Experts: Winter honeybee losses 'unsustainable'

Some experts say that if the kinds of losses we had last winter continue, they are unsustainable.

Colony collapse disorder as art

In London, there is a display of art symbolizing the pain of colony collapse disorder.

Westin hotel in Annapolis, Maryland, adds beehives to roof

Following a new trend, the Westin Hotel in Annapolis, Maryland, is adding two new beehives to its roof to help boost the local bee population. Among the benefits will be local honey to be used in the restaurant's meals.

Proposed honey regulation panel

This is from the Federal Register, describing a proposal to create a U.S Honey Producer Research, Promotion, and Consumer Information Order. It's about halfway down the page. The plan is up for referendum among qualified honey producers.
This is where to go to examine the referendum procedures.
Here is the release from American Bee Journal news source:

WASHINGTON D.C. – The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced that it will conduct a referendum May 17 to June 4, 2010, for eligible producers of U.S. honey to determine whether a new national U.S Honey Producer Research, Promotion, and Consumer Information Order should be established.

The program will be implemented if approved by a majority of producers voting who also represent a majority of the volume of U.S. honey produced during the representative period. To be eligible to vote in the referendum, producers must have produced 100,000 or more pounds of honey from Jan. 1, 2008 through Dec. 31, 2008.

If implemented, the program would be administered by a seven-member board and its alternates – from seven regions – who will be responsible for carrying out activities intended to strengthen the position of the U.S. honey industry in the marketplace. In addition, the board will work to develop, maintain and expand domestic markets for U.S. honey.

The national coordinated generic program would be financed by a mandatory assessment of two cents per pound paid by U.S. honey producers; a U.S. producer who produces less than 100,000 pounds would be exempt from paying assessments.

The proposed order, referendum order, and referendum procedures for the program were published in the April 12, 2010, Federal Register, and posted on the Internet at http://www.ams.usda.gov/FVPromotion and http://www.regulations.gov.

Profits up in Montana, Wyoming, while production drops

This report tells about the increase in prices for honey, even though production has dropped. It also talks about some other health hazards to bees: the vorroa mite and Acrine mite.

Update on honey-production concerns

AOL's public health correspondent has written about the latest concerns over fraudulent honey. Executives from the nations's top honey producers and sellers met in secret Monday to examine the problem.

Mead gets some props from Phila. Inquirer

Here's a little write-up about Tria, a pair of Philadelphia cafes that serve mead from South Africa's Makana meadery.

Honey production in Kenya boosts food security

Here's an article that touts beekeeping and honey production as a form of nation building.

Honey production falls in Hungary

Authorities there say it's not because of colony collapse disorder, but rather that drought in 2008 resulted in a drop in production in 2009.

Yoga Journal article

Thanks to a friend at work for this article on honey from Yoga Journal.

From NY Times in 2008: 'Honey in the Hood'

This is a NY Times article about an urban farm in Philadelphia that, among other things, produces its own honey, dubbed "Honey in the Hood."
On a related note, here is a blog from the urban farm that talks about the centennial of beekeeping in Philadelphia, with mentions of things to come this year.

Fairmont hotels keep it local

USA Today reports that seven hotels in the Fairmont chain have their own beehives to produce their own honey for cuisine and cocktails.

David Guas segment on "Today"

Take a deep breath and hold on for the quick ride on how honey can be used for a honey-chipotle chicken recipe, honey-glazed carrots and honey-sweetened cornbread.

Honeybee festival in Colorado

The festival is designed to bring attention to honey and its makers, the bees. It will be April 16 and 17. This article also includes some recipes

AOL report on the latest case in LA

The Web site's senior public health correspondent also details some of the overarching problems with so-called "honey laundering."
Huffington Post has a link to the same article, as well.

Beekeeping segment on NPR's Science Friday

Ira Flatow talked with some experts about the state of the bee population and about beekeeping.
Look here to get their podcast of the program of April 2, 2010.

Honey importer arrested

The Ethiopian Review reports that an executive of several honey import companies has been arrested and charged with conspiring to falsely label honey to avoid U.S. tariffs. The honey allegedly came from China, but was labeled as coming from South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand, which pay lower tariffs than China.

Restore the beekeeping badge!

The Boy Scouts eliminated the beekeeping badge in 1995, but a 13-year-old boy in Oklahoma is campaigning to have the badge restored.
Besides the link just provided, you can go to a Haagen Dazs Web site for info and a petition.