AHBIC Industry Update 58 – T2M April 2024
15 April 2024National Program Report April 2024 Publicly available summary of the National Transition to Management Plan can be viewed on the AHBIC website: National Varroa Mite Response Plan V4 Detailed Summary […]
National Program Report April 2024
Publicly available summary of the National Transition to Management Plan can be viewed on the AHBIC website:
National Varroa Mite Response Plan V4 Detailed Summary
National Varroa Mite Response Plan V4 Short Summary
Varroa Mite Management Workshops
The FREE National Varroa Mite Management Program workshops progressed the development of education resources for the non-accredited ps. The National Program will commence face to face workshops beginning in April in NSW and extending across the country in the coming months.
All upcoming events are available to view on the following website, managed by NSW DPI as the lead agency of the T2M – Varroa Management Training Registration LINK
Tuesday 16th April Wednesday 17th April Tuesday 30th April Wednesday 1st May
Penrith Hornsby Ballina Coffs Harbour
Gymea Wollongong
Locations will continue to be announced as the national coordination is completed, this includes workshops across other jurisdictions. AHBIC encourages all beekeepers to attend the workshops covering
- Understanding Varroa mite and its impacts
- The importance of monitoring and treatment thresholds
- Integrated pest management and Varroa
- Chemical treatment options including organic options
- Brood location, frame rotation and management
- Best practice record keeping
Beekeepers should stay informed by being registered in your state, subscribing to AHBIC’s newsletter, becoming a member of a beekeeping association or club and look out for regular updates and details on how you can attend a FREE national workshop near you.
Varroa Development Officers – Extension and Engagement
Bianca Giggins, as the National Varroa Mite Coordinator, AHBIC, is overseeing the VDO activities nationally and AHBIC have been actively communicating with state governments and associations to progress VDO recruitment in all applicable jurisdictions for the National Program.
The work of VDO’s will be to promote Varroa mite monitoring and hive management practices across Australia, enhancing and complementing the existing Bee Biosecurity Officer network. VDOs will focus on engaging with beekeepers around hive health monitoring but with a focus on Varroa.
Promoting best practice, helping with record keeping and promoting other activities of the T2M including profiting the COLOSS survey when it is up and running. VDO’s can be called upon for engagements at bee club and association branch meetings, face to face via in-field skills development and are able to provide assistance to beekeepers throughout Australia.
In NSW, the Extension and Engagement activities are progressing well, VDO’S attended Train-the-Trainer event early April at Tocal College and have recently participated in some of the T2M Management Workshops across the NSW east coast. This allowed VDO’s to be introduced to members of the industry who were in attendance. Reach out to the VDO’s and their Coordinator for engagement activities, they are ready to help you with your beekeeping through non-judgemental support and guidance.
NSW Varroa Development Officers:
Dave Fairhall – Coordinator – 0482 689 243
Ben Stevenson – 0408 843 037
Cameron Taylor-Brown
0419 158 025
cameron.taylor-brown@dpi.nsw.gov.au
Simon Phillips – 0448 047 097
Harvey Howard – 0475 627 846
Ross Graham – 0497 924 473
Stanislav Nenov – 0419 280 875
stanislav.nenov@dpi.nsw.gov.au
Alex Schellenberg – 0419 164 615
alex.schellenberg@dpi.nsw.gov.au
Emily Noordyke – 0488 388 541
National Pollination Industry Coordinator
This role is due to be advertised soon, with emphasis on coordinating the development of varroa specific content to meet the needs of pollination-dependent industries. Working with existing Industry Development Officer (IDO) networks across the country to support dissemination and delivery of these resources to growers. AHBIC will provide more information when it becomes available and are looking forward to the role being filled and productive relationships to follow.
COLOSS Australia
COLOSS is a global initiative conducting standardised colony loss surveys across 30 countries. Each country uses the annually updated core mandatory survey questions, selects from the optional questions such as Varroa mite management options, and may include additional locally relevant questions.
Establishing an Australian COLOSS style survey will help us understand the effects of Varroa mite and how well beekeeper cohorts (e.g. recreational, commercial) are managing it. This, in turn, will guide research priorities, treatment recommendations, practice changes and inform the pollination dependent industries of pollination hive supply. Register your interest via the form below and AHBIC will make sure you receive information when the survey is up and running: COLOSS SURVEY Early Registration LINK
AHBIC Varroa Treatment Table
The treatment table has had a recent overview and updated as of 12th April. The table continues to outline the range of chemical treatments that are either under emergency permit, currently registered or application pending for varroa treatments. The table is a guide only in understanding the key drivers of decision making surrounding Varroa management options when thresholds are met and beekeepers are looking to treat using chemicals. AHBIC Varroa Treatment Table
Bee Pest Blitz – April
April is Bee Pest Blitz month for Australian beekeepers! AHBIC encourages all beekeepers to get busy monitoring your hives for mites. Early detection of Varroa mite in your colonies is key to understanding when to intervene and give your bees the best chance of survival. All beekeepers should be learning to monitor using an approved and effective method, check out the nationally agreed alcohol wash resources including a detailed alcohol wash video at: https://www.planthealthaustralia.com.au/beepestblitz/
You can reach out to AHBIC via:
Varroa Coordinator
Bianca Giggins
0402 467 780
AHBIC, its employees, executive and consultants expressly disclaim all and any liability to any person in respect of anything, and the consequences of anything, done or omitted to be done in reliance, whether wholly, partly, upon the whole or any part of the contents of this industry update document.