Queensland Beekeepers' Association Inc News

Beekeepers called to action amid fears varroa complacency is threatening multi-billion-dollar industry

Mon, 17 Apr 2023 01:42:48 GMT

Dear members,

Please find the latest on the response to varroa in a story from the ABC.

Click here to read the story from ABC News

All the best,

Jo Martin

Fijian beekeepers keen to export high-quality honey, but face pollen shortage

Wed, 22 Mar 2023 03:27:49 GMT

A boom in beekeeping in the Pacific has helped improve yield and quality for more than 30 per cent of the country's pollination-dependent crops, but it comes at an inopportune time as Fiji grapples with a varroa mite invasion and adverse weather events.

Click here to read the story from the ABC

Small hive beetle detected in Devonport beehive threatens $12.8m Tasmanian honey industry

Fri, 10 Mar 2023 03:25:06 GMT

The discovery of a small hive beetle in a beehive in the north-west of Tasmania has rocked the state's honey bee industry.

The small hive beetle has been described as a "shocking pest" by the president of the Tasmanian Beekeepers Association, Lindsay Bourke.

Click here to read the story from the ABC

New varroa mite detections around Taree, NSW linked to illegal movement of beehives

Tue, 21 Feb 2023 03:23:29 GMT

There have been new detections of the deadly varroa mite in beehives at two locations on the NSW Mid North Coast, linked to the illegal movement of beehives.

Click here to read the story from the ABC

Echuca beekeeper fined $12,500 for failure to reveal American foulbrood infections

Thu, 02 Feb 2023 20:30:00 GMT

A well-known beekeeper from Echuca has been fined after pleading guilty to breaching biosecurity laws, including failing to notify authorities of hives infected with American and European foulbrood.

Click here to read the story from the ABC

Women beekeepers 'astonished' by global response to world record attempt

Wed, 01 Feb 2023 03:13:34 GMT

From all over Australia to war-torn Ukraine, snow-covered Maine, and the Mongolian Steppes: Passionate women from around the globe have set a new world for "the most photos of women beekeeping uploaded in 24 hours."

Click here to read the story from the ABC

Australian manuka honey producers score legal win over New Zealand producers in Europe, UK

Mon, 23 Jan 2023 23:30:00 GMT

Australian manuka honey producers have scored a win over their trans-Tasman rivals after New Zealand producers backed out of legal action aimed at preventing them from using the descriptive word.

Click here to read the story from the ABC

NSW beekeepers welcome varroa mite border reopening for blue zones as agriculture minister warns against complacency

Sat, 21 Jan 2023 03:15:50 GMT

Australian states and territories are expected to revoke a ban on New South Wales bees and hives in the coming weeks.

It comes after authorities voted to declare the NSW General Emergency Zone, or blue zone, free of the deadly varroa mite.

Click here to read the story from the ABC

Bee vaccine for American foulbrood approved by USDA positive step for Australian beekeepers

Wed, 11 Jan 2023 23:30:00 GMT

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has granted conditional approval for a vaccine to protect honey bees from American foulbrood (AFB), but it's how they administer it that has Australian researchers and beekeepers excited.

Click here to read the story from the ABC

Beekeepers advise tighter security to protect hives from theft and vandalism

Mon, 09 Jan 2023 22:00:00 GMT

Brad Poile was met with an unpleasant post-Christmas surprise when checking his beehives in the Benandarah State Forest, just north of Batemans Bay on the NSW South Coast, last month.

Expecting to find several boxes of hives side-by-side, he instead found they had been ransacked, and seven hives were missing.

Click here to read the story from the ABC

Kangaroo Island Ligurian beekeepers struggling to produce honey three years on from bushfires

Sat, 07 Jan 2023 10:00:00 GMT

Kangaroo Island beekeepers are continuing their fight to produce the world's purest honey with little improvement three years on from destructive bushfires.

Brenton Davis bought his business, Island Beehive, about two-and-a-half years ago from his father, Peter.

Click here to read the story from the ABC

Varroa mite detection in Hunter Valley raises questions about origin of deadly bee parasite

Tue, 29 Nov 2022 03:03:08 GMT

More beehives will be destroyed in New South Wales after a new detection of varroa mite prompted the expansion of an eradication zone.

The mite was discovered in a hive at a property near Cessnock, north-west of Newcastle.

The property is located in the surveillance, or "purple" zone, just outside the "red" eradication zone.

Click here to read the story from the ABC

Feral honey bees to be poisoned in NSW varroa mite hotspots to prevent spread of parasite

Wed, 28 Sep 2022 08:30:00 GMT

Authorities will begin baiting feral bees in a single red eradication zone next week, more than three months after varroa mite was detected at the Port of Newcastle.

While destroying feral hives has been a key part of the NSW government's varroa mite eradication strategy, the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) said it had been unable to do that while there were managed hives in the zones.

Click here to read the story from the ABC

Bees swarm as warm and wet weather descends across Queensland

Sat, 24 Sep 2022 02:56:47 GMT

Secretary of Queensland Beekeepers Association Jo Martin said warmer weather and unseasonal rain had led to a boom in European honey bees.

"As soon as trees start to blossom, it signals the start of those worker bees and Queen to build those population numbers."

Click here to read the story from the ABC

Varroa mite detection forces the destruction of research hives in NSW's Hunter region

Wed, 21 Sep 2022 02:54:27 GMT

Researchers have been forced to euthanase 250 of their breeding and production bee colonies after a varroa mite incursion near a facility in NSW's Hunter region.

Varroa mite, which has devastated bee colonies around the world, has been detected at Butterwick, less than 10 kilometres from Tocal Agricultural College.

Click here to read the story from the ABC

Wildlife restoration project leads to cold fusion honey business for Sunshine Coast beekeepers

Sun, 18 Sep 2022 02:51:44 GMT

When Leisa and Tony Sams bought a farm and set about reconnecting bushland that had been divided for a century, they never imagined where it would lead them.

Seven years later, they are producing an award-winning range of pure raw honey infused with flavours including organic ginger, turmeric, lemon myrtle, rose petals, chilli, cinnamon, lavender, finger lime, vanilla beans, truffle, and black garlic.

Click here to read the story from the ABC

Exotic bee parasite braula fly detected in NSW as fight against varroa mite continues

Wed, 07 Sep 2022 01:30:00 GMT

Two-and-a-half months after varroa destructor was detected in New South Wales, another exotic honey bee pest has been found in the state for the first time.

Braula fly, endemic in Tasmania and every continent in the world, was detected in Victoria during varroa mite surveillance of almond hives last month.

Click here to read the story from ABC

Varroa mite controls impacts almond industry as loss of bees for pollination reduces crop value by $200 million

Thu, 18 Aug 2022 02:45:28 GMT

Eight weeks out from the varroa parasite outbreak, NSW has eased restrictions on the movement of thousands of pollinating beehives, but the decision comes too late for many almond growers.

The NSW Agriculture Minister Dugald Saunders said he was confident varroa mite is being controlled and has scrapped the yellow notification zones set up around infected properties.

Click here to read the story from ABC

Backyard beekeeping boom prompts varroa mite warning from honey industry

Sat, 30 Jul 2022 02:42:58 GMT

Backyard beekeeping is booming, but with the world's worst bee parasite on our doorstep, could well-meaning enthusiasts bring down Queensland's honey industry?

Click here to read the story from the ABC

New South Wales Agriculture Minister confident varroa mite outbreak can be eradicated as ban on hive movement eases

Thu, 21 Jul 2022 02:40:06 GMT

New South Wales Agriculture Minister Dugald Saunders is confident that authorities can eliminate the varroa mite from the state, despite relaxing a lockdown on the movement of beehives in low-risk areas.

Varroa destructor was first detected in surveillance hives in the port of Newcastle late last month and has now been found at 40 properties across New South Wales, including near Narrabri, 400 kilometres from the original site.

Click here to read the story from the ABC

Queensland, Victoria impose bee border bans as NSW battles varroa mite outbreak

Thu, 30 Jun 2022 05:30:00 GMT

Queensland and Victoria have banned the entry of bees, hives and products, including honey, from anywhere in New South Wales as the state struggles to contain an outbreak of the devastating varroa mite.

South Australia announced a similar set of restrictions on Wednesday.

Queensland Agricultural Industry Development Minister Mark Furner said NSW had taken "swift action to restrict the spread", but said if the measures failed Queensland had "limited options" for eradicating the pest.

Click here to read the story from ABC

Emergency orders in place across NSW to protect bee industry from deadly varroa mite parasite

Tue, 28 Jun 2022 08:00:00 GMT

The movement of bees within New South Wales has been halted following the discovery last week of a deadly parasite at the Port of Newcastle.

The statewide emergency order, which took effect at 6pm on Sunday, aims to prevent the spread of Varroa destructor, commonly called varroa mite, and described as the number one threat for Australia's bee industry.

Click here to read the story from the ABC

What is varroa mite and how could it impact Australia's bee industry and food production?

Mon, 27 Jun 2022 08:30:00 GMT

After two years spent living through a pandemic, terms like lockdowns, tracing and circuit breakers are familiar to Australians.

But this time they are being used to describe the response to varroa mite, a parasite that is threatening the Australian bee industry after it was found at the Port of Newcastle and a nearby commercial beekeeper last week.

Click here to read the story from the ABC

Varroa mite detection at Port of Newcastle threatens Australia's bee industry

Fri, 24 Jun 2022 06:30:00 GMT

Varroa mite has been detected in biosecurity surveillance hives at the Port of Newcastle, threatening the bee industry.

Australia has been the only continent to remain free of the parasite, with previous detections in Queensland and Victoria eradicated.

Click here to read the story from the ABC

Beekeepers now face cane toad invasion in wake of Northern Rivers floods

Sun, 24 Apr 2022 02:22:18 GMT

One of the country's largest honey producers has warned there could be an explosion in cane toad numbers in the NSW Northern Rivers following recent record floods.

Cane toads are invading hives on damaged sites across the region in search of the destructive small hive beetle, which poses a massive threat to bee colonies.

Click here to read the story from ABC

Law allowing honey bees to stay in Queensland's national parks set to pass

Thu, 21 Apr 2022 11:18:32 GMT

A state government committee has recommended a bill extending commercial beekeeper access to national parks be passed. QBA President Jacob Stevens interviewed for this story.

Click here to read the story from ABC News.

Royal Australian Mint releases $2 honey bee coin to mark bicentenary of the industry in Australia

Sun, 10 Apr 2022 02:19:32 GMT

The Royal Australian Mint has released a new coin, and there's a special buzz about it.

Marking 200 years since the insect's introduction to Australia, the $2 collector's coin features two honey bees, commemorating "both the remarkable creatures and conscientious beekeepers".

Click here to read the story from the ABC

Queensland, NSW floods, disease destroy bees needed to pollinate almond, macadamia and blueberry crops

Sat, 26 Mar 2022 02:13:22 GMT

Australia's crucial crop pollination industry is experiencing a worker shortage of its own due to the widespread flood damage to thousands of beehives.

Click here to read the story from the ABC

NSW floods kill millions of bees, apiarists warn of flow-on effects to horticulture industry

Thu, 17 Mar 2022 02:10:16 GMT

Floodwaters rose two metres in just four hours at Steve Smith's New South Wales home, and while he escaped by boat, nearby, millions of his bees were not so lucky.

Click here to read the story from ABC

What makes Australian honey special? To work that out these researchers need samples

Thu, 24 Feb 2022 02:06:24 GMT

Australia is not short of honey varieties — from manuka to leatherwood and mallee — but researchers are on the hunt to find out what makes our honey, in all its flavours, unique.

Click here to read the story from ABC

'Meet the migratory beekeepers who travel across state borders to pollinate crops'

Wed, 09 Feb 2022 11:46:03 GMT

QBA President Jacob Stevens and State Secretary Jo Martin were recently interviewed in relation to migratory beekeeping, and expanding the public understanding about the important role of our beekeepers pollinating much of Australia's food crops.

Click here to read the story from ABC News.

'Australia emerges victorious in British manuka honey trademark battle with New Zealand'

Fri, 17 Dec 2021 06:30:00 GMT

The Australian Manuka Honey Association has cheered the latest victory for Australian beekeepers in the "farcical" trans-Tasman battle over the term "manuka honey".

Click here to read the story from ABC News

Growth in amateur beekeeping contributing $173.5 million per year to the sector

Mon, 06 Dec 2021 05:55:27 GMT

AHBIC Chair Trevor Weatherhead was recently interviewed in relation to the growth in the amateur beekeeping sector. Nationally, this sector of industry has grown from 23,000 to 28,000 registered apiarists.

Click here to read the story

'Queensland Government to delay lockout of apiary industry'

Wed, 13 Oct 2021 02:30:00 GMT

The QBA was recently interviewed in relation to our efforts to secure a commitment from the Queensland Government to extend access to National Park apiary sites until 2044.

Click here to read the story

'Beekeeping allowed to continue in Queensland national parks'.

Mon, 11 Oct 2021 07:30:00 GMT

After decades of lobbying, the QBA warmly welcomes the Palaszczuk Governments move to introducing legislation to extend the current exclusion date for an additional 20-years, allowing beekeeping to continue until 31 December 2044.

Please find the media release below.

https://statements.qld.gov.au/statements/93477

Varroa Mite Eradicated from the Port of Townsville

Thu, 12 Aug 2021 11:58:30 GMT

Please find the link below to a media release collaborated by Minister Mark Furner and QBA State Secretary Jo Martin commenting on the successful completion and proof of freedom announcement relating to the eradication of varroa mite detected on Apis cerana (Asian Honey bee) in the Port of Townsville.

https://statements.qld.gov.au/statements/92920

'Beekeeping becomes a popular hobby across Queensland, as commercial industry remains static'

Tue, 16 Mar 2021 20:30:00 GMT

QBA State Secretary Jo Martin, was recently interviewed in relation to the expansion and popularity in backyard/urban beekeepers. Statistics reveal our industry has grown exponentially with over 7,500 registrations.

Click here to read the story from ABC News

'Palaszuzuk Government continues support for vital beekeeping industry'

Sat, 26 Sep 2020 07:18:00 GMT

Additional support for the Queensland commercial beekeeping sector announced yesterday by Minister Furner.

Please see the link below to access a copy of the media release.

https://statements.qld.gov.au/statements/90874

'$1 million package putting the buzz back in beekeeping industry'

Wed, 12 Feb 2020 06:34:48 GMT

QBA are delighted to advise of a recent announcement to provide much needed financial relief for the Queensland commercial honey bee industry.

QBA has lobbied the Qld Government for this emergency package over the last 5 weeks. We welcome this announcement by Minister Furner yesterday.

Please see the link below to access the media release.

https://statements.qld.gov.au/statements/89306