AP News report on CCD

[gardeningfireman]

 I saw an AP news report today online that stated that CCD losses reported in 2009 in the US were down 26% from 2008! Could it be that the pesticides are not being used as much, or the bees are building up a tolerance?

[Kathyp]

or that pesticides had nothing to do with it?

[John Schwartz]

The article states a "survey" was done with no details about how extensive it was, etc. Also, that the rate of loss decreased TO 26% from 38% the year before.

[BoBn]

or that pesticides had nothing to do with it?

The same sort of thing happened in the 19th & 20th centuries.  Check out "disappearing disease" and "spring dwindling"

Die Off

[BjornBee]

Of course the same drumbeat that was seen in both 2008 and 2009 was once again on display at the ABF convention just a few days ago. Forcast...This will once again be the worst year for CCD. Food crop will go unpollinated, and the industry is on the verge of immediate collapse.  Seems I keep hearing this every year.

So thank you for some positive news on the subject.  I guess I'll wait a year or two to get the correct "adjusted" data, that I'm sure will be far different than the usual claims.

[John Schwartz]

:)

[hankdog1]

I don't know about the AP but things i hear this year is going to be really bad on beekeepers.  Word is if your buying package bees you need to do it now because the commerical guys are suffering heavy loses again.

[John Schwartz]

Have their been bee shortages in your area last year or so? (Curious) None here. Increasing my hives via swarms and splits anyways.

[gardeningfireman]

Yes, I know the media only reports what it wants you to hear.  I firmly believe that pesticides have a LOT to due with CCD. Repeated exposure to anything toxic is going to weaken you over time (i.e. radiation or lead poisoning!) and make you more successible to other pests or illnesses. I don't believe the pesticide companies are going to give in, and I don't believe the EPA, FDA, or any other gov't agency is going to stop taking their kickbacks and bribes and actually do what they are there to do! Well, enough of my ranting! Let's all just cross our fingers and hope for the best.

[deknow]

fireman,
as a trivia question, of the pesticides found in beehives, can you guess how the pesticides with the highest levels get into the hives?

deknow

[gardeningfireman]

deknow,
My guess would be mite control placed by the beekeepers themselves. As the saying goes, we may be our own worst enemies! I personally don't use any chemicals in my hives. With the new insecticide coated crop seeds in use, it is kind of difficult to avoid contamination no matter what you do.

[D Coates]

or that pesticides had nothing to do with it?

Amen!  Pesticides are not suddenly being used less than they were before.  This is an excellent reason NOT to have kneejerk reactions that some are demanding.  Methodically study to find the actual culprit, don't exacerbate the problem by focusing at the wrong target.  I'm not saying certain pesticides aren't the problem of CCD (assuming it exists) but studies have so far not found a smoking gun pesticide.

[Kathyp]

With the new insecticide coated crop seeds in use, it is kind of difficult to avoid contamination no matter what you do.

that's not a new thing, although what they use might be.  when i was a kid (long ago) we used to buy seed that was a pretty pink color.  it was coated with a something to keep the bugs from eating it and to keep the seed from rotting.  i have no idea what it was, but it probably wasn't good!  :-)

thing is, CCD or things like it, have been around for many  years as BoBn pointed out. 

maybe the bees have been to the gene bank and done an upgrade.  the die off from CCD is to get rid of those who couldn't upgrade.  what is left will be better...stronger....

[Scadsobees]

has the use of anti-nosema medicine gone up?

When it comes to the media, the sky is always falling.  I don't believe chicken little so much anymore.

[hankdog1]

Maybe it's all just a government conspiracy to keep us all like scared little sheep lol.

[bee-nuts]

something is going on and it is more or less world wide.  A colony that may have survived a virus or bacteria in days past may now collapse thanks to the varroa vamps.  No I am not claiming I know all and mites are the CCD cause but that I think it is likely that between new viruses and mites the bees are more susceptible then ever.  This CCD thing if figured out may not be curable.  It may turn out that all you can do is eliminate as many variables as you can to prevent your colonies from contracting something the mites will make an epidemic in your apiary.

I have recently read the Books; Fruitless Fall and A World Without Bees.  I believe there is much to gain from both of these books from any beekeeper by reading them and suggest them.  Especially, A World Without Bees.

[homer]

Throughout the history of the world and living things there is a pattern to existence.  Everything, without fail (not so sure about humans though), goes on a roller coaster ride over a long period of time.  When conditions are right things go up and when they are bad things go down.  Sometimes conditions good for one species are bad for another species.  Many species learn to adapt to changes and after years of struggle are able to come back and be more resilient.

Wolves in Idaho/Montana/Wyoming!  Used to be lots of elk which was good for the increase in wolf population.  Now there are lots of wolves which is bad for elk populations!

Global Warming.... The earth has had periods of warmer and colder years.  It's just a roller coaster ride.

Bees have been around for a ridiculously long time and have been able to adapt to many things.  They have ups and downs just like everything else that lives on earth.  I think that they'll figure it out despite what we do or don't do, for or to them!

Not to open a can of worms, just my opinion.