Institute of Northern Ireland Beekeepers

A Brief report on some of the highlights of the event which took place in Loughry College Cookstown on 25th. October. By Orlich

Putting a good conference together is, I suppose, a bit like making a good cake. Get the best ingredients possible, mix well and keep to a recipe which has a proven successful track record. So it was at Loughry. The cream of the United States beekeepers, combined with a splash of Ulster brilliance and a healthy dollop of English know-how, mix well, resulting in an extremely successful conference.

The conference was opened by Mr. James Quinn and a sweet little formality of passing the gavel onto the new host Mid Ulster Beekeepers' Association.

The President of INIB, Bill Turnbull got the whole thing into full swing with his declaration of being a seasoned Eco warrior now, with the stings to prove it and confessed to all present the awful Turnbull curse, i.e. "In any action chosen from a selection of two possible, the wrong one will be inevitably chosen."

Prof. Dewey M. Caron was the first of our US visitors to take the floor and laid out for all to see the awful state of apiculture in the new world, with emphasis on the CCD nightmare and the grossly inadequate resources to help combat this Armageddon decimating the USA and Canadian stocks. Some of the suspected causes were highlighted, including pesticides, pathogens, mismanagement el al. He offered no magic bullet, but laid out the steps being taken in a lucid, frank and understandable manner that made this an unmissable lecture for any apiculturist.

Jim Nicholson MP gave us a brief informative talk on the present situation with regard to funding for Beekeeping affairs as regards our Government's antics.
I would like to record here, in this report, a big thank-you from all the beekeepers in the Province for your unstinting efforts to help the honey bees of Ulster and elsewhere.

Prof. Keith Delaplane the second of our US friends was next to enlighten us on the latest ideas and practices in the beekeeping world and laid great store in the exchange of ideas across the pond. He described the importance of pollination and its role in food production; how, whilst some major food sources are independent of pollinators, the ones that make life bearable are, and action is needed now to help beekeeping become a much more professional industry and not a social club. There is overwhelming proof that bees are, by far, the most important pollinators in the field.
Varroa, that eternal nightmare, is a definite brake to pollination and health in the honey bee and he showed this with clarity, explaining in simple terms the impact this vermin has on our bees.

Sheridan Hillis our in house Health & Safety Officer laid out some of the risks and dangers associated with observation hives and their use in public places. With special mention of the insurance cover threat. He showed some methods of improving the observation hive to enable it to be used safely and gave some sage advice. Read the fine print on your insurance policy, use toughened glass and keep a smother blanket handy.

LUNCH..Wow !! It was marvellous.

Tim Lovett, BBKA president, next delineated the battle lines between us and the Government. In "Which Way Now" When a senior Government figure states in public that government endeavours have proved that Varroa is not a problem, then, either the official is an uninformed idiot or a blatant teller of fibs. I suspect the former.
Although there is no prospect of government funding in the immediate offing, the Whitehall enlightened recognise the importance of the honey bee in pollination, etc., Time will tell. Phase two of the onslaught starts now and we must keep pressure on the government to produce a new deal for beekeeping. There is to be a government programme over 5 years and £8 million (I had a dream)

Our own home-grown Dr. Robert Paxton's lecture was on the newly discovered and present here in Ireland, that exotic, virulent, stuff of nightmares, the Nosema Ceranae.
Roughly 10 times more virulent than Nosema Apis, it lies virtually dormant until triggered into action by the spring cleaning activities of the bee. So watch for it this spring.

Tom Williamson, The Grim Reaper, reported on N.I. Inspections of Apiaries. Despite foul weather 58 colonies were inspected and no AFB found. He gave some good advice on apiary management.

After coffee, or rather a quick stretch, Michael Badger of the Yorkshire Beekeepers gave a useful demonstration of hive manipulation using the Horsley Board. This simpler alternative to the Snelgrove system is a welcome addition to the beekeepers arsenal and details will be in the next Bee Craft magazine. He also gave some good advice on how to find the elusive queen.

Keith Delaplane now gave his second presentation of the day entitled "Principles of Sustainable Bee Health Management" He discussed Varroa control within the hive and the beekeepers penchant for chemicals. A viable method was described as a chemical free alternative. Basically "Chemicals are part of the problem and not part of the solution"

The final speaker of the afternoon was Prof. Dewey Caron who talked about Farming Pollinators and the Native Bee pollination Project" He pointed out that the Honey Bee is not a native of the new world and went on to discuss the Native Bees as pollinators.

The presentation of trophies to the winners in the honey show was next, followed by the raffle draw, (Sesi Turnbull won the large Teddy Bear and suffered for it from Bill)
Beekeeper of the Year award was presented to Elmer Kennedy, Chairman of Randalstown and District Association and long time beekeeper and then gifts were presented to our president and Speakers

Finally the room filled with the drone of Cecil's bagpipes and we all finished just after 6.00pm with the renowned ice cream social.

Finally finally. Does anyone know where Dewey Caron got that fantastic waistcoat??