NEEPS

Diana

More info here:
http://www.eastofscotlandbeekeepers.org.uk/EFB_July09.html
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wildgarlic · Posted: Sat Jul 25, 2009 9:21 am Post subject:

Maria · Posted: Sun Jul 26, 2009 12:38 am Post subject:

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Diana · Posted: Wed Aug 05, 2009 9:06 am Post subject:

Should just say, it's probably inadvisable for anyone to buy bees just now - especially if you don't know the person you're buying from. If you know the beekeeper, have seen his colonies and are happy that his bees are disease free, then that's different.

It's all down to common sense really.
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Martin · Neepster Joined: 16 Sep 2007 Posts: 663

Word is that it's typical government over-reaction - EFB is actually curable by husbandry methods (change of queen, hygiene, lack of stress), and is NOT held to be particularly serious in Australia....
What strikes me as ironic is that several of the "conventional beekeeping brigade" have been very sniffy about "blo*dy amateurs" spreading disease..... from reports I've heard it took a commercial beekeeper 2 whole years to recognise the problem, they thought it was ineffective varroa treatment........ Recognising EFB and AFB was part of the first "recognise diseases" talks I went to...
I feel really sorry for Scots beekeepers at the moment - BAD beekeeping on the part of "establishment" beekeepers is responsible - lets hope it soon clears
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Diana · Posted: Wed Aug 05, 2009 9:34 am Post subject:

Totally agree Martin.

EFB is treatable. AFB (which we also have) isn't.

And yes, it was first found in the commercial hives up hear. Unfortunately, I already know a number of "amateur" beekeepers (who've been keeping bees longer than most of the commercial boys) who have at least one, possibly both FBs.
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StuP · Posted: Wed Aug 05, 2009 10:46 am Post subject:

At the Turriff show I was chatting to the gent who won every prize there for honey (nice chap). He was saying that with EFB you can be selective and just destroy the infected equipment. With AFB it's a case of burning 'everything'.

We used to keep bees although our two hives didn't make it through the winter a couple of years ago. We want to get back into it but I don't know that now is the time!

flingdizz · Posted: Tue Sep 15, 2009 8:15 pm Post subject:

After reading all about this I went though my hives very carefully and found something I was concerned about. I called the Bee Inspector and she came round and checked them out and it turned out it was chalk brood ( as I thought but wanted to get it checked). I had dislodged a larvae previously when I was gently shaking off the bees and it set alarm bells ringing! Bees can fight chalk brood themselves with a good nectar flow and spring clean. She was very good and was saying that in England the bee inspectors do compulsary checks to keep track and pick up any issues but it is not compulsary in Scotland, hence why the problem is maybe so widespread now.

Diana · Posted: Fri Sep 18, 2009 9:31 am Post subject:

Yes, I know of a few people who have had their hive checked with suspicious symptoms and fortunately only chalk brood or sac brood (both of which the bees deal with themselves).

There is talk about registration of beehives becoming compulsory in Scotland too to allow regular inspection to take place.

Glad you got the all clear.
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