The Government wants my honey again.

[mick]

Got the second annual request for a sample to test for AFB from the dept. Of Agriculture today. This time there was more of an explanation. There is an agnote AG1145 explaing what sort of a sample this time and some pics of what they dont want and contact numbers etc. It also says that if they find AFB youre not a bad beekeeper etc. There is also a covering letter saying what a good free service this is lol. I know I got it about this time last year, but is it a coincidence that the state election is on this weekend lol?

[Finsky]

That is good job. Spores of AFB will be seen 2 years before symptons are seen with bare eye.

If you have too much spores, you get them rid off when you shake bees onto foundations.  That is problem if you have wild hives somewhere and your yard gets contaminated honey from those. Unless authority orders to burn your hives.

[Brian D. Bray]

It definitely sounds like an agressive survey concerning AFB.  But I'd view that as good and respond.  The more lead time that the Augriculture Depart of your state concerning a possible or pending AFB outbreak is good for everybody.

[Zoot]

You're fortunate to have a local govt. agency that seems to be on the ball. The state of Maryland where we live has what's considered to be one of the more progressive departments (falls under dept. of interior resources) in the country but the reality is that the state legislature keeps it  understaffed and underfunded - typical of American political priorities. Fortunately, the quality of the personel is high (all of them are or have been beekeepers).