Rural Industries
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3.3 Honeybee - Research in Progress
PRODUCTION - Bee husbandry and management
Improving queen bee production (CSE-85A)
Introduction and early performance of queen bees - some factors affecting success (DAN-182A)
PRODUCTION – Diseases and pests
Can the technique of 'shaking bees'
and antibiotic therapy be used as a means of controlling American Foulbrood?
(DAN-176A)
European Foulbrood - investigating control measures (DAV-157A)
Guidelines for honeybee disease barrier systems and wax dipping sterilisation (DAV-167A)
PRODUCTION - Nutrition
Production of a publication on honeybee nutrition in Australia - 'Fat bees/skinny bees' (DAN-186A)
PRODUCTION – Genetic improvement
Breeding hygienic disease resistant
bees (US-39A)
RESOURCES
Eucalypt regrowth thinning trails to
optimise leatherwood honey production (FTA-1A)
OFF FARM ISSUES
Pyrrolizidine alkaloids in honey: levels
of contamination and methods of removal (CSA-9A)
The use of Australian honey in moist wound management (DAQ-232A)
Flavour quality assurance of Australian floral honeys by chemical fingerprinting (UQ-67A)
Improving the movement/use of liquid
Australian honey within manufacturing processes (UQ-84A)
PROJECTS 1999/2000 - still to be contracted & NEW PROJECTS – 2000-2001
| Project Title | Introduction and early performance of queen bees - some factors affecting success |
| RIRDC Project No: | DAN-182A |
| Start Date: | 1/09/99 |
| Finish Date: | 31/07/00 |
| Researcher: | Mr. John Rhodes |
| Organisation: | NSW Department of Agriculture
RMB 944 Calala Lane TAMWORTH NSW 2340 |
| Phone: | (02) 6763 1206 |
| Fax: | (02) 6763 1222 |
| Email: | rhodesj@agric.nsw.gov.au |
| Objectives |
· To determine whether the age of the queen bee at introduction influences introduction success. |
| Current Progress | Laboratory and field data collections
were complete in March, 2000. The Final Report on the project has been
completed to first draft stage.
Queen bee survival rates at 14 days and 15 weeks after introduction were obtained for sister queen bees caught from mating nuclei at 7, 14, 21, 28 and 35 days of age. Ovariole numbers, sperm counts, Nosema disease status, as well as the number and amounts of mandibular gland pheromones present have been obtained for a separate group of sister queens examined at 7, 14, 21, 28 and 35 days of age. Temperatures, humidities, the number of hours in transit and the number of dead bees in each cage on arrival at their destination were obtained for 10 consignments of queen bees, following transport between the queen bee breeder and the honey producer’s apiary. |
| Project Title | Can the technique of 'shaking bees' and antibiotic therapy be used as a means of controlling American Foulbrood? |
| RIRDC Project No: | DAN-176A |
| Start Date: | 1/12/98 |
| Finish Date: | 31/1/01 |
| Researcher: | Mr. Michael Hornitzky |
| Organisation: | Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural
Institute
Private Mail Bag 8 CAMDEN NSW 2570 |
| Phone: | (02) 4640 6311 |
| Fax: | (02) 4640 6400 |
| Email: | michael.hornitzky@agric.nsw.gov.au |
| Objective | To determine whether the technique of shaking bees from hives with American foulbrood (AFB) onto foundation or irradiated hive equipment followed by treatment with oxytetracycline hydrochloride is an effective alternative to current control strategies. |
| Current Progress | Currently there are five cooperating
beekeepers with 101 hives involved in this project.
The number of treatment procedures has been reduced to three. These are: 1. "Shaking" bees onto foundationThe other three treatment procedures were eliminated, as they were considered impractical or unlikely to be successful from a commercial beekeeping stand point. Five hives from two cooperating beekeepers with 35 hives have become re-infected with American Foulbrood. There are three beekeepers with 66 hives where all treatments have been successful. The major losses of hives in these trials are from dead outs and absconding or loss of queen bees. Further hive examinations need to be carried out next spring, to confirm the success of these treatments. The project is expected to be completed on schedule. |
| Project Title | European Foulbrood - investigating control measures |
| RIRDC Project No: | DAV-157A |
| Start Date: | 7/12/98 |
| Finish Date: | 30/06/02 |
| Researcher: | Mr. Russell Goodman |
| Organisation: | Department of Natural Resources
& Environment
Institute for Horticultural Development Private Bag 15 SOUTH EAST MAIL CENTRE VIC 3176 |
| Phone: | (03) 9210 9222 |
| Fax: | (03) 9800 3521 |
| Email: | russell.goodman@nre.vic.gov.au |
| Objectives |
(a) To protect the apiary industry's continued access to domestic and export honey markets by reducing or eliminating the industry's dependence on oxtetracycline hydrochloride (OTC) for the control of the bacterial honeybee brood disease, European Foulbrood (EFB) (Melissococcus pluton). |
| Current Progress | Preliminary OTC dosage rates
trial
Forty-one hives infected with European foulbrood (EFB) were treated with various doses of OTC to determine their efficacy. Pre-and post treatment counts of diseased larvae were conducted 12, 22 and 41 days after treatment. OTC doses and minimum inhibitory concentration of OTC for M. pluton Field trials were conducted to determine if various doses of OTC applied to honeybee colonies of different sizes would provide honeybee larvae with sufficient medication to meet the minimum inhibitory concentration of OTC for M. pluton. Investigations were also conducted to the concentration of OTC in whole honeybee larvae and the mid-guts of larvae. Degradation of OTC in honey Studies on the degradation of OTC in honey continued throughout the year. Samples were taken on a monthly basis from honey extracted from hives treated with 1g active OTC and stored at ambient temperature. Samples were also obtained from six different floral honeys spiked with OTC and held at 22ºC and 35ºC. Epidemiology of M. pluton Ben McKee, research team member and PhD student, visited the Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute, NSW, to obtain skills in Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) techniques. The techniques were further developed, tested and shown to be specific for Melissoccus pluton the causal organism of EFB. Effect of nutrition on EFB A total of 110 hives were purchased and requeened in preparation for a major trial to commence in Autumn. A supplementary high protein cake was developed for feeding to hives belonging to one of the treatment groups of this trial. |
| Project Title | Guidelines for honeybee disease barrier systems and wax dipping sterilisation |
| RIRDC Project No: | DAV-167A |
| Start Date: | 1/07/99 |
| Finish Date: | 10/06/00 |
| Researcher: | Mr. Russell Goodman |
| Organisation: | Department of Natural Resources
& Environment
Institute for Horticultural Development Private Bag 15 SOUTH EAST MAIL CENTRE VIC 3176 |
| Phone: | (03) 9210 9222 |
| Fax: | (03) 9800 3521 |
| Email: | russell.goodman@nre.vic.gov.au |
| Objective | To assist the apiary industry reduce and control the spread of the notifiable honeybee brood disease, American Foulbrood (AFB), and other diseases, by developing an extension manual of 'best practice' hive barrier management systems and hot wax dipping sterilisation techniques for use by Australian apiarists. |
| Current Progress | A literature search
using the electronic webspirs (Internet) data bases, Agricola and CAB abstracts,
was conducted to identify current trends in apiary disease barrier management
and hot wax dipping sterilisation techniques used in other countries.
Evaluation of current Australian industry practices has commenced. The principal investigator, Mr Russell Goodman, visited selected apiarists to document and photograph various methods of hot wax dipping of beehive components. Best practice and operator safety concerns were identified as important issues for inclusion in a draft manual that was nearing completion at the time of writing. Information on bee disease, barrier management systems, was sourced, with permission, from two South Australian apiarists, firstly by way of a comprehensive video and secondly from a printed presentation produced for the Victorian Apiarists’ Association Inc. 1999 annual conference. Compilation of an illustrated draft manual on barrier management has commenced. |
| Project Title | Production of a publication on honeybee nutrition in Australia - 'Fat bees/skinny bees' |
| RIRDC Project No: | DAN-186A |
| Start Date: | 1/01/00 |
| Finish Date: | 31/10/02 |
| Researcher: | Mr. Doug Somerville |
| Organisation: | NSW Department of Agriculture
PO Box 389 GOULBURN NSW 2580 |
| Phone: | (02) 4823 0619 |
| Fax: | (02) 4822 3261 |
| Email: | doug.somerville@agric.nsw.gov.au |
| Objective | To produce an extension publication on honeybee nutrition, incorporating research findings from past RIRDC projects, literature searches and anecdotal examples of applications in the Australian context in a format that will be readily understood and adopted by beekeepers. |
| Current Progress | Interviews with a few commercial beekeepers on their management strategies using protein and carbohydrate supplements have taken place. These include Warren Taylor (Australian Queen Bee Exporters) who is Australia’s largest exporter of package bees based in the central tablelands of NSW; Kevin and Glen Emmins, Mildura, Victoria; Leigh Duffield, South Australia; Geoff Smith, South Australia; John Fuss, South Australia; Graham Wagenfeller, South Australia; Ian and Shirley Stephens, Tasmania; and part interview with Stan Hughston, Wanaaring, NSW |
| Project Title | Export package bees - evaluating a lupin flour based feed for increased live bee production |
| RIRDC Project No: | DAW-75A |
| Start Date: | 1/01/97 |
| Finish Date: | 30/04/01 |
| Researcher: | Mr. Robert Manning |
| Organisation: | Agriculture Western Australia
Locked Bag No 4 BENTLEY DELIVERY CENTRE WA 6983 |
| Phone: | (08) 9368 3567 |
| Fax: | (08) 9474 1295 |
| Email: | rmanning@agric.wa.gov.au |
| Objectives |
· Develop a lupin flour feed that is more palatable than expeller soyflour and/or Torula yeast. |
| Current Progress | This project has been on 'hold'
for a couple of years as the research apiary was destroyed under instructions
from Agriculture WA veterinary officers following the finding of the exotic
disease Chalkbrood.
Currently the re-establishment of the apiary has been refunded and two thirds of the number of hives required for the experiment have been purchased from Agriculture WA funds. The rest are to be delivered soon. Procuring lupin flower has been difficult since the previous supplier no longer supplies lupin flour. When a few more technical issues have been solved, the experimental plan will be resubmitted to RIRDC for approval before the project recommences. |
| Project Title | Pollen analysis of Eucalyptus patens (Blackbutt), E. accedens (Powderbark) and E. wandoo (Winter Wandoo variety) in Western Australia |
| RIRDC Project No: | DAW-91A |
| Start Date: | 1/07/98 |
| Finish Date: | 15/07/00 |
| Researcher: | Mr. Robert Manning |
| Organisation: | Agriculture Western Australia
Locked Bag No 4 BENTLEY DELIVERY CENTRE WA 6983 |
| Phone: | (08) 9368 3567 |
| Fax: | (08) 9474 1295 |
| Email: | rmanning@agric.wa.gov.au |
| Objective | Provide 'first-time' analysis of amino acids of two important melliferous eucalyptus species to the beekeeping industry which are major contributors to the profitability of Western Australian honey and pollen producers. |
| Current Progress | The project ran into problems
regarding the collection of sufficient samples of pollen from Powderbark
and Blackbutt (due to environmental effects). Both these species flower
well every second year, but in this last season both failed to flower well.
Approval was given to include pollen analyses from Jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata) and Karri (E. diversicolor) which were flowering at the time. The analyses have all been completed and are waiting on the delivery of Amino acid results for these species. Pollen protein deficiencies have been found for Jarrah and the three flowering ecotypes of Wandoo. Redgum (Corymbia calophylla) and blackbutt (E. patens) have no protein deficiencies. Fatty acid and mineral analyses have proved to be interesting and may provide another insight into the ecology of bee diseases and nutritional requirement of European honeybees under Australian conditions. The report is in the process of being compiled and should be completed on time. |
| Project Title | Breeding hygienic disease resistant bees |
| RIRDC Project No: | US-39A |
| Start Date: | 1/07/96 |
| Finish Date: | 30/11/00 |
| Researcher: | Dr. Ben Oldroyd |
| Organisation: | The University of Sydney
School of Biological Sciences THE UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY NSW 2006 |
| Phone: | (02) 9351 7501 |
| Fax: | (02) 9351 4771 |
| Email: | boldroyd@bio.usyd.edu.au |
| Objectives |
· To develop DNA markers for hygienic behaviour genes so that hygienic breeding stock may be rapidly and cheaply identified. |
| Current Progress | We have developed a first class
molecular genetics lab at Sydney University with significant expertise
and experience in analysing samples of bee DNA. Keryn Wilkes (a Ph.D. student
in the lab) has made excellent progress identifying DNA markers for hygienic
behaviour (uncapping and removal of dead pupae by workers).
The collection of molecular data is complete and a comprehensive genetic map has been produced. Combined analysis of the behavioural and genetic data has identified five putative genetic markers for removal behaviour and six putative genetic markers for uncapping behaviour. Exhaustive analysis is continuing in order to more precisely identify markers and their relative level of influence over the uncapping and removal traits. A field study on 32 colonies derived from various lines was carried out in conjunction with Mr. Linton Briggs between December 15-17, 1999. Samples of both drone and worker brood were taken from each of these colonies for testing of the candidate markers identified by our study. DNA is currently being extracted from these samples, along with others identified as either highly hygienic or non-hygienic in an earlier backcross experiment. The diagnostic power of the identified putative genetic markers will then be tested on these samples. |
| Project Title | Eucalypt regrowth thinning trails to optimise leatherwood honey production |
| RIRDC Project No: | FTA-1A |
| Start Date: | 21/01/99 |
| Finish Date: | 30/06/03 |
| Researcher: | Ms. Frieda Heese |
| Organisation: | Forestry Tasmania
3 Crozier Place WARRANE TAS 7018 |
| Phone: | (03) 6244 3755 |
| Fax: | (03) 6244 3755 |
| Email: | frieda.heese@dier.tas.gov.au |
| Objectives |
· To demonstrate that non-commercial thinning of eucalypt regrowth will enhance leatherwood regrowth at no extra cost. |
| Current Progress | The 100-hectare research site,
established in 1999, was pre-commercial thinned in January 2000, using
a stem injecting process. Early results indicate that the stem injecting
process was successful.
Analysis of the 10 research plots constructed last year, have found no flowering of the leatherwood. The second research site was established in an area where Eucalypt regeneration was poor (or, naturally thinned forests). The leatherwood in these plots was more advanced in both flowering and height, than those in the other research sites, pre-commercial thinned forests. In fact, analysis of regeneration forest for pre-commercial thinning, has found that in forests where Eucalypt regeneration is highest, there is little or no regeneration of leatherwood. Compared to areas where the regeneration of eucalypts is poor, the regeneration of leatherwood is significantly higher. |
| Outcomes | The following documents were produced:
· Honeybee crop pollination services business and marketing strategies for apiarists and crop pollination associations.Presentations on honeybee crop pollination services were delivered to meetings of the Northern Victorian Fruit Growers’ Association and the Crop Pollination Association. |
| Implications | Growers and apiarists will have
access to detailed user-friendly information about honeybee crop services
and the benefits and use of bees for pollination. The publications will
help to provide greater understanding of the special requirements of both
apiarist and grower, relating to supply and use of pollination services.
The business and marketing strategies will assist apiarists who wish to establish a pollination service business. The draft Honeybee crop pollination services code of practice will assist crop pollinators establish appropriate standards and develop a greater degree of professionalism within the growing crop pollination service industry. |
| Publications | Final Report for Project DAV-119A: "A communication and marketing strategy for honeybee crop pollination services." |
| Project Title | Pyrrolizidine alkaloids in honey: levels of contamination and methods of removal |
| RIRDC Project No: | CSA-9A |
| Start Date: | 10/06/99 |
| Finish Date: | 15/07/00 |
| Researcher: | Dr. Steven M Colegate |
| Organisation: | CSIRO Animal Health
Plant Toxins Unit Private Bag 24 GEELONG VIC 3220 |
| Phone: | (03) 5227 5739 |
| Fax: | (03) 5227 5555 |
| Email: | steven.colegate@dah.csiro.au |
| Objectives |
· Continuation of the analysis of honeys initiated in April 1999 to assist the industry in an assessment of the problem posed by pyrrolizidine alkaloid (PA) contamination of honeys for the domestic and export markets. |
| Current Progress | Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs),
identified as being derived from Echium plantagineum (Salvation
Jane) and Heliotropium spp. (purple top and common heliotrope),
were detected in 19 of 20 honey samples provided for analysis. Only six
of these samples were actually described as being sourced from a PA-containing
plant such as Salvation Jane.
Several types of capture resin were trialed in various formats to investigate their potential for removal of PAs from honeys. The PAs could be removed (>95%) from the honeys using a batch mixing process that is compatible with current honey processing methods. However, the removal process adversely affects other qualities of the honey such as water content, acidity and mineral content. The effect on water content was minimised to acceptable levels by using specially prepared capture resins. Selective blending of treated honeys ameliorated the effects on acidity and mineral content. These additional steps add cost to the process which, in addition to the cost of the capture resin, would tend to make the process economically non-viable. Regeneration and re-use of the resin (currently being investigated) has potential to lower this cost to a level as yet undetermined, but probably still too high for economic justification. Other quality parameters potentially affected by the treatment have not yet been investigated. |
| Project Title | The use of Australian honey in moist wound management |
| RIRDC Project No: | DAQ-232A |
| Start Date: | 1/07/97 |
| Finish Date: | 30/06/00 |
| Researcher: | Dr. Craig Davis |
| Organisation: | Department of Primary Industries
(Qld)
Centre for Food Technology 19 Hercules Street HAMILTON QLD 4007 |
| Phone: | (07) 3406 8611 |
| Fax: | (07) 3406 8677 |
| Email: | davisck@dpi.qld.gov.au |
| Objective | To develop a set of guidelines for the commercial production of honey as a therapeutic agent. |
| Current Progress | The recent registration of Jellybush
honey as a "Drug" with the Therapeutic Good Administration (TGA, the National
drug registration body) has been the project highlight.
In December 1999, Capilano Honey Limited completed the registration of their product - "Medihoney" - which is pure, sterile Leptospermum honey packaged in a 50gm tube and promoted as a "high-potency antibacterial honey". The listing of this product (TGA# AUST L 69532) is the first of its kind in the world, and represents an acceptance of the therapeutic benefit of natural products by the TGA. The routine screening of honeys from apiarists and processors has continued at the Centre for Food Technology where over 4000 honeys have now been screened. An area in Northern NSW has repeatedly produced the "active" honey. Recent testing has suggested that at least one further area with floral-derived activity may have been identified. It is likely that beekeepers will submit samples of honey from a wider range of geographical sites as the returns from the commercialisation of the "active" Leptospermum honey are further realised. Beekeepers are now receiving a premium in excess of 10 times the traditional price for these Leptospermum honeys if they are identified as florally-"active". |
| Project Title | Flavour quality assurance of Australian floral honeys by chemical fingerprinting |
| RIRDC Project No: | UQ-67A |
| Start Date: | 4/08/97 |
| Finish Date: | 31/10/00 |
| Researcher: | Dr. Bruce R D'Arcy |
| Organisation: | The University of Queensland
School of Land and Food Food Science and Technology GATTON COLLEGE QLD 4345 |
| Phone: | (07) 5460 1384 |
| Fax: | (07) 5460 1171 |
| Email: | bd@burger.uqg.uq.edu.au |
| Objective | To increase the accuracy of the flavour quality authentication of Australian floral (straightline) honeys by developing a commercially available quality assurance procedure based on chemical fingerprinting by 2000. |
| Current Progress | A three-step procedure for authenticating
the floral source of Australian floral (species-specific) honeys is being
developed, together with the collection of chemical data on the volatile
composition of samples of 16 Australian honey types.
Such data has been tabulated for samples of the following 12 honey types: yellow box, blue gum, leatherwood, red gum, jelly bush, yapunyah, clover, brush box, tea tree, mallee, Caley’s ironbark and crows ash. Analysis of spotted gum, stringybark, heath, and grey iron bark honeys is nearing completion. The first step in the authentication procedure involves the extraction of natural honey volatiles. The second step involves gas chromatographic (GC) analysis of the honey extracts to quantify the volatiles, while gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) is used to identify these substances. This research has recently established a data bank of mass spectra and GC ‘chemical fingerprints’ of natural volatiles in Australian floral honeys. The third step in the authentication procedure involves multivariate statistical analysis of the chemical data. So far, chemical data of samples of five honey types have been analysed using this method, with work in progress to include another 11 floral types. This analysis groups samples of each honey type, thus permitting floral source identification. |
| Project Title | Improving the movement/use of liquid Australian honey within manufacturing processes |
| RIRDC Project No: | UQ-84A |
| Start Date: | 1/07/98 |
| Finish Date: | 30/11/01 |
| Researcher: | Dr. Bruce R D'Arcy |
| Organisation: | The University of Queensland
School of Land and Food Food Science and Technology GATTON COLLEGE QLD 4345 |
| Phone: | (07) 5460 1384 |
| Fax: | (07) 5460 1171 |
| Email: | bd@burger.uqg.uq.edu.au |
| Objective | To increase the inclusion of honey in manufacturing processes, particularly commercial baking operations, by developing an understanding of the physical properties and flow characteristics of honey, and by developing key technology for the movement of liquid Australian honey in a number of commercial processes by 2001. |
| Current Progress | Viscosity work continued, with
another eight varieties of unprocessed honey samples being analysed within
the temperature ranges of 1 - 40oC using a Brookfield viscometer
and 10 - 70oC using an Ares Rheometer. With these two studies
and previous work, the temperature effect on honey viscosity was confirmed
to be Newtonian for 14 varieties of honeys.
An Arrhenius viscosity model for these honeys has been developed and accepted for publication. Preliminary Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) measurement of the glass transition temperatures for samples of nine honey types is complete and is presently being related to their viscosities. Further work in this area is continuing. Additionally, the compositional analysis of a large number of honey samples for sugar and moisture content is complete. These chemical data will be correlated to previously collected data on crystallisation rates and viscosity behaviour. In addition to the above work, an extensive DSC study was done to establish a procedure to analyse the degree of crystallisation of glucose in honey. This method was also tested on several creamed honey samples and was found applicable. Finally, honey-pumping systems used by Australian honey packers have been identified, and a pilot scale trial is presently being undertaken. |
Projects 1999/2000 – still to be contracted
The following project had funding approved in the 1999/2000 financial
year, exchange of contract has not yet happened:
| Natural resource database for the South Australian apiary industry (DEH-1A) | Mr Peter Alexander
( (08) 8204 8764 |
The following projects have been approved by RIRDC for commencement
in the 2000/2001 year:
| Device for finding queen bees in managed beehives (HBE00-01) | Mr Alan Roberts |
| ( (02) 6663 5224 | |
| Glycemic index of honey (HBE00-09) | Dr Jayashree Arcot |
| ((02) 9385 5360 | |
Floral Resource Database for the NSW Apiary Industry
by Doug Somerville, RIRDC Publication No. 99/174,
$15
Provides a clear database of the significant floral resources
for the NSW apiary industry, including floral species, honey and pollen
values, land tenure, location of sites, frequency of flowering and flowering
period. Also provides information on hive numbers, nucleus colonies, yield
per hive, total number of bee sites on various land tenures, persons employed
and gross income distribution. 1999, 154pp
Australian Liquid Honey in Commercial Bakery Products
by Bruce D’Arcy, Nola Caffin, Bhesh Bhandari,
Nicole Squires, Paul Fedorow, Darren MacKay, RIRDC Publication No. 99/145,
$15
Honey has the potential to retard the staling of bread.
This report examines the effect of Australian liquid honey on the functional
properties of bread doughs and cake batters, including dough development
and gelatinisation of batters and doughs, in addition to the effect of
honey on the staling of bread. 1999, 145pp
Natural Resource Database for the Queensland Apiary
Industry
by John Rhodes and Fraser Trueman, RIRDC Publication
No. 99/43, $10
Details the development of a beekeeping resource database
for the Queensland industry and includes data on the productivity and economic
value of apiary sites, the most valuable and reliable honey flora, and
areas of potential commercial production. 1999, 68pp
European Foulbrood – Determining Oxytetracycline
Sensitivity and Diversity
by Michael Hornitzky and Steven Djordjevic, RIRDC
Publication No. 99/20, $10
Oxytetracycline (OTC) has been the recommended treatment
for European Foulbrood diseases (EFB) for the past 21 years. This research
was designed to determine current sensitivity of the EFB causative organism
Melissococcus
pluton to OTC. 1999, 30pp
Impact of Commercial Honeybees on Flora and Fauna
in Ngarkat Conservation Park
by David Paton, RIRDC Publication No. 99/15,
$10
Addresses the issue of whether or not to allow commercial
beekeepers access to major reserves and whether such access permanently
damages the natural environment. Specifically looks at Ngarkat Conservation
Park, South Australia. 1999, 33pp
Treating American Foulbrood – Development of a
National Control Program
by Keith McIlvride, RIRDC Publication No. 98/144,
$10
Outlines the findings and recommendations put forward
by participants at a honeybee workshop in July 1998 for the development
of suitable management programs to control and reduce the level of American
Foulbrood Disease (AFB). 1998, 18pp
Bulk Honey Containers
by Graham Kleinschmidt, RIRDC Short Report No.
10, free
A short report on research which identifies production
and transport procedures that might vary honey metal levels and adversely
affect quality assurance certification and product image. Examines the
metal related quality implications of current and alternative containers
(stainless steel, zincalume, galvanised waxed and galvanised drums) as
well as apiary procedures. 1997, 12pp
Strategic Planning and Action Meeting – for Honeybee
Nutrition
by Graham Kleinschmidt, RIRDC Publication No.
98/128, $10
Findings of a workshop commissioned to explore ways and means to both upgrade current nutrition techniques and to expedite their transfer to a wider cross section of industry in advance of expected increased external pressures. 1998, 22pp
Beekeeping and Secure Access to Public Land
by Roderic Gill, RIRDC Publication No. 97/026,
$10
Considers the access of beekeepers to forested areas under government control. Provides environmental and economic information on the debate and recommends a procedure for resource security arrangements. 1997, 58pp
Honeybee Research Report 1999
by RIRDC, Publication No. 99/61, free
Details honeybee RIRDC-funded research from July 1998
to June 1999 and lists projects beginning in the 1999-00 financial year.
1999, 40 pp
Honeybee Research Report 1998
by RIRDC, Publication No. 98/48, free
Details honeybee RIRDC-funded research from July 1997
to June 1998 and lists projects beginning in the 1998-99 financial year.
1998, 53 pp
