CIT Solutions offered the course over four weeks at a cost of $220.  There was a two hour workshop and a two hour session with the bees each week.  The publicity said “The Beekeepers Association of the ACT has developed a great introductory course that will give you a sound working knowledge of beekeeping and honey production. Learn how to keep your bees in good health and your hives in good condition.”

That is exactly what I believe the 6 female and 6 male participants got - thanks to the efforts and ability of the sub-committee.

While events were still fresh, the sub-committee reviewed the course and discussed possible changes for future courses.  The presenters enjoyed presenting the course and their enthusiasm was commented on by the participants.  Participants will get a certificate from CIT Solutions.

Paul discusses hive components

Roslyn and Eileen examine a piece of comb

The course participants’ evaluations were excellent and everyone completed the course, which is unusual for an adult education course.  The practical sessions were very well received.  The bee colonies were at various stages of development and timing was perfect in October with bees collecting honey and generally non-aggressive.

We will make some minor changes to the content and organisation of the course sessions and look at the possibility of using a larger room for future courses. We would also like to expand the hive area to provide a little more space to move about during the practical sessions.  The type of protective clothing needed for participants is another concern.

The presenters and organisers gave their time voluntarily and earned $640 for the Association.  Many thanks to all those involved.

Dick Johnston, Committee Convenor

Dick did a great job of organising the course and liaising with CIT Solutions.                                    Ed.

---

Working Bees in Fire Danger Periods

With the promise (or threat) of a long dry summer season ahead of us it seems a good time to consider strategies for working with bees in periods of high fire danger.

During total fire bans it is illegal to light a smoker in the open.  High fire danger periods occur on days of extreme temperatures and high winds. This type of day is not good for working with bees and if possible the work should be left until better conditions prevail.

If it is really necessary to work your bees in a high fire danger period some precautions need to be taken to ensure that you don’t start a bushfire.

The area around hives should be as free of flammable debris as possible.  The smoker should stand in a fireproof container (eg metal) while lighting, between uses and while refilling.  Have a large can of water on hand in the apiary if it is in a bush or farmland area.  Empty the smoker into a water filled hole in the ground and cover with earth when you are sure it is out.  Make sure the smoker is cool before storing away for transport.

In a period of total fire ban if you have to work your bees it may help to have a spray bottle of light sugar syrup on hand and lightly spray the frames and front of the hive.  This helps to keep the bees occupied while you are working.

Lyn Shiels

---

Bees and Water

Beekeepers often overlook the fact that bee colonies require large amounts of water for brood rearing and temperature control. In winter when breeding is at a minimum, bees need very little water.  However, water shortage can occur in summer, especially when temperatures exceed 30°C.  At this time nectar gatherers may become water collectors which results in a decline in honey production.

A supply of water in the apiary grounds is especially advisable where bees are kept in towns so that bees learn to obtain their water at home, and do not need to search the neighbourhood for it.  Bees with insufficient water frequently make a nuisance of themselves around neighbour’s taps, swimming pools and pet bowls.

Bees prefer to obtain moisture from a damp surface rather than from an open container of water.  There are several suitable watering devices used by apiarists. Two of these are:

a tub of wet sand suitably located near the hive; or

a shallow trough with floats, such as corks or straw, so that the bees can drink without drowning.

About 4 litres of water per hive should be available each day.  The bees will rarely use this much water but it is a sensible precaution.  To attract bees to a watering place, a teaspoon of salt can be added to each litre of fresh water during the first week.

From Bees and Water – Beekeepers Association of the ACT.

---

Royal Canberra Show 2003

The Royal Canberra Show will be held from February 28 to March 2, 2003.  Exhibitors from last year should have received their copy of the schedule by now. For new exhibitors the schedule and entry forms are available by phoning RNCAS on (02) 6241 2478.  Entry forms must reach RNCAS by 7 February, 2003.  This is before our next newsletter is published so make a note of the date now.

Classes are the same as last year with the addition of a children’s class for candles.

Don’t forget that the ribbon for the most successful exhibitor is awarded to the person with the most points overall.  The more classes you can enter, the greater your chance of unseating Bob Shaw from his throne.  Don’t forget the wax, candles and cookery classes.

Lyn Shiels

---

B-Qual Food Safety Program Course

Four members of our Association attended the latest B-Qual training course at Wagga and received valuable insights and training in the use of the B Qual Food Safety Program. The B Qual program will enable beekeepers to meet the needs of the new food safety requirements being legislated throughout Australia.

The general public in Australia and overseas are increasingly demanding more information about the food they eat and more assurances of the safety of their food. Consequently, governments are responding to these demands by requiring food producers and processors provide product information and implement food safety programs.

The product information needs are being met primarily through the publishing of more specific description of the product on its labelling.

Greater assurance of the safety of food is now being pursued through the implementation of food safety programs throughout all food production enterprises. It should be emphasised that all food industries are involved; fishing, cattle, sheep and others are well on the path already. In Australia, Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) develops food standards to cover the whole of the food supply chain – from paddock to plate – for both the food manufacturing industry and primary producers. All States (ACT?) have agreed to implement the national FSANZ policies.

Victoria has been the first to legislate the introduction of such food standards across the board.  In Victoria from 1 January 2003, all food businesses are required to submit a Food Safety Program (FSP) with local Government on their next annual food business registration date or when first registering a business. The law has been changed to let most businesses choose to write their food safety program using an approved template. Similar legislation is expected across all states, although implementation in other states may be staggered across industries as industry specific templates are developed. Honey is considered a low risk food and is likely to be included towards the end of the process in most states.

B-Qual is the Australian Honey Bee Industry Council (AHBIC) action to develop and promote an industry owned and developed quality assurance program designed to meet the requirements of the new food standards and Australian export requirements. Why should we be involved? B-Qual is a cheap easy-to-use system for the individual beekeeper or apiarist honey processing business and will ensure compliance with government and buyer demands. Our other option would be to satisfy our local government authority and possibly be audited under their guidelines.

There are unnecessary “fears” about “draconian and unachievable” impositions on beekeepers by such food standards. There is not a need to build new extracting plants to the specifications that are sometimes proposed. Those specifications may be the “ideal”, but they far exceed the minimum acceptable requirements. For example - most types of floor surfaces are quite acceptable … apart from dirt floors.

The B-Qual program includes two levels of plans. For the beekeeper who produces honey for sale in bulk only (bulk being considered as being in 20 litre or larger containers), a Risk Management Plan is appropriate. For beekeepers and packers who produce, prepare and sell honey for human consumption, a Food Safety Plan is appropriate.  These Plans are essentially the recording on paper of the standards and practices that beekeepers work to. These standards and practices are not new, they are basically what most beekeepers are already doing. Among other things, they demonstrate that the business owners have considered, and assumably understand, the standards and practices that lead to safe, healthy foods. The difference to most beekeepers’ current practices is primarily that they provide for the keeping of simple records of such things as apiary location, disease management, proximity to GMO crops, drug usage (bees’, not yours), extractions and labelling … all good management processes that will likely provide benefits to both amateur and commercial beekeepers.

The B-Qual course takes one full 8 hour day, but is informative and not onerous. By the conclusion of the day you have all the paperwork and knowledge to develop your own Plans and qualify as an Associate Member of B-Qual. Full membership is achieved by undertaking an audit of your Plan/s at a later date with a B-Qual facilitator auditor.

Further details on B-Qual may be downloaded in a PDF file (520KB size) from the AHBIC website page  www.honeybee.org.au/new.htm

I commend the course to you.

Paul Hooper

---

 

 

 

Go to BINDAREE BEE SUPPLIES

Home | Hints | Newsletters | Shop Online