News & NEWSLETTERS

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

Varroa Detection at the Port of Newcastle

On late Wednesday the 22nd of June AHBIC was made aware if the detection of mites in surveillance hives at the port of Newcastle. AHBIC has acted swiftly in working with the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) to ensure the sentinel hives have been euthanised and the mites identified. Molecular testing has conformed that it is V. destructor.

AHBIC has been in constant contact with the DPI and the national response plan has been initiated with a meeting of the Consultative Committee on Emergency Plant Pest (CEPPD) held on Friday and further meetings on Monday. AHBIC and the NSWAA will be working to provide on ground resources to assist in the surveillance.

Industry Liaison Officers are being mobilised and will be based at the state control centre in Orange and the local coordination centre in Maitland. In the initial stages the ILO officers will be Danny Le Feuvre from AHBIC and Steve Fuller from the NSW Apiarists Association. These ILO’s will be on the ground and will coordinate the industry resources that will be needed to assist in the surveillance.

There is a 50km ‘do not move’ order in place. It is critically important that beekeepers in the Newcastle area do not move any hives or equipment in or out of the area. Moving hives away will only further exacerbate the issue and make eradication efforts futile.

Not moving hives in or out of the 50km ‘do not move’ area will be the only way of successfully containing the incursion and ultimately eradicating the pest.

It also important that any media enquires are directed to AHBIC to ensure the messaging is consistent.

Further information contact AHBIC - Danny Le Feuvre 0402 467 780

On behalf of the AASA we have been asked to circulate the following information to our members.

Further to the information below, Plant Health Australia are the overarching federal agency responsible for responding to issues with crops and within their listing of Representing Parties is the Australian Honey Bee Industry Council Inc. (and includes Bees and their hives are defined as included under Crops and Beeswax and Honey)

As per proper processes, the National Biosecurity/Incursion Management Plan has been Active aged.

All documents can be accessed on the Plant Health Australia website (https://www.planthealthaustralia.com.au/biosecurity/emergency-plant-pest-response-deed/ )

These two documents will explain the process further. 

EPPRD - 3March2022

PLANTPLAN - 8December2021

BSSA produces a bi-monthly magazine, Buzzword. Download edition 113 here.

Over the weekend the BSSA held their usual stall at Sophie Thompson's open garden. It was a great success! 

Pictured above L-R Kay, Trisha, Costa and Bruce.

Pictured above L-R Costa, Mark, Bruce and Barbara. 

Conservationists are worried European honey bees compete with native fauna and stingless bees for habitat in national parks. Read the ABC News article here.