NZBF: Moving hives into area with AFB notification

[Josh]

I had a 2km AFB notification for my urban apiary in May, July & September. I currently don’t have any hives at home in this apiary, but do wonder about the sense of moving hives into this area when it’s a den of disease and pestilence.

On the plus side, kudos to whoever keeps finding the AFB. But on the other side I can’t be bothered thinking it could happen to me.

How do people cope with these things? Like the guys around Ashburton where that keeper seemed to be actively cultivating AFB… he certainly wasn’t trying to keep healthy bees.

 

[John B]

If I moved my hives out of the red zones I would hardly have any sites left.
There is nowhere left to move them to as every nook and cranny around here has 2 to 10 times as many hives as they should.
I work proactively with the management agency which has kept my AFB down to manageable proportions.
I try not to stress about it but it does occasionally get to you.

 

[Maggie]

We are one big red zone, have been for a number of years, so am paranoid about AFB. Currently my grafting yard is a greater distance from home that I would like in terms of fuel and time, but it is on one of the biggest farms in the area, so apart from blackcurrant pollination this gives me a buffer zone. I am paranoid about robbing, which is an issue in a cropping area. At the moment, it would be nice if there were more nectar & pollen sources, but there ain't and I am doing stimulation feeds simulating a nectar flow, so have to be careful with robbing. Around here, once the crops are harvested, and this can be as early as Waitangi Day we go into robbing mode, unless there is some minor flow, and this is when robbing occurs. Can't inspect a whole apiary in one go, have to come back the next day. But I am a great believer in using hive mats, as well as being aware of the time frame that I can inspect a hive in, to prevent robbing. So, hive mats, using you smoker, having bee proof hives, and knowing when to and when not to inspect your hives, and feed your hives are major factors in preventing robbing, and I believe major factors in not spreading AFB.

I have lost queen cell orders because I am in a red AFB zone.

 

[Maggie]

I would just like to add, I think it is 7 seasons, since I last had AFB

 

[Stephan]

I had a 2km AFB notification for my urban apiary in May, July & September. I currently don’t have any hives at home in this apiary, but do wonder about the sense of moving hives into this area when it’s a den of disease and pestilence.

On the plus side, kudos to whoever keeps finding the AFB. But on the other side I can’t be bothered thinking it could happen to me.

How do people cope with these things? Like the guys around Ashburton where that keeper seemed to be actively cultivating AFB… he certainly wasn’t trying to keep healthy bees.

I'm currently in Ashburton but moving out soon. Where do I find out about AFB zones etc? I'm just a hobbyist.

 

[Mummzie]

If you are a registered beekeeper, Hive hub will advise you of notifications near your Apiary.
There is an AFB heat map published in "the Beekeeper" once a year.

'Just a hobbyists' need to be just as aware of AFB as any other beekeeper.
Heres a good start.

The Management Agency, National American Foulbrood Pest Management Plan New Zealand

Review of the National American Foulbrood Pest Management PlanThe Biosecurity Order 1998 (National American Foulbrood Pest Management Plan) is scheduled to expire on 1 April 2023. We are consulting beekeepers and will use your ideas to form a proposal for the next 10 years of AFB PMP. It only...

afb.org.nz

 

[Josh]

Thanks @Mummzie. I've come to terms with two facts;

1. Notifications means you have a good responsible beekeeper near by
2. No notifications means you don't

I've chilled, and will continue to hope my girls don't find any deadouts to rob.