Just when beekeepers thought varroa mite was their main concern, flood waters have flooded properties around much of NSW’s Hunter Valley.
Key points:
- The flood waters have driven some bees saved from varroa mite eradication
- NSW IPR says beekeepers in eradication areas will not be able to keep bees for three years
- Movements will be restricted to surveillance zones
Residents around Bulga, Broke and the lowlands of Singleton have been evacuated overnight, with a river breaking a 70-year flood height record.
Prior to heavy rain forecast, beekeeper Josh Johnson began moving his hives from their location in Belford to nearby Branxton.
Despite the ban on the movement of varroa hives, it could do so with special permission from the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) for beekeepers in flood warning areas.
But unfortunately, for some beehives, it was too late.
Josh Johnson lost five of his 10 hives. (Provided by: Josh Johnson)
“We had about 10 hives. Half of them have been washed. We can’t find them at all.”
“We managed to recover five and take them home, but with the varroa mite [outbreak]we can’t open them and check them. “
“The last time, in February, March [floods]we had to open the hives and take out breeding frames from other hives we had out of place, this time we can’t do that, so we’ll probably lose them too. “
The NSW DPI said the varroa mite would not spread due to the floods.
“It’s a horrible topic to talk about, but the reality is that the host, the bees, don’t survive. [flooding]then the mite can’t survive either, ”said Chris Anderson, NSW’s deputy director of plant protection.
Flood waters bogged down and damaged Josh Johnson’s tractor. (ABC Upper Hunter: Bindi Bryce)
Three-year ban if it contains varroa
Now Mr. Johnson is waiting for clarification on when he will be able to rebuild his colonies.
The total number of properties found with varroa mites is up to 24, but authorities are confident they can control the outbreak.
Millions of bees will be destroyed in this search in the designated “eradication zones”, mainly up and down the NSW coast and in Narrabri.
If the authorities manage to free Australia from the varroa mite again, they say a “host eradication program” will continue in each eradication zone for three years.
“To minimize the risk of varroa reintroduction or varroa survival in undetected hosts within the zones,” the IPR said in a statement.
“Beekeepers will not be able to reintroduce hives to these areas during this period.”
In surveillance areas, beekeepers can keep the hives but not move them or introduce more bees.
“But the hives will not be able to enter or leave this area.”
As for the “notification area” (the radius of 25 to 50 kilometers of infected facilities), the DPI said it would soon “make a risk-based decision”.
This is where Mr. Johnson’s hives are.
He said future restrictions would be a challenge for his business in the future.
“You get very attached to it. You take care of them. They’re our babies,” he said.
He hopes they can restart honey collection at least in the coming months.
“It simply came to our notice then [honey] stored until September “.
“My wife is also very involved in this, and it’s basically her full income, what we get from honey sales.
“So without that, she, in turn, has to find another job.”
Editors Note 6/7/22: This article initially stated that bees remained the property of Josh Johnson. Since then, the ABC has seen documentation showing that Mr. Johnson and Singleton Council are in negotiations over the purchase of the land. Mr. Johnson has received a notice to remove the bees while this request is being considered, which he says he intends to do in drier weather.
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Posted 15 hours 15 hours ago Wednesday, July 6, 2022 at 2:19 AM, updated 11 hours ago Wednesday, July 6, 2022 at 6:00 AM