Progress 05/15/12 to 02/14/17
Outputs
Target Audience:Our target audience can be broadly defined as the U.S. beekeeping community; however many of our field intensive work involves those larger, commercial stakeholders that are the leaders in queen breeding, honey production and pollination services. They are the early adopters that fully utilize our lab diagnostic and reporting services as well as promote the project. This year, we have >80 active commercial beekeepers working with BIP, managing over 400,000 colonies (20% of the colonies in the US). We are now currently working with and helping approximately 90% of all commercial queen breeders in the country. We introduced our remote tech team project, where commercial beekeepers outside the monitoring regions of our traditional tech teams, can be trained in taking samples and receive the same diagnostic and monitoring reports that our standard tech teams provide. This project has helped aid those commercial beekeepers too remote for regular tech team monitoring. Our colony loss and management surveys are open and enthusiastically participated in by small backyard beekeepers. These are the surveys where we have aggressively requested participation from the sideliner and commercial beekeeper so that they are adequately represented in the results. The results are open to the public and are accessed currently through our website (www.beeinformed.org). We now have Emergency Response kits that again, are open to all beekeepers as a tool to use to rule out causes of their crashing colonies. Our Tier 4 or Real Time Pest and Disease Load monitoring service for any beekeeper in the country that has 5 or more colonies. This monthly service helps beekeepers make management decisions based on the analysis of monthly samples they send into the Bee Informed Partnership. Finally, we hope to add historic databases from many states and other labs to contribute to the pest and pathogen history of honey bees and their overall health in the U.S. These data can be mined and possible epidemiological correlations may be found to generate hypothesis driven research. Although our project focuses on beekeepers in the U.S., we have and currently maintain open collaboration with several European countries who are interested in adopting our surveys and using/adding to our database. It also goes without saying that outcomes of this project also affects and can contribute to any farmer/industry that relies on honey bees for pollination services. ? Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?All of our tech teams and several of our diagnostic laboratory staff have been asked and frequently present at local and national beekeeping meetings. In doing so, they prepare by analyzing data to succinctly report results and other findings from this project. Additionally, we have 2 PhD student using the data from this project as their research and thesis study. Two additional PhD studentsjoined in the fall of 2016. All project staff are encouraged to further advance their studies or professional development by attending courses and/or taking online classes. With the advent of remote tech teams in 2015, several of our tech team staff are responsible for the education and training of commercial beekeeping operation managers. This training further enhances the tech team's outreach and professional communication skills. Furthermore, all team members are encouraged and invited to attend at least one of two major beekeeping conferences each year held adjacent to our annual science advisory and stakeholder meetings. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? All loss (winter, annual and summer) results are listed on the beeinformed.org website with accompanying full publication reports and the dynamic state map. Monofactorial reports are all listed for all survey years as well. For the tech teams and their commercial beekeepers, we now have 16 interactive database reports we can access to generate custom reports to email to beekeepers with their diagnostic results comparing those results to industry norms and thresholds. One of the projects we are particularly excited to implement this year is a dynamic reporting system where beekeepers can compare their management practices to "best practices" that should help highlight areas where individual management practices can be improved. The survey for 2015-2016 was completed by mid May. Thiswas the 6th year we have conducted the survey, one beyond what was proposed in the grant. Results were posted by early summer and the data uploaded to the regional map. The format of these results are now in the form of a data explorer where beekeepers and the public can filter by the question they want to see as well as the year (or multiple years). Beekeeper reports from the tech teams are personally and electronically disseminated to them within 2 weeks of the analysis and 2 annual meetings are held with each tech team group to show and discuss comparative results to the entire community. Additionally, results are discussed and presented at all the major national and international beekeeping conventions and meetings, advertised in the 2 largest bee journals, club newsletters, the Project Apis m website and among other industry lead related organizations (Almond Board, Honey Board, etc.). What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Objective 1: Construct and maintain a comprehensive Honey Bee Health Database: A major activity in 2016 included moving the data collection from all of these projects except for the BIP Colony Loss and Management Survey data and Hive Scale Data to a newer, interactive database platform that is scalable and maintainable beyond the life of the grant. In 2015, we completed the move of data management of 5 of the 7 programs listed here to a PostgreSQL database using Python, Django, and Javascript using the latest, updated technology. 1. BIP Tech Team in-field survey data. These consist of colony inspections where visual observations are made on colony health and, in most cases; samples are collected and sent for lab analysis measuring colony health in various diseases and parasites. Visual observations include colony strength and presence of visual disease symptoms. In queen breeding operations, in-field hygienic testing is provided. • 156 participating commercial beekeepers representing diverse areas of USA • Yearly data since 2011 • 35,270 individual colony inspections • 33,298 Varroa destructor samples • 32,968 Nosema disease samples • 14,882 viral tests from 2,126 colonies • 5,238 Hygienic behavior 2. BIP Colony Loss and Management Survey data. It includes information about the colony losses experienced by individual participating beekeepers and the management practices these beekeepers use. • Yearly colony loss data since winter 2007-2008 to present • 34,132 total responses with valid winter loss data • 5 years of management survey information 3. Real Time Disease Load Monitoring (Tier4) is a program where any beekeeper can collect their own monthly samples on 8 colonies for diagnosis of Varroa and Nosema once a month for 6 months. Data includes visual observations and management practices by the beekeeper. • 113 participating beekeepers • Yearly data since 2013 • 3,922 individual colony records • 3,848 Varroa destructor samples • 3,849 Nosema disease samples 4. Emergency Response Kits: This program allows beekeepers experiencing a loss event to collect samples from 8 weak/8 healthy colonies for lab diagnostics. • 32 participating beekeepers • 531 individual colonies • 527 Varroa destructor samples • 527 Nosema disease samples • 287 viral tests • 66 Pesticide samples (175 pesticide tests on each sample = 11,550 tests). 5. Hive Scale Data. 5. BIP Scale Portal: Hivescales.beeinformed.org 6. USDA/APHIS Honey Bee Pest and Disease Survey • 3,312 colony inspections with visual notes and samples taken. • 3,276 Varroa destructor samples • 3,271 Nosema disease samples • 30,653 viral tests from 4,379 samples • 691 Pesticide samples 7. USDA-ARS Beltsville diagnostic data from the USDA-ARS Bee Disease Diagnosis Service. • 27,965 historical submissions which often include multiple samples. • Historical data spans from January 1984 - December 2010. • 2,151 additional new samples have been entered into an interactive reporting database designed for this service Objective 2: Survyes on colony mortality, pathogens, and parasites, as well as beekeeper management strategies, costs and outputs: The Tier 1 (online loss survey) 2014-2015 Winter loss survey had 5,937 valid respondents, representing over 15.1% (414,267) of all the estimated 2.74 million managed colonies in the U.S. Our website now includes dynamic regional and state reporting for all losses over all years that this survey has been conducted. Our Tier 5 Tech transfer teams monitoring now includes northern CA (UC Cooperative Extension, Butte County), a team to monitor migratory beekeepers in Midwest (U of MN), a team in Florida (U of FL) began in July 2013 monitoring migratory beekeepers originating in the FL/GA area, a 4th team began in 2014 working with large, migratory pollinators for seed, vegetable and fruit crops out of Oregon State University for OR, WA and ID and finally, a new team was started in Texas to support those migratory and honey producers in the TX/NM area working out of Texas A&M. Objective 3: Develop interactive web-based interfaces for the Database: In 2014, a new BIP database reporting tool was built on open source technologies, specifically using the Django / Python web framework with a PostgreSQL database. New projects were added to the new reporting site at bip2.beeinformed.org, instead of initially converting existing projects from the ASP.NET site. Additionally, survey data for state colony losses was added to the PostreSQL database and an interactive map based reporting tool was built to allow the general public to explore colony loss data across years, seasons, states, and regions. These improvements include reports comparing different treatment effects among beekeepers and linking individual beekeepers data across projects so that beekeepers that are participating in multiple projects have their data linked, except for the BIP Colony Loss and Management Survey reporting system which has not been re-created in bip2.beeinformed.org. There are now 16 interactive database reports staff can access to generate custom reports to email to beekeepers with their diagnostic results comparing those results to industry norms and thresholds. Objective 4: Promote model best management practices that are evidence-based Monofactorial management survey results have been analyzed and released on beeinformed.org for all survey years beginning with 2010-2011 and the 2015-2016 survey results were released in June for the 2015-2016 Management survey. Work is near completion of multifactorial modeling and three years of the Winter Loss and Management survey have been completed. UMD is collaborating with colleagues at the University of Liege and Oregon State University to develop models that allow for multivariate analysis of these factors and beekeeper responses. One of these efforts uses a novel approach to identify management practices that, theoretically, would have the greatest effect on improving colony survivorship if they were incorporated into an "average" beekeeper's management system. Objective 5: Implement a pollinator quality/availability reporting system The Tier 6 or Pollination availability survey was conducted again in 2015 for the 6th consecutive year, and a Bee Broker Survey Summary was created based on the analysis of these data. It was distributed to all bee broker participants. A larger analysis establishing trends from brokers that had participated in all years will be written and published at the completion of this year's (2016) broker survey in a peer reviewed journal. This survey establishes shortages or surpluses of pollinator units as well as the average price per placed colony. The sample size of 7 represents approximately 25% of all bee brokers in the U.S. and about 13% of the placed colonies for almond pollination. Objective 6: Evaluate emerging issues alert system The Emergency Response Kit portion of the project has been active for 3 years now. Significant interest has been shown by small scale, sideliner and commercial beekeepers, with additional interest by beekeepers who want to use these kits to independently test feed additives or other treatment regimes. Finally, we began a Sentinel pilot project in 2015 that will be expanded this year to include hive scales, pollen trapping and monthly nosema and varroa mite sampling. This "sentinel" apiary approach, using honey bees as a terrestrial biomonitoring species, provides near real-time monitoring of local colonies for apiaries and clubs in the region and acts as an emerging issues alert system. We had 21 Sentinel participants this year and 21 real time disease load participants in this project this year. ?
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Awaiting Publication
Year Published:
2017
Citation:
A national survey of managed honey bee 2015-2016 annual colony losses in the USA
Kelly Kulhanek1, Nathalie Steinhauer1, Karen Rennich1&Jeff Pettis2, James D. Ellis3,&Ramesh R. Sagili4, Michael E. Wilson5&David R. Tarpy6, Robyn Rose7, Kathleen Lee8, & Dennis vanEngelsdorp1
|
Progress 05/15/15 to 05/14/16
Outputs
Target Audience:Our target audience can be broadly defined as the U.S. beekeeping community; however many of our field intensive work involves those larger, commercial stakeholders that are the leaders in queen breeding, honey production and pollination services. They are the early adopters that fully utilize our lab diagnostic and reporting services as well as promote the project. This year, we have >80 active commercial beekeepers working with BIP, managing over 400,000 colonies (20% of the colonies in the US). We are now currently working with and helping approximately 90% of all commercial queen breeders in the country. We introduced our remote tech team project, where commercial beekeepers outside the monitoring regions of our traditional tech teams, can be trained in taking samples and receive the same diagnostic and monitoring reports that our standard tech teams provide. This project has helped aid those commercial beekeepers too remote for regular tech team monitoring. Our colony loss and management surveys are open and enthusiastically participated in by small backyard beekeepers. These are the surveys where we have aggressively requested participation from the sideliner and commercial beekeeper so that they are adequately represented in the results. The results are open to the public and are accessed currently through our website (www.beeinformed.org). It also goes without saying that outcomes of this project also affects and can contribute to any farmer/industry that relies on honey bees for pollination services. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?All of our tech teams and several of our diagnostic laboratory staff have been asked and frequently present at local and national beekeeping meetings. In doing so, they prepare by analyzing data to succinctly report results and other findings from this project. Additionally, we have 2 PhD student using the data from this project as their research and thesis study. Two additional PhD students are expected to join in the fall of 2016. All project staff are encouraged to further advance their studies or professional development by attending courses and/or taking online classes. With the advent of remote tech teams in 2015, several of our tech team staff are responsible for the education and training of commercial beekeeping operation managers. This training further enhances the tech team's outreach and professional communication skills. Furthermore, all team members are encouraged and invited to attend at least one of two major beekeeping conferences each year held adjacent to our annual science advisory and stakeholder meetings. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? All loss (winter, annual and summer) results are listed on the beeinformed.org website with accompanying full publication reports and the dynamic state map. Monofactorial reports are all listed for all survey years as well. For the tech teams and their commercial beekeepers, we now have 16 interactive database reports we can access to generate custom reports to email to beekeepers with their diagnostic results comparing those results to industry norms and thresholds. One of the projects we are particularly excited to implement this year is a dynamic reporting system where beekeepers can compare their management practices to "best practices" that should help highlight areas where individual management practices can be improved. The 6th year of the loss and management survey will begin in just about a month.Results will be posted by early summer and the data uploaded to the regional map. The format of these results are downloadable pdfs. Beekeeper reports from the tech teams are personally and electronically disseminated to them within 2 weeks of the analysis and 2 annual meetings are held with each tech team group to show and discuss comparative results to the entire community. Additionally, results are discussed and presented at all the major national and international beekeeping conventions and meetings, advertised in the 2 largest bee journals, club newsletters, the Project Apis m website and among other industry lead related organizations (Almond Board, Honey Board, etc.). What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?The project deliverables for this last year remain the same as in the grant proposal. They include the continuation of the IT tool re-evaluation that we have been conducting since Year 3. The implementation of all auto report generation of Tier 1 and Tier 2 Surveys are complete. BIP 2.0, our 2nd generation database will be more mobile and quickly adapt to new reports likely using google graphs. By the end of this last year, it is likely that we will have >100 BIP hive scales in the field collecting weight data to allow beekeepers to make timely and educated management decisions and to contribute to the BIP database where we can apply the linkages between nectar flows, nosema disease, varroa populations and other colony health issues to management decisions for beekeepers. Finally, it has always been the goal for this project to become self-sustaining by the end of the grant period. Toward this end, we worked with a Venture Accelerator group on campus for several years to develop a business and revenue model. We have also collaborated with MD Non-profits (http://www.marylandnonprofits.org/AboutUs/MissionValuesHistory.aspx) since 2014. We became incorporated in the state of Maryland on June 27, 2014. In that same time period, MD Non-profits became our fiscal sponsor during the time of our application to the IRS. In March 2015, we were officially registered by the IRS as a 501(c)3. Our board, with 9 active members, meet quarterly, have met 6 times and have sent money to 3 cooperating institutions. By leveraging the buy in from commercial beekeepers and fee for service funds, using other grants and private donations, we have been able to expand our tech teams from 1 to 5 in the last 5 years and currently have funding for 3 years beyond the life of the grant.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Objective 1: Construct and maintain a comprehensive Honey Bee Health Database: Counts for the database report were recorded on February 22nd, 2016. The Bee Informed Database consists primarily of these major datasets described herein. All 7 presently have new data being inserted on a regular basis. A major activity in 2015 included moving the data collection from all of these projects except for the BIP Colony Loss and Management Survey data and Hive Scale Data to a newer, interactive database platform that is scalable and maintainable beyond the life of the grant. In 2015, we completed the move of data management of 5 of the 7 programs listed here to a PostgreSQL database using Python, Django, and Javascript using the latest, updated technology. BIP Tech Team in-field survey data. These consist of colony inspections where visual observations are made on colony health and, in most cases; samples are collected and sent for lab analysis measuring colony health in various diseases and parasites. Visual observations include colony strength and presence of visual disease symptoms. In queen breeding operations, in-field hygienic testing is provided. 156 participating commercial beekeepers representing diverse areas of USA Yearly data since 2011 35,270 individual colony inspections 33,298 Varroa destructor samples 32,968 Nosema disease samples 14,882 viral tests from 2,126 colonies 5,238 Hygienic behavior BIP Colony Loss and Management Survey data. It includes information about the colony losses experienced by individual participating beekeepers and the management practices these beekeepers use. Yearly colony loss data since winter 2007-2008 to present 34,132 total responses with valid winter loss data 5 years of management survey information Real Time Disease Load Monitoring (Tier4) is a program where any beekeeper can collect their own monthly samples on 8 colonies for diagnosis of Varroa and Nosema once a month for 6 months. Data includes visual observations and management practices by the beekeeper. 113 participating beekeepers Yearly data since 2013 3,922 individual colony records 3,848 Varroa destructor samples 3,849 Nosema disease samples Emergency Response Kits: This program allows beekeepers experiencing a loss event to collect samples from 8 weak/8 healthy colonies for lab diagnostics. 32 participating beekeepers 531 individual colonies 527 Varroa destructor samples 527 Nosema disease samples 287 viral tests 66 Pesticide samples (175 pesticide tests on each sample = 11,550 tests). Hive Scale Data. BIP Scale Portal: Hivescales.beeinformed.org HoneyBeeNet http://honeybeenet.gsfc.nasa.gov/ USDA/APHIS Honey Bee Pest and Disease Survey 3,312 colony inspections with visual notes and samples taken. 3,276 Varroa destructor samples 3,271 Nosema disease samples 30,653 viral tests from 4,379 samples 691 Pesticide samples USDA-ARS Beltsville diagnostic data from the USDA-ARS Bee Disease Diagnosis Service. 27,965 historical submissions which often include multiple samples. Historical data spans from January 1984 - December 2010. 2,151 additional new samples have been entered into an interactive reporting database designed for this service Objective 2: Survyes on colony mortality, pathogens, and parasites, as well as beekeeper management strategies, costs and outputs: The Tier 1 (online loss survey) 2014-2015 Winter loss survey had 5,937 valid respondents, representing over 15.1% (414,267) of all the estimated 2.74 million managed colonies in the U.S. Our website now includes dynamic regional and state reporting for all losses over all years that this survey has been conducted. Our Tier 5 Tech transfer teams monitoring now includes northern CA (UC Cooperative Extension, Butte County), a team to monitor migratory beekeepers in Midwest (U of MN), a team in Florida (U of FL) began in July 2013 monitoring migratory beekeepers originating in the FL/GA area, a 4th team began in 2014 working with large, migratory pollinators for seed, vegetable and fruit crops out of Oregon State University for OR, WA and ID and finally, a new team was started in Texas to support those migratory and honey producers in the TX/NM area working out of Texas A&M. Objective 3: Develop interactive web-based interfaces for the Database: In 2014, a new BIP database reporting tool was built on open source technologies, specifically using the Django / Python web framework with a PostgreSQL database. New projects were added to the new reporting site at bip2.beeinformed.org, instead of initially converting existing projects from the ASP.NET site. Additionally, survey data for state colony losses was added to the PostreSQL database and an interactive map based reporting tool was built to allow the general public to explore colony loss data across years, seasons, states, and regions to be publicly launched in early 2015. These improvements include reports comparing different treatment effects among beekeepers and linking individual beekeepers data across projects so that beekeepers that are participating in multiple projects have their data linked, except for the BIP Colony Loss and Management Survey reporting system which has not been re-created in bip2.beeinformed.org. There are now 16 interactive database reports staff can access to generate custom reports to email to beekeepers with their diagnostic results comparing those results to industry norms and thresholds. Objective 4: Promote model best management practices that are evidence-based Monofactorial management survey results have been analyzed and released on beeinformed.org forall survey years beginning with 2010-2011 and the 2015-2016 survey results will be released in June for the 2015-2016 Management survey. Work is near completion of multifactorial modeling and three years of the Winter Loss and Management survey have been completed. UMD is collaborating with colleagues at the University of Liege and Oregon State University to develop models that allow for multivariate analysis of these factors and beekeeper responses. One of these efforts uses a novel approach to identify management practices that, theoretically, would have the greatest effect on improving colony survivorship if they were incorporated into an "average" beekeeper's management system. Objective 5: Implement a pollinator quality/availability reporting system The Tier 6 or Pollination availability survey was conducted again in 2015 for the 6th consecutive year, and a Bee Broker Survey Summary was created based on the analysis of these data. It was distributed to all bee broker participants. A larger analysis establishing trends from brokers that had participated in all years will be written and published at the completion of this year's (2016) broker survey in a peer reviewed journal. This survey establishes shortages or surpluses of pollinator units as well as the average price per placed colony. The sample size of 7 represents approximately 25% of all bee brokers in the U.S. and about 13% of the placed colonies for almond pollination. Objective 6: Evaluate emerging issues alert system The Emergency Response Kit portion of the project has been active for 3 years now. Significant interest has been shown by small scale, sideliner and commercial beekeepers, with additional interest by beekeepers who want to use these kits to independently test feed additives or other treatment regimes. Finally, we began a Sentinel pilot project in 2015 that will be expanded this year to include hive scales, pollen trapping and monthly nosema and varroa mite sampling. This "sentinel" apiary approach, using honey bees as a terrestrial biomonitoring species, provides near real-time monitoring of local colonies for apiaries and clubs in the region and acts as an emerging issues alert system. We had 21 Sentinel participants this year and 21 real time disease load participants in this project this year.
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Awaiting Publication
Year Published:
2016
Citation:
A national survey of managed honey bee 2014 - 2015 annual colony losses in the USA
|
Progress 05/15/14 to 05/14/15
Outputs
Target Audience: Our target audience can be broadly defined as the U.S. beekeeping community; however many of our field intensive work involves those larger, commercial stakeholders that are the leaders in queen breeding, honey production and pollination services. They are the early adopters that fully utilize our lab diagnostic and reporting services as well as promote the project. This year, we have added 25 commercial queen breeders and migratory beekeepers from Florida and Georgia that is working with our new team out of the University of Florida. Another new team added at Oregon State University has begun working with 21 beekeeper from Idaho, Washington and Oregon that are responsible for vegetable seed pollination. By including more commercial queen breeders, we are now currently working with and helping approximately 90% of all commercial queen breeders in the country. Our colony loss and management surveys are open and enthusiastically participated in by small backyard beekeepers. These are the surveys where we have aggressively requested participation from the sideliner and commercial beekeeper so that they are adequately represented in the results. The results are open to the public and are accessed currently through our website (www.beeinformed.org). We now have Emergency Response kits that again, are open to all beekeepers as a tool to use to rule out causes of their crashing colonies. This year, we have also added our Tier 4 or Real Time Pest and Disease Load monitoring service for any beekeeper in the country that has 5 or more colonies. This monthly service helps beekeepers make management decisions based on the analysis of monthly samples they send into the Bee Informed Partnership. Finally, we hope to add historic databases from many states and other labs to contribute to the pest and pathogen history of honey bees and their overall health in the U.S. These data can be mined and possible epidemiological correlations may be found to generate hypothesis driven research. Although our project focuses on beekeepers in the U.S., we have and currently maintain open collaboration with several European countries who are interested in adopting our surveys and using/adding to our database. It also goes without saying that outcomes of this project also affects and can contribute to any farmer/industry that relies on honey bees for pollination services. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? All of our tech teams, many of our diagnostic laboratory staff and all our post docshave been asked and frequently present at local and national beekeeping meetings. In doing so, they prepare by analyzing data to succinctly report results and other findings from this project. Additionally, we have 2 PhD students and2 Master degree students using the data from this project as their research and thesis study. Two additional Master's students and 1 PhD student are expected to join in 2015. All project staff are encouraged to further advance their studies or professional development by attending courses and/or taking online classes. Furthermore, all team members are encouraged and invited to attend at least one of two major beekeeping conferences each year held adjacent to our annual science advisory and stakeholder meetings. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? All survey results beginning in year 2010-2011 up through the current survey for 2013-2014 are posted with a regional map that beekeepers and the public can access to see what management practices are working or not working in their region. The format of these results are downloadable pdfs. Beekeeper reports from the tech teams are personally and electronically disseminated to them within 2 weeks of the analysis and 2 annual meetings are held with each tech team group to show and discuss comparative results to the entire community. Additionally, results are discussed and presented at all the major national and international beekeeping conventions and meetings. Further outreach includes club newsletters and generation of a 'media' tab on our website that will allow many organizations to see the results pictorially with a written explanation that they can download, share with their groups or include in their local newsletters. Finally, all comments to our website and blogs are monitored and every question posed to us is answered by someone from our team. It should be noted that we sent out hundreds of reports to approximately 74 commercial beekeepers last year that provided them with precise, timely data for them to make informed management decisions on their colonies and apiaries. In addition to reaching out directly to specific beekeepers, we also had a record number of beekeepers (over 7,100) participate in our colony loss survey this year and the Beeinformed.org website received 231,293 pageviews between May 1st 2013 and May 1st 2014 for an average of 634 pageviews per day. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? The project deliverables forYear 5remain the same as in the grant proposal. They include implementation of all auto report generation of Tier 1 and Tier 2 Surveys, Tier 4 sampling training, Emergency Response kit reports, real-time graphical interface for users to investigate the data on the BIP website. Our final update to our new database will be completed and will be more mobile and quickly adapt to new reports likely using google graphs. By the end of this 5th year, it is likely that we will have >100 BIP hive scales in the field collecting weight data to allow beekeepers to make timely and educated management decisions and to contribute to the BIP database where we may learn more about the linkages between nectar flows, nosema disease, varroa populations and other colony health issues. Finally, it has always been the goal for this project to become self-sustaining by the end of the grant period. We have created a non profit, called Bee Informed Parntership, Inc. that was incorporated in the state if MD in June 2014 and we filed with the IRS to become a 501 (c)3 non-profit in November 2014. We are currently under the fiscal sponsorship of Maryland Non Profits and expect toreceive fullnon profit status in March 2015. Our Board of Directors have met twice now and are beginning to establish the goals and out year plans for this corporation. To this end we know that to be solvent, we need to seek additional external funding (beyond what stakeholders can or are willing to pay) and we have been able to raise over $400,000 in corporate funding. We plan to pursue additoinal grants to further supplement our revenue so that the work of the Bee Informed Partnership continues.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Objective 1: Construct and maintain a comprehensive, accurate, timely and dynamic Honey Bee Health Database The Bee Informed Database consists primarily of these major datasets described herein. All 7 presently have new data being inserted on a regular basis which may or may not occur directly into the databases. In many cases, initial data entry and management may occur on a separate platform, and then the data is moved into BIP databases. BIP Tech Team in-field survey data. These consist of colony inspections where visual observations are made on colony health and, in most cases; samples are collected and sent for lab analysis measuring colony health in various diseases and parasites. Visual observations include colony strength and presence of visual disease symptoms. In queen breeding operations, in-field hygienic testing is provided. BIP Colony Loss and Management Survey data. This survey is conducted by BIP, but also includes past survey efforts. It includes information about the colony losses experienced by individual participating beekeepers and the management practices these beekeepers use. Real Time Disease Load Monitoring (Tier4) is a program where any beekeeper can collect their own monthly samples on 8 colonies and send them in for diagnosis of Varroa and Nosema once a month for 6 months. Included is data about visual observations the beekeeper makes for each colony and management practices by the beekeeper. Emergency Response Kits: This program allows beekeepers experiencing a loss event to collect samples from 8 weak and 8 healthy colonies for lab diagnostics. Interest is increasing in this program and has potential to become a large data set. Hive Scale Data. Two sources of hive scale data are included in the BIP database. The one generated by BIP includes data from automated scales which use networks to move data from the scale to the database with frequent (~15 minute) increments. This data includes at external temperature and humidity. This project is newly launched with some scales already online. The data is stored in a PostgreSQL database. The second set of data is provided by the NASA Honeybee Net Project. USDA/APHIS Honey Bee Pest and Disease Survey. This APHIS project data is included in the BIP database. USDA-ARS Beltsville diagnostic data from the USDA-ARS Bee Disease Diagnosis Service. Historical data is stored in an MSSQL database. Current lab data is stored in a dBaseII database by the Belstville lab. Current BIP work includes moving both these data sets to a new MySQL database setup by BIP. Objective 2: Initiate, evaluate, and sustain surveys on colony mortality, pathogens, and parasites, as well as beekeeper management strategies, costs and outputs In the Tier 1 2013-2014 Winter loss survey, we had 7,183 valid respondents (a record high in the 8 years that we have published the survey, presenting over 20% of all the colonies in the U.S. and produced the Colony Loss 2013-2014 abstract that was released 15 days after survey closed. In the Tier 2: 2013-2014 Management survey, we had approximately 5,600 respondents and we now have a regional map showing state data on our BIP website. Emergency response kit protocols were written, kits were constructed and the pricing has been set.The kits have been used repeatedly by beekeepers around the country, most recently in the recent bee brood kill coming out of almonds and blueberries in the spring and fall dwindling and crashes in late 2014. Our Tier 5 supervised management monitoring continues in northern CA, a team to monitor migratory and honey producing beekeepers in Midwest. An additional team began work in July 2013 monitoring migratory beekeepers originating in the FL/GA area and a fourth team was started for migratory and seed pollinators in the Northwest and are funded by the beekeepers and Project Apis mellifera. Samples collected and processed in the calendar year of 2014: Total # samples: 23,284 Finally, our Tier 6 or Pollination availability survey was conducted again in 2014 (n=17) for the 5th consecutive year, and a Bee Broker Survey Summary was created based on the analysis of these data. It was distributed to all bee broker participants. A larger analysis establishing trends from brokers that had participated in all years will be written and published this year in a peer reviewed journal. This survey establishes shortages or surpluses of pollinator units as well as the average price per placed colony. The sample size of 17 represents approximately 50% of all bee brokers in the U.S. and about 20% of the placed colonies for almond pollination. Objective 3: Develop interactive web-based interfaces for the Honey Bee Health Database: The original interface BIP built to interact with the Bee Informed Database is an ASP.NET & Silverlight web based application which utilizes Microsoft's Report Viewer Controls to create customized reports, with graphics, that are distributed to participating beekeepers and the general public where appropriate. It is located at research.beeinformed.org. This site also allows for lab personnel to upload data entered into spreadsheets to populate the MSSQL database referenced earlier in this report. The uploader was built to provide a significant amount of data validation, however data editing once entered into the database is not well supported in the existing application. In 2014, a new BIP database reporting tool was built on open source technologies, specifically using the Django / Python web framework with a PostgreSQL database. New projects were added to the new reporting site at bip2.beeinformed.org, instead of initially converting existing projects from the ASP.NET site. The projects first built on bip2.beeinformed.org include a pesticide sample reporting tool for the USDA/APHIS project and a reporting tool for Emergency Response Kits (ERK). Additionally, survey data for state colony losses was added to the PostreSQL database and an interactive map based reporting tool was built to allow the general public to explore colony loss data across years, seasons, states, and regions to be publicly launched in early 2015. Objective 4: Promote model best management practices that are evidence-based Mono-factorial management survey results have been analyzed and released on beeinformed.org for all years on our website. Work has begun on the multi- factorial analysis now that three full years of the Winter Loss and Management survey have been completed. A UMD PhD student (Nathalie Steinhauer) has lead that effort and those results will be released in early 2015. A best management practices document will be prepared as soon as that multi factorial analysis is complete. Statistically significant results have been highlighted in monthly ads and some state newsletter releases and a summary of the top management factors correlating with decreased wintering mortality was released in late 2012. Objective 5: Implement a pollinator quality/availability reporting system As previously mentioned, baseline data collected through Tier 6 survey with 5 years of data for comparison and the 2013- 2014 report was sent to all participating brokers. A multi-year, detailed report is currently being written with publication anticipated in early 2015. Objective 6: Evaluate project impact and initiate an emerging issues alert system The initiation of the Emergency Response Kit has been active for 2 years now and participation has increased 100% over the last year. The sampling protocol, pricing and other information has been posted on the website and the kits are fabricated. Kits were shipped, by request of several beekeepers, beginning in December 2012 and used primarily by sideline and commercial beekeepers to evaluate possible causes of weak colonies.
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2015
Citation:
A national survey of managed honey bee 2013-2014 annual colony losses in the USA: results from the Bee Informed Partnership
Kathleen V. Lee1, Nathalie Steinhauer2, Karen Rennich2, Michael E. Wilson3, David R. Tarpy4, Dewey M. Caron5, Robyn Rose6, Keith S. Delaplane7, Kathy Baylis8, Eugene J. Lengerich9 , Jeff Pettis 10, John A. Skinner3, James T. Wilkes11, Dennis vanEngelsdorp2 *for the Bee Informed Partnership
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
vanEngelsdorp, D., The Bee Informed Partnership A novel approach to improving pollinator health, The Smith-Lever Centennial Webinar series, National Institute of Food And Agriculture, Washington, DC. Sept 24, 2014
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
vanEngelsdorp, D., Drivers of Honey Bee Losses in the US (and maybe other places too), EurBee6, EurBee6, Murcia, Spain. Sept. 10 2014
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
vanEngelsdorp, D., How to keep Colonies alive: Lessons from the field, Minnesota Honey Producers Annual Convention, Minnesota Honey Producers Annual Convention, St. Cloud, MN, July 17, 2014
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
vanEngelsdorp, D., How to keep Colonies alive: Lessons from the field, BetterBee Field Day, BetterBee Field Day, Greenwich, NY. June 28, 2014
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
vanEngelsdorp, D., Bee Decline in the US, Young Harris and University of Georgia 23rd Annual Beekeeping Institute, May 16, 2014 (Evaluation: 4.82/5)
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
vanEngelsdorp, D., Update on Honey Bee Health., Pollinator Health, Neonicotinoids, and Management of Hemlock Woolly Adelgid and Emerald Ash Borer, Update on Honey Bee Health. National Park Service, Integrated Pest Management Discussion, Online seminar. June 19, 2014
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
vanEngelsdorp, D., Honey Bee colony losses. EPA Beginning Beekeeping Course, USDA, ARS Beltsville Bee Lab, May 8, 2014
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2015
Citation:
vanEngelsdorp, D., The Bee Informed Partnership, American Honey Producers Annual Convention
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2015
Citation:
vanEngelsdorp, D., The Bee Informed Partnership, American Beekeepers Federation Annual Meeting
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Rennich, K, Management Practices, what works and what doesnt, Alabama State Beekeepers Association, 9/26/2014
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Rennich, K. From the Front Lines, Empire State Beekeepers Association, 11/21/2014
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2015
Citation:
Kunkel, G., BIP: News from the front lines, AIA, 1/21/2015
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2015
Citation:
Traynor, K.,BIP: News from the front lines, NJ Beekeepers Association, 2/14/2015
- Type:
Other
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
vanEngelsdorp, D., Rennich,K., Understanding BIP results, Brushy Mountain webinar, 10/15/2104
|
Progress 05/15/13 to 05/14/14
Outputs
Target Audience: Our target audience can be broadly defined as the U.S. beekeeping community; however many of our field intensive work involves those larger, commercial stakeholders that are the leaders in queen breeding, honey production and pollination services. They are the early adopters that fully utilize our lab diagnostic and reporting services as well as promote the project. This year, we have added 25 commercial queen breeders and migratory beekeepers from Florida and Georgia that is working with our new team out of the University of Florida. Another new team added at Oregon State University has begun working with 21 beekeeper from Idaho, Washington and Oregon that are responsible for vegetable seed pollination. By including more commercial queen breeders, we are now currently working with and helping approximately 90% of all commercial queen breeders in the country. Ourcolony loss and management surveys are open and enthusiastically participated in by small backyard beekeepers. These are the surveys where we have aggressively requested participation from the sideliner and commercial beekeeper so that they are adequately represented in the results. The results are open to the public and are accessed currently through our website (www.beeinformed.org). We now have Emergency Response kits that again, are open to all beekeepers as a tool to use to rule out causes of their crashing colonies. This year, we have also added our Tier 4 or Real Time Pest and Disease Load monitoring service for any beekeeper in the country that has 5 or more colonies. This monthly service helps beekeepers make management decisions based on the analysis of monthly samples they send into the Bee Informed Partnership. Finally, we hope to add historic databases from many states and other labs to contribute to the pest and pathogen history of honey bees and their overall health in the U.S. These data can be mined and possible epidemiological correlations may be found to generate hypothesis driven research. Although our project focuses on beekeepers in the U.S., we have and currently maintain open collaboration with several European countries who are interested in adopting our surveys and using/adding to our database. It also goes without saying that outcomes of this project also affects and can contribute to any farmer/industry that relies on honey bees for pollination services. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? All of our tech teams and several of our diagnostic laboratory staff have been asked and frequently present at local and national beekeeping meetings. In doing so, they prepare by analyzing data to succinctly report results and other findings from this project. Additionally, we have 2 PhD students and1 Master degree students using the data from this project as their research and thesis study. Two additional Master's students are expected to join in 2014. All project staff are encouraged to further advance their studies or professional development by attending courses and/or taking online classes. Furthermore, all team members are encouraged and invited to attend at least one of two major beekeeping conferences each year held adjacent to our annual science advisory and stakeholder meetings. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? All 2010-2011 and2011-2012 results are fully listed on the beeinformed.org website with accompanying video blogs (vlogs). The current survey for 2013-2014 just ended and results will be posted by mid summer with a regional map that beekeepers and the public can access to see what management practices are working or not working in their region. The format of these results are downloadable pdfs. Beekeeper reports from the tech teams are personally and electronically disseminated to them within 2 weeks of the analysis and 2 annual meetings are held with each tech team group to show and discuss comparative results to the entire community. Additionally, results are discussed and presented at all the major national and international beekeeping conventions and meetings. Further outreach includes club newsletters and generation of a 'media' tab on our website that will allow many organizations to see the results pictorially with a written explanation that they can download, share with their groups or include in their local newsletters. Finally, all comments to our website and blogs are monitored and every question posed to us is answered by someone from our team. It should be noted that we sent out over175 reportsto 54 commercial beekeepers last year that provided them with precise, timely data for them to make informed management decisions on their colonies and apiaries. In addition to reaching out directly to specific beekeepers, we also had a record number of beekeepers (over 7,100) participate in our colony loss survey this year and the Beeinformed.org website received 231,293 pageviews between May 1st 2013 and May 1st 2014 for an average of 634 pageviews per day. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? The project deliverables for Year4 remain the same as in the grant proposal. They include implementation ofall auto report generation of Tier 1 and Tier 2 Surveys, Tier 4 sampling training, EmergencyResponse kit reports, real-time graphical interface for users to investigate the data onthe BIP website. It is also a time to re-evaluate our IT tools as we have been doing the past year. BIP 2.0, our2nd generation database will bemore mobile and quickly adapt to new reports likely using google graphs.By the end of this 4th year, it is likely that we will have >100 BIP hive scales in the field collecting weight data to allow beekeepers to make timely and educated management decisions and to contribute to the BIP database where we may learn more about the linkages between nectar flows, nosema disease, varroa populations and other colony health issues. Our 3rd and 4th tech teams, in FL and OR respectively, will begin to contribute to the database and we will reach more commerical, sideliner and backyard beekeepers than ever with the results of our multi-factorial analysis for best management practices in each region. Finally, it has always been the goal for this project to become self-sustaining by the end of the grant period. Over the past year, we have been working with venture accelerator experts at the University of Maryland to conduct customer interviews both one-on-one with current customers but also at large national meetings. We have developed a revenue model and have received consent from our stakeholders to pursue a non-profit organization. After meeting with non-profit lawyers in April of this year, we will begin the process of filing for non-profit status as well as becoming incorporated to test the business and revenue models while still under the life of the grant.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Objective 1: Construct and maintain a comprehensive, accurate, timely and dynamic Honey Bee Health Database There are various sources of data that now comprise the Honey Bee Health Database and they include, but are not limited to: 1. BIP Tech Team in-field survey data, which includes any longitudinal or research project data. These data contains pest, pathogen and viral data as well as pesticide and hygienic information and any corollary location, date and comments regarding the samples. 2. BIP Winter Loss and Management Survey data from years 2010-2011 to present. We plan to incorporate previous winter loss data from 2006. 3. USDA/APHIS National Honey Bee Pest and Disease Survey including pest, pathogen, viral and pesticide information (2011, 2012, and 2013) 4. USDA/APHIS abbreviated surveys linked to the samples taken above 5. HoneyBeeNet.org scale hive, location, weather and phenology data 6. USDA/BRL current and historic diagnostic data Objective 2: Initiate, evaluate, and sustain surveys on colony mortality, pathogens, and parasites, as well as beekeeper management strategies, costs and outputs In the Tier 1 2013-2014 Winter loss survey, we had7,183 valid respondents (a record high in the 8 years that we have published the survey, presenting over 20% of all the colonies in the U.S. and produced the Colony Loss 2013-2014abstract that was released15 days after survey closed. In the Tier 2: 2013-2014 Management survey, we hadapproximately5,600 respondents and will have a regional map showing state databy July2014. Emergency response kit protocols were written, kits were constructed and the pricing has been set. Information regarding this service has been posted on the BIP website (http://beeinformed.org/about/emergency-response-kits/) and the kits have been used repeatedly by beekeepers around the country, most recently in the recent bee brood kill coming out of almonds in March 2014. Our Tier 5 (Crop Protection Agent but now renamed Tech transfer teams) supervised management monitoring continues in northern CA (UC Cooperative Extension, Butte County), a team to monitor migratory beekeepers in Midwest (U of MN). An additional team began work in July 2013 monitoring migratory beekeepers originating in the FL/GA area. These beekeepers move to almonds (CA) and other areas along the east coast. Additionally, a 4th team working with vegetable seed pollinators in the Pacific Northwest (Idaho, Washington and Oregon) has begun work this month. They are based out of Oregon State University and are funded by the beekeepers and Project Apis mellifera. The following statistics summarize the number of samples we generated, analyzed and reported on within the last year: Samples collected and processed: May 2013 – May 2014) Total # samples: 14,902 # Hygienic tests: 1,174 # Varroa samples: 6,618 # Nosema samples: 6,607 # Virus samples: 588 # Protein samples: 15 Finally, our Tier 6 or Pollination availability survey was conducted again in 2014 (n=17) for the 5th consecutive year, and a Bee Broker Survey Summary was created based on the analysis of these data. It was distributed to all bee broker participants. A larger analysis establishing trends from brokers that had participated in all years will be written and published this year in a peer reviewed journal. This survey establishes shortages or surpluses of pollinator units as well as the average price per placed colony. The sample size of 17 represents approximately 50% of all bee brokers in the U.S. and about 20% of the placed colonies for almond pollination. Objective 3: Develop interactive web-based interfaces for the Honey Bee Health Database: Research.beeinformed.org is an Asp.net web based application originally deployed by App. State cooperators. It is a login, secure website designed to generate personalized reports for participating beekeepers and public reports for the management survey. Functional reports developed in this Asp.net framework include a US Honey Bee Survey report, 6 tech-team reports, and a report for Tier 4. The reports automatically query data from the MSSQL database populated by import functions. Modifications to the import code are done during report generation and testing of data validation rules. The primary improvement developed within the last year include modern LINQ and C# methods that more effectively populate report data than SQL techniques used in earlier developed reports. The reports generate through Microsoft’s ReportViewer Controls. UTK developed improved graphical charts and improved display of tabular data. The IT development team was first tasked with stabilizing and further developing two crucial areas: the bulk data upload web service, and the 2013 management survey report data service. The upload service was overhauled and refined to its current mature version over a few months with an emphasis on maintainability and extendibility to ensure future projects could be easily integrated. While some of the team members worked on the upload service, the others updated the massive catalog of 2013 management survey reports, which was completed in record time; afterwards, they worked on the public facing survey reports which have been used successfully to visualize data on the BeeInformed site. As a result of the improvements made at the beginning of the year, several significant milestones have been reached. The UMD Diagnostic team, BRL, Pesticide, and Tier 4 projects have been integrated and released for use. Halfway through the year, the team refined the development methodology being used, placed higher standards on documentation, trained on testing strategies, and began planning for a fresh version of the BeeInformed software using the latest technology and techniques. While the current software is now at a mature and stable state, the team is hard at work on a much improved version that will put the project in a strong and stable position with the software at the completion of the grant period. Objective 4: Promote model best management practices that are evidence-based Management survey results have been analyzed mono-factorial and released on beeinformed.org for the 2011-2012 , 2012-2013 surveys and will be released in June for the 2013-20143 Management survey. Work is in place to begin the multi-factorial analysis now that three full years of the Winter Loss and Management survey have been completed. A UMD PhD student (Nathalie Steinhauer) will lead that effort and those results will be released inmid 2014. A best management practices document will be prepared as soon as that multi factorial analysis is complete.Statistically significant results have been highlighted in monthly ads and some state newsletter releases and a summary of the top management factors correlating with decreased wintering mortality was released in late 2012. Objective 5: Implement a pollinator quality/availability reporting system As previously mentioned, baseline data collected through Tier 6 survey with5 years of data for comparison and the 2013-2014 report was sent to all participating brokers. A multi-year, detailed report is currently being written with publication anticipated in early 2014. Objective 6: Evaluate project impact and initiate an emerging issues alert system The initiation of the Emergency Response Kit is ahead of schedule and has been active for 2 years now. The sampling protocol, pricing and other information has been posted on the website and the kits are fabricated. Kits were shipped, by request of several beekeepers, beginning in December 2012. The evaluation of project impact is scheduled for implementation in year 3 of project. Significant interest has been shown by backyard beekeepers who are willing to pay the same price for nosema/varroa load analysis for a much smaller sample. We will evaluate this possibility in Year 4.
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Nathalie A Steinhauer, Karen Rennich, Michael E Wilson, Dewey M Caron, Eugene J Lengerich, Jeff S Pettis, Robyn Rose, John A Skinner, David R Tarpy, James T Wilkes and Dennis vanEngelsdorp, for the Bee Informed Partnership. 2014. A national survey of managed honey bee 2012-2013 annual colony losses in the USA: results from the Bee Informed Partnership. Journal of Apiculture Research. Vol. 53 (1) pp. 1-18
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Dennis vanEngelsdorp:
American Beekeepers Federation, Hershey, PA. January 9 2013
American Honey Producers Association, San Diego, CA, January 11, 2013
Loudon Beekeepers Association, Virginia, March 13 2013
Southern Adirondack Beekeepers Association Meeting, Albany NY. March 16 2013
Virginia State Beekeepers Association. Virginia Beach, VA. June 21, 2013
South Dakota Beekeepers Association. Deadwood, SD. July 21, 2013
Eastern Apicultural Association. West Chester, PA. August 7 2013.
West Virginia State Beekeepers Association. Weston WV. Sept 20, 2013
North Dakota State Beekeepers Association. Bismarck. ND, Oct 11, 2013.
Alberta Beekeepers Association. Edmonton, AB. Canada. November 5, 2012.
California State Beekeepers Association, Lake Tahoe, NV. November 20, 2013.
COLOSS. Bern, Switzerland Feb 13, 2013
Apimondia, Kiev, Georgia. Sept 30, 2013
Princeton Beekeepers Club, Princeton, NJ. Feb 22. 2013
Entomological Society of America, Austin TX. November 11, 2013.
Californian Queen Breeders Association May 5th, 2013
Californian Queen Breeders Association Oct 17, 2013
COLOSS, Athens Greece, May 28, 2013
Monsanto Conference on pollinator health. St. Louis, June 12, 2013
Joint meeting of the Uruguay and Brazilian National Beekeepers Association. Rivera, Uruguay. August 16, 2013
EU parliament agricultural committee, Brussels, Belgium. June 5 2013
California State Legislator Agricultural Committee, October 15, 2013
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Katie Lee:
Tech-Transfer Teams: Working for Beekeepers, March 22, 2014, Geneva New York Winter Symposium
Importance of the Honey Bee, March 19, 2014, Galaxie Library
Tech-Transfer Teams: Working for Beekeepers, February 8, 2014, Eastern Missouri Beekeepers Association Workshop
Bee Informed - Bee Tech Team with Shannon Wooten, Join our Team: The Bee Informed Partnership Tech Transfer Team, January 8 and 11, 2014, American Beekeeping Federation
Tech-Transfer Teams: Working for Beekeepers, October 12, 2013, North Dakota Beekeepers Association
Honey Bee Tech-Transfer Teams: Working for Beekeepers, Hive Assessments, In Apiary: Hive Assessments, Group Activity: Brainswarming, August 7-9, 2013, Eastern Apiculture Society
Honey Bee Tech-Transfer Teams: Working for Beekeepers, July 11, 2013, Minnesota Honey Producers Association
Honey Bee Tech-Transfer Teams, June 28, 2013, University of MN Successful Queen Rearing Short Course
Hive Assessments, June 15, 2013, University of Minnesota Bee Squad
Honey Bee Tech-Transfer Teams, June 12, 2013, Monsanto Honey Bee Health Summit
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
David Tarpy:
Collaborate webinar: Resources for beekeepers, new and experienced: the Bee Informed Partnership, the BEES network, and the NC State Apiculture Program ; 01/14/14 [32 individuals and 3 local county beekeeper associations]
Collaborate webinar: What beekeepers should know about viruses and their effects on colony health ; 09/05/13 [27 individuals and 4 local county beekeeper associations]
North Carolina State Beekeepers Association, Spring meeting, 03/06/14, "Anatomy of a research project"
North Carolina State Beekeepers Association, Summer meeting, 07/12/13, "Update of the NC State Apiculture Program"
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Liana Teigen:
BIP tech Transfer teams
Oct. 2013, Master Beekeeper Program, Chipley FL
Jan. 2014, American Beekeeping Federation, Baton Rouge, LA
Feb. 2014, Shafter Research Station, CA
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Karen Roccasecca:
Aug 4-9, 2013 EAS annual meeting in West Chester, PA
Aug 14-17, 2013 in State College, PA, at the International Pollinators Biology, Heath and Policy meeting
Sept 11, 2013 Monroe County Beekeepers Meeting (in Monroe County PA
Nov 6, 2013 Vector Control Group Meeting, State College, PA.
Nov 8, 2013 PA State Beekeepers Annual Fall meeting, Lewisburg, PA.
Jan 6-10, 2014 Apiary Inspectors of America meeting in San Antonio, Texas.
March 11, 2014 Bucks County Beekeepers Meeting, Doylestown, PA.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Dewey Caron:
April 2013 talks to regional bee associations in OR (and WASH State) on bee losses that include information on BIP
June 8 St Louis Missouri EMBA "Keeping Colonies Alive"
June 29 Illinois State Beekeepers Meeting, Gurney IL "Bee losses and the PIB national survey"
Sept 28, Ireland National Meeting Londenderry Ireland. "Keeping colonies alive in USA"
Nov 2. Or State Beekeepers Meeting "Working toward Treatment Free" (included data form BIP on loss levels
Jan 28, Cochabamba (Bolivia) bee school Las perdidas de las Abejas
March 7 2014 Fl Bee School St Augustine FL "Keeping Colonies Alive"- included national bee losses
March 14 Kansas Honey Producers, Hays KS "Bee Loss Epidemic"
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Marla Spivak:
Association of Minnesota Counties Extension Committee meeting. Hyatt Hotel, Minneapolis. Why Bees are Disappearing Dec 9,2013
Learning Life: College of Continuing Education, Bees at the Tipping Point Dec 7, 2013
CHS, Inc Annual Meeting. Minneapolis Convention Center. Bees: Protecting Our Pollinators Dec 5, 2013
California State Beekeeping Association, Lake Tahoe, CA: Research Update from the Univ MN. Nov 20, 2013
North Dakota Beekeeping Association, Bismarck, ND: Ongoing research at the Univ of MN . Oct 11, 2013
Sustainable Farming Association/ Local Roots Food Coop, Buffalo, MN. The Plight of Bees Aug 28, 2013
Minnesota Honey Producers Association, Detroit Lakes, MN. Research Update, Univ MN Bee Lab July 11, 2013
North Central Beekeepers Association, Brainerd, MN. Research at the Univ MN Bee Lab Apr 15, 2013
American Beekeeping Federation, Pennsylvania, Good News from the Univ of MN Jan 12, 2014
Southeast MN Beekeeping Association, Rochester, MN State of the Bees May 8, 2014
Institute of Theology, Macalester College, Pollinators in Peril May 2, 2014
Webinar for North Central Regional Center for Rural Development, Michigan State University, Responding to an S.O.S. from the Beekeeping Industry April 22, 2014
Bee Breeding Course and Workshop, Ararangua, Brazil, Prodapys, Inc. March 5-8, 2014
Marin County Beekeeping Association, Marin Co. CA. News from the Ivory Tower Feb 6, 2014
American Beekeeping Federation, Baton Rouge, LA. Minnesota: Land of 10,000 Bee Research Projects Jan 9, 2014
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Karen Rennich:
Bee Informed Partnership Results, Chesapeake Watershed Conference, Reistertown, MD, October 3, 2013
Bee Informed Partnership: Our Customers Speak, American Beekeeping Federation, Baton Rouge, LA January 2014.
|
Progress 05/15/12 to 05/14/13
Outputs
Target Audience: Our target audience can be broadly defined as the U.S. beekeeping community; however many of our field intensive work involves those larger, commercial stakeholders that are the leaders in queen breeding, honey production and pollination services. They are the early adopters that fully utilize our lab diagnostic and reporting services as well as promote the project. Our winter loss and management surveys are open and enthusiastically participated in by small backyard beekeepers. These are the surveys where we have agressively requested participation from the sideliner and commercial beekeeper so that they are adequately represented in the results. The results are open to the public and are accessed currently through our website (www.beeinformed.org). We now have Emergency Response kits that again, are open to all beekeepers as a tool to use to rule out causes of their crashing colonies. Finally, we hope to add historic databases from many states and other labs to contribute to the pest and pathogen history of honey bees and their overall health in the U.S. These data can be mined and possible epidemiological corollations may be found to generate hypothesis driven research. Although our project focuses on beekeepers in the U.S., we have and currently maintain open collaboration with several European countries who are interested in adopting our surveys and using/adding to our database. It also goes without saying that outcomes of this project also effects and can contribute to any farmer/industry that relies on honey bees for pollination services. Changes/Problems: Initially it was thought that Tier 3, a bi-monthly longitudinal remote management and mortality monitoring survey with the commercial beekeepers was required. This was the initial year for collecting and analyzing these data and was going to be used to validate Tier 2 monitoring. It was supported by the Tech Teams directly in conversations with the commercial beekeepers. Data has been entered manually into the online database and currently this has been restricted to those beekeepers working with the CA and Midwest Tech Teams. At this time, we see survey fatigue in that group and are reconsidering the collection and use of these data. It is likely that we will discontinue a full version of the survey and perhaps scale back to an abbreviated or eliminate it completely. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? All of our tech teams and several of our diagnostic laboratory staff have been asked and frequently present at local and national beekeeping meetings. In doing so, they prepare by analyzing data to succinctly report results and other findings from this project. Additionally, we have 2 PhD students and 2 Master degree students using the data from this project as their research and thesis study. Two additional Master’s students are expected to join in 2014. All project staff are encouraged to further advance their studies or professional development by attending courses and/or taking online classes. Furthermore, all team members are encouraged and invited to attend at least one of two major beekeeping conferences each year held adjacent to our annual science advisory and stakeholder meetings. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? All 2010-2011 results are fully listed on the beeinformed.org website. Currently the 2011-2012 results are being completed and will be uploaded by August 2013 and we will turn around the 2012-2013 results by early fall 2013. The format of these results are downloadable pdfs and video blogs (vlogs) where our Project Director explains, in detail, the results and how they may be interepreted. Beekeeper reports from the tech teams are personally and electronically disseminated to them within 2 weeks of the analysis and 2 annual meetings are held with each tech team group to show and discuss comparative results to the entire community. Additionally, results are discussed and presented at all the major national and international beekeeping conventions and meetings. Further outreach includes club newsletters and generation of a ‘media’ tab on our website that will allow many organizations to see the results pictorially with a written explanation that they can download, share with their groups or include in their local newsletters. Finally, all comments to our website and blogs are monitored and every question posed to us is answered by someone from our team. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? The project deliverables for Year 3 remain the same as in the grant proposal. They include implementation of the auto report generation of Tier 1 and Tier 2 Surveys, Tier 4 sampling training and kit distribution and a Pollinator automatic report infrastructure. It is also likely that we will have >100 BIP hive scales in the field collecting weight data to allow beekeepers to make timely and educated management decisions and to contribute to the BIP database where we may learn more about the linkages between nectar flows, nosema disease, varroa populations and other colony health issues.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Objective 1: Construct and maintain a comprehensive, accurate, timely and dynamic Honey Bee Health Database There are various sources of data that now comprise the Honey Bee Health Database and they include, but are not limited to: 1. BIP Tech Team in-field survey data, which includes any longitudinal or research project data. These data may contain pest, pathogen and viral data as well as pesticide and hygienic information and any corollary location, date and comments regarding the samples. 2. BIP Winter Loss and Management Survey data from years 2010-2011 to present. We plan to incorporate previous winter loss data from 2006. 3. Tier 3 management/mortality data from the Tech Teams 4. USDA/APHIS National Honey Bee Pest and Disease Survey including pest, pathogen, viral and pesticide information (2011, 2012, and 2013) 5. USDA/APHIS abbreviated surveys linked to the samples taken above 6. HoneyBeeNet.org scale hive, location, weather and phenology data 7. USDA/BRL current and historic diagnostic data Objective 2: Initiate, evaluate, and sustain surveys on colony mortality, pathogens, and parasites, as well as beekeeper management strategies, costs and outputs In the Tier 1 2012-2013 Winter loss survey, we had 7,822 respondents (6,445 valid respondents) and produced the Winter loss 2012-2013 abstract that was released 7 days after survey closed. In the Tier 2: 2012-2013 Management survey, we had 5,199 respondents (3,769 valid respondents) and state data will be released in August 2013. Emergency response kit protocols were written, kits were constructed and the pricing has been set. Information regarding this service has been posted on the BIP website (http://beeinformed.org/about/emergency-response-kits/) and the first kit request was sent to beekeeper in December 2012. Our Tier 5 (Crop Protection Agent but now renamed Tech transfer teams) supervised management monitoring continues in northern CA (UC Cooperative Extension, Butte County) and a new team was established to monitor migratory beekeepers in Midwest (U of MN). An additional team will begin by July 2013 monitoring migratory beekeepers originating in the FL/GA area. These beekeepers move to almonds (CA) and other areas along the east coast. The following statistics summarize the number of samples we generated, analyzed and reported on within the last year: Samples collected and processed: May 2012 – May 2013) Total # samples: 12,135 # Hygienic tests: 1,217 # Varroa samples: 5,256 # Nosema samples: 5,271 # Virus samples: 391 Finally, our Tier 6 or Pollination availability survey was conducted in 2013 (n=20), and a Bee Broker Survey Summary was created based on the analysis of these data. It was distributed to all bee broker participants. Objective 3: Develop interactive web-based interfaces for the Honey Bee Health Database: The Research.beeinformed.org is an online application that is the interface of sampling and survey data. The purpose of this application is to automate the business process of entering, storing, editing data, and generating interpretive reports for beekeepers and the general public. The BIP application currently has four major areas of focus: BIP Winter Loss and Management Survey reports (Data from Tier 1 & 2), BIP in-field, Tech-Transfer samples (Tiers 3 & 5), APHIS National Honey Bee survey and ARS Beltsville, Bee Disease Diagnostic Service (BRL). For the BIP in-field, Tech-Transfer samples, a unified way of tracking field samples was developed early in the project. This data model was revised in early 2013. A number of changes were implemented to better facilitate data entry and editing. This provides a single way for any sample collected for the BIP or affiliate programs (e.g., the Nation Honey Bee Survey) to be logged and categorized within the database. An import function to the database for importing large spreadsheets of data into the sampling model is under development, yet already functional. This importing function brings data from spreadsheets (where the data entry and housing currently exists) into a normalized database for report generation and data editing. For the APHIS National Honey Bee survey, data from this project has been incorporated into the unified data model in the same format as the BIP Tech Transfer data (revised in early 2013). An import function to this project was completed in spring 2013 (for 2011-2013 data). Before this point, not all data existing in spreadsheets currently used for this project were being moved to the application. Reports sent to participating beekeepers are now generated through the application. This first occurred late in 2012. A number of revisions to the report have occurred in the past year including percentile calculations to anonymously compare pest levels among beekeepers. For the ARS Beltsville, Bee Disease Diagnosis Service (BRL), historical Honey Bee Disease diagnostic hard copy data from the USDA Beltsville Bee Lab was incorporated into the database (10,000 records) during the first year of the project. A graphical user interface to edit and enter data is under partial development and will have the same graphical user interface used to edit BIP Tech Transfer sampling data and the APHIS US Honey Bee Survey data. The hive scale project database (Honeybeenet) site provides a central location for the collection and sharing of nectar flow records by volunteers and provides comparisons with satellite data. Through the use of the hive scale data, we hope to better understand how climate and land use/land cover changes affect the nectar flows and what impact this has on honey bee health. Several scales were purchased from Swienty (a Danish scale hive company, www.swienty.com) and were tested both at the University of Maryland (UMD) and by the California Tech Team for use as a possible platform for this work. Discussions with a group at Grand Valley State University in Michigan (http://beecloudproject.appspot.com) are ongoing to collaborate on the database and website user interface to move this work forward. Objective 4: Promote model best management practices that are evidence-based Management survey results have been analyzed mono-factorial and released on beeinformed.org for 2011-2012 survey and will be released in June for the 2012-2013 Management survey. Work is in place to begin the multi-factorial analysis now that three full years of the Winter Loss and Management survey have been completed. A UMD PhD student (Nathalie Steinhauer) will lead that effort and those results will be released in early 2014. A best management practices document will be prepared in early 2014. Statistically significant results have been highlighted in monthly ads and some state newsletter releases and a summary of the top management factors correlating with decreased wintering mortality was released in late 2012. Objective 5: Implement a pollinator quality/availability reporting system As previously mentioned, baseline data collected through Tier 6 survey with 3 years of data for comparison and the 2013 report was sent to all participating brokers. A multi-year, detailed report is currently being written with publication anticipated in early 2014. Objective 6: Evaluate project impact and initiate an emerging issues alert system The initiation of the Emergency Response Kit is ahead of schedule and has begun this year. The sampling protocol, pricing and other information has been posted on the website and the kits are fabricated. Kits were shipped, by request of several beekeepers, beginning in December 2012. The evaluation of project impact is scheduled for implementation in year 3 of project. Significant interest has been shown by backyard beekeepers who are willing to pay the same price for nosema/varroa load analysis for a much smaller sample. We will evaluate this possibility in Year 3.
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2012
Citation:
" Panel Member: Round Robin Questions. Maryland State Beekeepers Association Winter meeting. West Friendship, MD. February 18, 2012. (estimated audience: 150)
" Invited Speaker: The Joy of Bees. University of Maryland Arboretum noon day talks. March 8, 2012. (estimated audience: 15)
" Invited Speaker: Bio-control of Varroa Mites. Al Kwaitat Research Station. Abu Dhabi, U. A. E. March 12, 2012. (estimated audience: 200)
" Colloquial Speaker: Use of Epidemiological Methods to Reduce Honey Bee Losses. Department of Entomology, University of Maryland. March 16, 2012. (estimated audience: 50)
" Invited Speaker: The Bee Informed Partnership: What Works and What Doesnt. Delaware State Beekeepers Association. Dover, DE. March 17, 2012. (estimated audience: 70)
" Invited Speaker: The Joy Of Bees. Thomas Stone High School. USA Science and Engineering Festival Nifty Fifty Program. March 25, 2012. (estimated audience: 100)
" Invited Speaker: Bee Informed Partnership: How to keep colonies alive. Brushy Mountain Bee farm Bee Educated series. Webinar. March 27, 2012. (estimated audience: 300)
" Invited Speaker: Bee Informed Partnership: How to keep colonies alive. San Diego Area beekeepers Association. Webinar. April 8th, 2012. (estimated audience: 72)
" Invited Speaker: Toward sustainability: How to make tech transfer teams self-sustaining. May 2, 2012. Chico CA. (estimated Audience: 25)
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2012
Citation:
" Invited Speaker: The Bee Informed Partnership. EuroBee. Halle, Germany. August 31, 2012 (Estimated Audience 300)
" Invited Speaker: The Bee Informed Partnership. Euro Bee. Halle, Germany. August 31, 2012 (Estimated Audience 300)
" Invited Speaker: The Bee Informed Partnership. Seysenic. Annapolis, MD Sept 25, 2012 (Estimated Audience 15) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=879Q_dPnxKI
" Colloquial Speaker: Use of Epidemiological Methods to Reduce Honey Bee Losses. BEES, University of Maryland. Oct 1, 2012. (estimated audience: 25)
" Invited Speaker: Bee Informed Partnership: How to keep colonies alive. Howard County Beekeepers Association. West Friendship October 9, 2012. (estimated audience: 100)
" Invited Speaker: Bee Informed Partnership: How to keep colonies alive. New Jersey State Beekeepers Association. October 13, 2012. (estimated audience: 150)
" Invited Speaker: Bee Informed Partnership: How to keep colonies alive. Colorado State Beekeepers Association. November 3, 2012. (estimated audience: 150)
" Invited Speaker: Bee Informed Partnership: How to keep colonies alive. California State Beekeepers Association. November 12, 2012. (estimated audience: 150)
" Invited Speaker: Bee Informed Partnership: How to keep colonies alive. Apimondia. Quebec, Canada November 15, 2012. (estimated audience: 150)
" Invited Speaker: Causes of Mortality. Apimondia. Quebec, Canada November 16, 2012. (estimated audience: 150)
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2012
Citation:
Dennis vanEngelsdorp:
" Key Note Address: The Bee Informed Partnership: What works and What doesnt. American Honey Producers Association Annual meeting. Phoenix, AZ January 7 2012 (estimated audience: 250)
" Invited Speaker: The Bee Informed Partnership: Why you should participate. Alabama State beekeepers (Webinar). January 12, 2012. Skype talk. (estimated audience: 50)
" Invited Speaker: The Bee Informed Partnership: What works and what Doesnt. American Beekeeping Federation Annual Meeting. Las Vegas. January 13, 2012. (estimated audience: 350)
" Invited Speaker: The California Tech Transfer team progress report. The California Queen Producers. Chico, CA. January 18, 2012. (estimated audience: 30)
" Invited Speaker: The Bee Informed Partnership: What works and what Doesnt. Swedish Beekeepers Association Annual Meeting. Webinar. February 12, 2012. (estimated audience: 100)
" Keynote address: The Bee informed Partnership: What Works and What doesnt. Maryland State Beekeepers Association Winter meeting. West Friendship, MD. February 18, 2012. (estimated audience: 150)
" Keynote Address: Hobbyists are our future. Maryland State Beekeepers Association Winter meeting. West Friendship, MD. February 18, 2012. (estimated audience: 150)
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2012
Citation:
James Wilkes
" Sweet Connections: Honey Bees and Computer Science, January 25, 2012, Biology Spring Seminar Series, Appalachian State University Department of Biology
Michael Wilson
" Invited Speaker: Appropriate Technology and its Design: Extension in honey bees integrates NIFA and ARS projects with beekeepers participation: 2012 National eXtension Conference. Oklahoma City, OK. October 3rd, 2012
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2012
Citation:
vanEngelsdorp, D., D. R. Tarpy, K. Baylis, M. Spivak, D. M. Caron, J.
Connell, K. S. Delaplane, S. Donohue, W. Esaias, B. Gross, J. Hayes,
Jr., E. J. Lengerich, J. Pettis, K. Rennich, R. Underwood, R. Rose, J.
Skinner, and J. Wilkes. 2012. The Bee Informed Partnership: Using
Beekeeper's Real-World Experience to Solve Beekeepers' Real-World
Problems. American Entomologist 58: 116-118.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
vanEngelsdorp, D., E. Lengerich, A. Spleen, B. Dainat, J. Cresswell,
K. Baylis, B. K. Nguyen, V. Soroker, R. Underwood, H. Human, Y. Le
Conte, and C. Saegerman. 2013. Standard epidemiological methods to
understand and improve Apis mellifera health. Journal of Apicultural
Research 52.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Spleen, A. M., E. J. Lengerich, K. Rennich, D. Caron, R. Rose, J. S.
Pettis, M. Henson, J. T. Wilkes, M. Wilson, J. Stitzinger, K. Lee, M.
Andree, R. Snyder, D. vanEngelsdorp, and P. Bee Informed. 2013. A
national survey of managed honey bee 2011-12 winter colony losses in
the United States: results from the Bee Informed Partnership. Journal
of Apicultural Research 52.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2012
Citation:
Dewey Caron
" The Bee Informed Partnership Survey:
? So OR Beekeepers Association
? Tualatin Valley Beekeepers Association
? Willamette Valley Beekeepers Association
? Portland Urban Beekeepers
? Lewis Co WA beekeepers
? NW corner annual meeting Nov 2012 Seaside OR
? Bluegrass Bee school, Frankfort, KY (March)
? COMB (Center of Mich Beekeepers March
? SE MI Beekeepers March 2012
? Ohio Maser Beekeepers and Medina Co OH Assoc OH March
? VA State beekeepers Ann Mtg March
? Fluvana CO Beekeeprs VA April
? Baldwin Co AL Beekeepers April
? IL Beekeepers summer meeting June
? Bavaria GER beekeepers June 2012
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2012
Citation:
Katie Lee
" Ontario Beekeeper's Association; Guelph, Canada; November 29 and 30, 2012
" Iowa Honey Producers Association; Marshalltown, IA; November 16 and 17, 2012
" North Dakota Beekeeper's Association; Bismark, ND; November 23, 2012
" Minnesota Honey Producers Association; Duluth, MN; July 13, 2012
" Successful Queen Rearing Short Course; Saint Paul, MN; July 7, 2012
" Hobby Beekeeper day at Olivarez Honey Bees; Orland, CA; April 14, 2012
" Marin County Beekeepers Association; San Anselmo, CA; April 6 and 7, 2012
" Butte County Almond and Walnut Day; Chico, CA; February 1, 2012
" American Beekeeping Federation; Vegas, NV; January 11, 2012
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2012
Citation:
Karen Rennich
" Northern CA Queen Breeders Meeting, October 2012, BIP Status and the National Honey Bee Survey Results
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2012
Citation:
Marla Spivak
" Institute on the Environment, Univ MN. Frontier Series. Getting Bees Back on their Own Six Feet Dec 5.
" Apimondia Bee Breeding Conference, Quebec City, Canada. Breeding the MN Hygienic Line: 1994-2008, and Translating Bee Breeding Research into Beekeeping Practice: 2008 and beyond Nov 15-17.
" Entomological Society of America, Knoxville, TN. P-IE Section Symposium: A Global Perspective of Bee Decline: Situation, Strategies and Successes: Breeding Programs to Improve Honey Bee Health Nov 13.
" National Honey Show, St. Georges College, Weybridge, Surrey UK. Keynote speaker The University of MN Bee Breeding Program Oct 24-27
" USDA National Meeting on the Status of Honey Bee CCD, Washington DC. Biology, Breeding and Genetics Oct 15
" Healthy Foods Healthy Lives Institute Symposium, Univ MN Bee Health: Why Should We Care? Oct 1.
" Applied Plant Sciences Seminar Series, Univ MN. Pollinators in Peril May 2.
" United States Agricultural Information Network (USAIN) annual conference, Minneapolis, Minnesota. Why Care About Bees May 1.
" Humboldt State University, Arcata CA. Distinguished Alum Talk for Department of Biology: Socialized Medicine in Honey Bee Colonies April 20.
" University of Illinois Dept of Entomology, Socialized Medicine in Honey Bee Colonies Apr 4.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2012
Citation:
" Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, Univ MN: Socialized Medicine in Honey Bee Colonies Feb 15.
" Idaho Honey Producers Association, Boise, ID, Bee Friendly Landscapes and Other Good News from the University of Minnesota and New trends in beekeeping: Local queens, natural comb and hive designs Nov 29-30.
" MN Hobby Beekeeping Association, St Paul, MN. Whats Up at the Bee Lab? Oct 9.
" St Croix Chapter, Univ MN Alumni Lecture Series, Whats Going On With the Bees? Sept 25
" Mendota Heights Chapter, Univ MN Alumni Lecture Series, Whats Going On With the Bees? Sept 19
" Eastern Apicultural Society, Burlington, VT. Bee Health and Breeding Aug 16.
" Chautauqua at Cross Lake, MN, Whats Going On With the Bees? Aug 8
" Ramsey Co. Master Gardeners, Maplewood, MN. Whats Going On With the Bees? July 17
" MN Honey Producers Association, Duluth, MN. Forage, Health, Pollination by Honey Bees of Upper Midwest July 13.
" Whole Foods Stores, Pollinator Month, Edina and Minnetonka, Whats Going On With the Bees? June 22-23.
" Chippewa County NRCS, SWC District, Chippewa River Watershed, Land & Resource Management, and Farm Service Agency, Women in Conservation: Whats Going On With the Bees? June 21
" Fruits of the City, The MN Project. Bachmans Nursery, MN. Whats Going On With the Bees? June 12
" Minneapolis Branch of the American Association of University Women, Minneapolis, MN. Whats Going On With the Bees? May 2
" Minnesota Retirees' Association (UMRA), Univ MN Campus Club, Whats Going On With the Bees? Jan 24.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2012
Citation:
" SW Chapter of the Univ of MN Alumni Association, Naples, FL. Whats Going On With the Bees? Jan 21.
" White Bear Lake Rotary Club, Whats Going On With the Bees? Jan 18.
" American Beekeeping Federation, Las Vegas, NV. Keeping Bees on their Own Six Feet Jan 12.
" American Honey Producers Association, Phoenix, AZ. Bee Health: the Long View Jan 7
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2012
Citation:
Jennie Stitzinger:
" Invited Speaker: BIP and using a Tower Hive for Varroa control, DC Urban Beekeepers Club, April 2012
" Invited Speaker: BIP and using a Tower Hive for Varroa control, MSBA, June 2012
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