News & NEWSLETTERS

Hi there,

This afternoon PIRSA announced the varroa sampling program, targeted at beekeepers with 20 or more hives.

SA beekeepers with 20 or more hives are being called on to play their part in protecting our state from Varroa mite by sampling 10% of their hives per apiary.

Sampling hives gives PIRSA and industry confidence that SA is free of Varroa mite, and protects apiary businesses and associated pollination-dependent industries. The Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA) is offering free sampling kits at a series of upcoming workshops across the state.

At the workshops, beekeepers will receive their sampling kits, learn how to sample for Varroa mite and have the opportunity to ask questions.

• Murray Bridge, 21 November, 6pm-7.30pm
• Mt Gambier, 22 November, 6pm-7.30pm
• Naracoorte, 23 November, 6pm-7.30pm
• Keith, 24 November, 6pm-7.30pm
• Loxton, 25 November, 6pm-7.30pm
• Port Lincoln, 29 November, 6pm-7.30pm
• Clare, 30 November, 6pm-7.30pm
• Nuriootpa, 1 December, 6pm-7.30pm
• Adelaide, 2 December, 6pm-7.30pm
• Kangaroo Island, 6 December, 6pm-7.30pm.

Media release

Eventbrite link to register - Varroa mite sampling workshops Tickets, Mon 21/11/2022 at 6:00 pm | Eventbrite

PIRSA Varroa web page – www.pir.sa.gov.au/varroa

A post on PIRSA’s Facebook and Twitter

Just a BIG reminder that this year's Mount Barker  Show is upon us

25th MARCH 2023

It's that time of year again. The Mt Barker Show is upon us. We are looking for entries in honey (liquid, section comb), wax, honey on frames, anything, to be submitted for judging at the Mt Barker Show. As you know, these competitions are great fun and offer up all manner of bragging rights. This year is our 150th anniversary show and is going to be bigger and better than ever. I hope Our Society members can get lots of entries in.

 link to Show http://www.mountbarkerdistrictshow.org.au. It has all the required entry regulations in it. Thanks for your support.

From Crispin BOXALL

Members are invited to use this link to view submissions made to the senate regarding the effectiveness of the current biosecurity measures for foot and mouth and varroa. The BSSA have made a submission. 

BBSA produces a bi-monthly magazine, Buzzword. Download edition 114 here.

We had PIRSA come out to our Clovelly Park hives to demonstrate the alcohol wash method for Varroa testing. Have a look at the videos on facebook here. 

For those of you who want to read the most up to date information on the varroa incursion, the Australian Honey Bee Council are posting regular updates to their facebook page. www.facebook.com/AustBee

Furthermore, PIRSA has provided the following information in relation to varroa and South Australia’s current response. www.pir.sa.gov.au/varroa

Dear Members,

As we believe you will all be aware by now, The Varroa mite was detected in observation hives in NSW, at the Port of Newcastle.

Work is continuing to eradicate this incursion.

PIRSA has provided the following information in relation to varroa and South Australia’s current response. http://www.pir.sa.gov.au/varroa. Additionally in this document. 

Further, PIRSA advised us that the Livestock Act was updated last night, restricting the movements of bees, hives and apiary products, into SA from NSW - closing the border. (Linked, page 2).

Below is the latest update from AHBIC, (Australian Honey Bee Industry Council). AHBIC is still believing they can eradicate this incursion.

Beekeepers in NSW May not touch their hives unless it is to perform a test for mites.

Please re the information on PIRSA’s site and note the contacts for reporting of Varroa.

Please contact PIRSA or the BSSA if you have any questions. 

As you may have already seen, the DPI emergency zone map has been updated.

The Department has been conducting tracing to identify hive movements.  Three locations have been identified outside of the 50km emergency zone connected to the commercial operation detected with mites within the original zone.  One of these loads was near Dubbo, no mites were detected, however due to the high risk this load of bees was destroyed, as previously advised.

Another site which is approximately 65km north east of the original detection was inspected by DPI and industry representatives.  Alcohol washes on every hive resulted in the detection of two mites across the whole load.  In response to this low-level detection a new Infected Premise (IP) response has been initiated, with a new 10km eradication zone, 25km surveillance zone and 50km buffer zone determined.  This has resulted in the update of the DPI emergency zone map tonight.

This new detection is outside the 50km original zone but is directly connected to the commercial operation.  Whilst it is of concern that there is a new detection, it is an extremely low-level detection and connected to the same operation.  The Incident Management Team is still confident that eradication is achievable, and every effort will continue to be made to ensure we eliminate this incursion. 

The map has also been updated with a number of other detections of mites in hives in the original emergency zone.

Regards,
AHBIC

VIST DPI NSW FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND UPDATES

On Wednesday the 22nd June an initial detection of Varroa mite was found in sentinel hives at the port of Newcastle. A second confirmed detection in a commercial load of bees occurred within 10km on Saturday 25th June.

These have been the ONLY detections so far. There has been no further detections outside of the 10km eradication zone.

Due to the second detection being in commercial hives, DPI have been swift in conducting tracing activities to determine the locations of any hives connected to the commercial operation. The resulting tracing has determined that there are hives connected to the operation outside of the 50km emergency zone.

In consultation state counterparts, the almond industry and AHBIC, the Incident Controller and Chief Plant Officer signed the stand still order which came into effect this evening. The order means the following:-

• Hives must not be moved if they are in the state of NSW regardless if NSW is not their residence.

• Hives must not be ‘tampered’ with, meaning hives can not be worked, extracted or have supers put on.

• There is an exemption for conducting surveillance including sugar shake and alcohol washes.

The intent of the order is to allow time for the department to trace hive movements and determine the locations of any ‘at risk’ hives outside of the 50km zone.

This is a biosecurity order and the penalties for disregarding this order are huge, police are aware and patrolling. Please be patient. This is for the long term benefit of our industry.

Sugar shake and alcohol washes can be undertaken on any hives during this order. If mites are detected in your surveillance ring the hotline on 1800 084 881.

The link to the emergency order is here:

https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0020/1410590/Biosecurity-Varroa-Mite-Emergency-Order-2022-No.-2.pdf