NL? 3. What type of documentation needed to prove no use of prohibited materials within the forage zone? 4. How long is the time period for conventional hives transitioning to organic, after foundation has been replaced in the hive?

120 Questions and Comments?

121 Make sure you have good protection equipment Zip on veil, full suit, half suit, good gloves, Note: tight cuffs around ankles. If you are allergic, you should not inspect apiculture.

122 Inspection Specifics Health issues and products Varroa Mite Apistan Checkmite Essential Oils Formic Acid Oxalic Acid Lactic Acid Powdered Sugar Sucrocide Drone comb frames Small cell frames Screened bottom boards

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124 Screened bottom board- Mites tend to fall off bees periodically and if they fall through screen, they cannot crawl back up into hive.

125 Drone Comb Mites tend to prefer drone cells Beekeeper can have full frames of drone comb and remove them from the hive before they hatch and kill off a significant portion of the mites. If beekeeper doesn t remove comb on time, and drones and mites hatch out, they have an even larger problem with varroa. These can be put in the freezer to kill the mites and returned to the hive, where the bees clean it out and the process can be repeated.

126 Drone Comb Using a comb scraper, the beekeeper or inspector can carefully remove capped drone brood and inspect it for varroa mite infestation. This is one method to review the amount of varroa mite infestation in the hive. Looking closely at the bees for deformed wings or for actual mites is another method. Powdered sugar roll is another method.

127 Different Comb Sizes for Mite Control Worker bee cell size can affect mite control in the hive. Some beekeepers have small cells on their frames to discourage mites. Drone cells are larger than worker cells and are especially attractive to mites. Some beekeepers have frames of just drone cells and remove them before hatching, destroying all of the congregated mites in these cells, usually by putting the freezer. This frame can be used over and over to trap and destroy varroa mites.

128 Mite on bee

129 Deformed wings

130 Healthy wings

131 Varroa Mite Monitoring Handout available from U of MN Ether roll is done similarly

132 Tracheal Mite Can be seen only under a microscope. State bee inspectors will test if asked. Tracheal mites could persist in a colony for years causing little damage, but combined with other diseases, unfavorable conditions, scarcity of pollen, and/or a poor foraging season, the disease could significantly increase the mortality of colonies in the winter. Controls: Menthol crystals Grease patties Crisco or vegetable oil and sugar.organic equivalent? Must agriculturally based health products be from an organic source?

133 Grease and Pollen Patties Are these allowed or prohibited?

134 Wax Moth The larvae can destroy wax combs in storage or in weak bee colonies by tunneling in the wax. Controls: Moth crystal, paradichlorobenzene (PDB) Temperature extremes can be used as a nonchemical control measure for wax moth control. Heat. All states of the greater wax moth are killed at a temperature of 115 F (46 C) for 80 minutes or a temperature of 120 F (49 C) for 40 minutes. Cold. Wax moths are also killed by low temperatures Temperature Time In Hours 20 F for 4.5 hours 10 F for 3 hours 5 F for 2 hours

135 Foulbrood Controlled in nonorganic hives with Terramycin (an antibiotic) American Foulbrood and European Foulbroodpresent in the environment Has a distinctive foul odor Brood comb has shrunken caps and stringy liquid larvae. Once it is present, all comb must be destroyed, woodenware can be charred with flame and reused. Hygienic queens with good management can offer some

136 Foulbrood Sunken caps Stringy Brood Some healthy larvae also Replace brood Comb when It starts to darken. Good management requires replacing some brood comb every year.

137 Chalkbrood Fungal spores on dead larvae serve as potent reservoirs of the disease. Chalkbrood kills bees while they're larvae Hives with Chalkbrood can generally be recovered by increasing the ventilation through the hive and/or by requeening the hive. Occurs during a wet spring.

138 Nosema Dysentery A new stronger strain has recently been introduced into the United States. No specific organic controls, other than good management, similar to foulbrood. Conventional control is fumidil B- an antibiotic It has been reported that exposure to corn pollen containing genes for Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) production may weaken the bees' defense against Nosema

139 Small Hive Beetle Diatomaceous Earth around the base of the hive has been used as a control since beetles pupate outside the hive. Conventional beekeepers also use various pesticides. Comb slimed by hive beetle larvae. Hives infested at this level will drive out bee colonies.

140 Small Hive Beetle Prohibited Control Y Tex GardStar 40% EC Livestock and Premise Insecticide (permethrin) is used to control Small Hive Beetle (SHB) infestations by breaking the beetle's brood cycle. The beetle pupates in the soil, and permethrin, when used as a soil drench, kills the larvae and pupae in the soil. Even though GardStar is highly toxic to honeybees, it is applied to the soil directly in front of the hive. If it is applied correctly, there is little chance that it will come in contact with the colony.

141 Migratory Beekeeper Does the producer ever move their hives or rent them out for pollination? What type of risk does this present for organic certification?

142 Over Wintering In colder climates, bees can be overwintered if they are strong and healthy. The bees must have a chance to perform cleaning flights in order to defecate, if they cannot, even a healthy colony can die. There must be good stores of honey. If it is very cold and the humidity in the hive condensates, this can kill the hive.

143 Over Wintering Weak hives are susceptible to damage from rodents, skunks, and other small mammals. No prohibited poisons allowed around organic hives. Bears controlled by electric fence (and prayer)

144 Over Wintering Hives can be wrapped Hives may have secondary inner covers Hives have entrance reducers You cannot inspect apiculture during the winter months.

145 Colony Collapse Disorder The only agreement in the beekeeping community is that honeybees have been weakened in the past decade by a variety of parasites and difficult to control diseases. This makes it more difficult for them to survive stress such as wintering and foulbrood. Many hobby beekeepers have quit, due to the great difficulty in keeping bees alive, so have many commercial beekeepers.

146 Other Bee Health Issues Acute bee paralysis virus (ABPV) or (APV) Israel acute paralysis virus (IAPV) Kashmir bee virus (KBV) Black Queen Cell Virus (BQCV) Chronic Paralysis Virus [CPV] Cloudy Wing Virus (CWV) Deformed Wing Virus (DWV) Sacbrood virus (SBV) Kakugo virus (KV) Varroa destructor virus

147 Quiz 1. Name four materials used for varroa control. 2. Name two management strategies used for varroa control. 3. How does the beekeeper rid his hives of foulbrood? 4. What does nosema look like in the hive?

148 Processing Bee Products Most operations will include one or more of the following: The extraction of honey (liquid and comb) The collection and sorting of pollen The collection and melting of wax The collection of propolis The collection of royal jelly The collection of bee venom

149 Processing Bee Products Comb Honey, ready for packaging

150 Processing Bee Products Pollen is collected and sorted to remove extraneously material. Pollen may be frozen for long term storage

151 Processing Bee Products Royal Jelly is removed from queen cells, producing another high value crop. This is also the way commercial queens are raised.

152 Processing Bee Products Bee Venom The stinger from the bee is removed and then milked for its venom. This product has a very short shelf life.

153 Processing Bee Products Propolis (concentrated tree sap) Can be scraped from hive equipment There are commercially available propolis traps.

154 Processing Bee Products Bee blower, removing bees from honey supers. Conventional beekeepers may use synthetics materials to drive the bees from the supers. Extraction activities can take place outdoors or inside tight buildings (honey houses).

155 Wax is collected from supers, mostly during the uncapping process. Beekeepers can make their own foundation. Wax is also used in cosmetics, health products and candles. Processing Bee Products

156 Solar Wax Melter

157 Processing Bee Products Decapping frames of honey Scraper Hot plane Hot knife Chain decapper Decapping tanks

158 Processing Bee Products Scraping comb before going to hand crank decapper.

159 Processing Bee Products Hand crank decapper, stainless steel, made in Italy.

160 Processing Bee Products

161 Radial Extractor Extractors can be hand crank or run with electricity. Centrifugal force removes honey from comb. Extractor drained to filtering tank.

162 Processing Bee Products Filtering honey to remove wax, through cheese cloth into stainless steel tank. Honey is then drained into food grade barrels buckets or bottles.

163 1. True or False QUIZ Bee venom is collected by grinding bees and running them through a centrifuge. 2. Propolis is produced by the bees from what natural product? 3. Consumers who buy comb honey consume what type of apiculture products? 4. The machine used to remove honey from the comb is called?

164 Organic Apiculture Inspection

165 Organic Apiculture Inspection Solar panels powering the electric bear fence.

166 Organic Apiculture Inspection Going through the organic system plan, note maps near beekeeper.

167 Organic Apiculture Inspection Lots of snow in this region, bees are in upper boxes. Shorter hives are nucs or singles.

168 Organic Apiculture Inspection Inside of chain decapper.

169 Organic Apiculture Inspection Assorted honey processing equipment

170 Organic Apiculture Inspection Inside of extractor.

171 Organic Apiculture Inspection Processing documentation

172 Organic Apiculture Inspection Heated bottling tank Note colored dots on supers, these denote apiaries where they originated.

173 Organic Apiculture Inspection Lots to discuss and learn about every operation

174 Organic Apiculture Inspection Essential oils used to control mites

175 Organic Apiculture Inspection Essential oils in compressed air can, used instead of smoke, and as mite control. Purchased from Danish supplier.

176 Organic Apiculture Inspection Closeup of bottling tank, note jar below spigot.

177 Organic Apiculture Inspection

178 Organic Apiculture Inspection

179 Organic Apiculture Inspection

180 Organic Apiculture Inspection

181 Organic Apiculture Inspection

182 Organic Apiculture Inspection Beekeeper explaining from which neighbors she has affidavits.

183 Organic Apiculture Inspection

184 Organic Apiculture Inspection

185 Organic Apiculture Inspection

186 Organic Apiculture Inspection Note essential oil spray can, used to calm bees.

187 Organic Apiculture Inspection

188 Organic Apiculture Inspection

189 Organic Apiculture Inspection In the spring and summer, where there is pollen, there should be brood and the queen may be there too, so be careful handling the frame.

190 Organic Apiculture Inspection

191 Organic Apiculture Inspection

192 Organic Apiculture Inspection Empty feeding container.what questions would you ask?

193 Organic Apiculture Inspection

194 Organic Apiculture Inspection Note drone comb at bottom of frame, you could check for presence or severity of mite infestation using this capped drone brood.

195 Organic Apiculture Inspection Looking for eggs, it is easiest to tilt the frame so the sunlight shines deep into the cell.

196 Organic Apiculture Inspection Note new frames added this year, this is a good practice. What question would you ask?

197 Organic Apiculture Inspection Anyone see the queen? She can be anywhere..

198 Organic Apiculture Inspection New 100% wax foundation, made from the organic cappings wax.

199 Organic Apiculture Inspection Pollen patties to stimulate the queen to lay eggs.

200 Organic Apiculture Inspection Having the right equipment and a way to transport it is important.

201 Inspecting Organic Tropical Apiculture Operations Presented by Garth Kahl Latin American Program Coordinator Oregon Tilth John Foster Oregon Tilth March 14, 2007 IOIA Advanced Training Rio Rico, AZ Mar. 5, 2010

202 Presentation Outline Why tropical organic apiculture is so important - It s where most of the organic honey comes from - Large areas of intact, roadless forest - Recent governmental incentives/subsidies for OG apiculture - Longer history of fluvalinate-resistant Varroah Special considerations unique to tropical apiculture - Africanized ( killer bees) - Most growers arranged in multi-site groups with ICS Tools of the Trade

203 Leading Producers of Organic Honey: Brazil

204 Leading Producers of Organic Honey: Argentina

205 Leading Producers of Organic Honey: Mexico

206 Mexico In 2005 there were 2,461 organic beekeepers in Mexico. Increase of 35% from % of producers are classified as small campesinos (less than 50 hives) 35% price premium for organic honey over conventional Significant subsidies being offered by the Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) Cost share for organic certification, technical help, some infrastructure improvement.

207 Principles of Smallholder Group Certification A central body within the farmers group ensures the compliance of all smallholder farmers with an organic standard. The Group has a formal internal control system (ICS). One certification for the group (not for individual farmers). Slide courtesy of IFOAM, photo: Ernesto de la Rosa

208 IFOAM Definition: Definition of an ICS An internal control system (ICS) is a documented quality assurance system that allows the external certification body to delegate the annual inspection of individual group members to an identified body/unit within the certified operator. NOSB Definition: A written quality assurance system included in a master organic system plan that sets forth the practice standards, recordkeeping and audit trail requirements applicable at each production unit, facility or site and that identifies the internal verification methods used. - Certifying Operations with Multiple Production Units, Sites, and Facilities under the National Organic Program. Nov. 19, 2008

209 Basic Types of Smallholder Projects A processor, exporter, or an NGO operates the ICS A cooperative or a farmers association operates the ICS Contract Production Slide courtesy of IFOAM

210 Members of the Internal Control team, Productores de Pisté, Yucatán, México Photo: Ernesto de la Rosa

211 Training Producers have to be trained in organic apiculture methods and the rules for organic production: - field advice - and/or grower trainings ICS personnel must be continuously trained in order to be aware of organic farming practices, certification requirements and important internal procedures. Slide courtesy of IFOAM Photo: Ernesto de la Rosa

212 Beekeepers in a training on NOP standards and organic agriculture (Apicultores Orgánicos de Kuxeb SPR de RL) Yucatán, México. Photo: Ernesto de la Rosa

213 Presentation on traceability translated from Spanish into Mayan language (Proselsur SA de CV. Valladolid) Yucatán, México. Photo: Ernesto de la Rosa

214 Challenges in inspecting multi-site operations Multiple harvest facilities/locations? Photo: Ernesto de Rosa

215 Challenges in inspecting multi-site operations Photo: IFOAM Storage of hive bodies in multiple locations with potential contamination sources?

216 Africanized Bees

217 Killer Bees? Photo: Ernesto de la Rosa

218 Producers in many Latin American countries are well versed in EU production, but not NOP Many are using synthetic pest control products for Varroa control that are not (yet) on the NOP list. Formic acid Oxalic acid Thymol

219 Oxalic acid sprayed on colonies

220 Oxalic acid vaporized in colonies

221 Thymol (or formic acid) applied to wood blocks and placed in hive

222 Useful tools for inspecting tropical apiculture

223 More useful tools for inspecting tropical apiculture

224 Questions? Photo: Ernesto de la Rosa

225 Web Resources Additional Information on Topics - ACA Apiculture Guidance Document - NOSB Apiculture Task Force Report Organic Apiculture Standards October 16, NOSB final recommendation on multi-site operations