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The NBU is working with beekeepers across England and Wales to gather a variety of information about the issues affecting apiary health in the UK. To achieve this we are currently involved in three different surveys, each of which is seeking to address different aspects of bee husbandry, bee health and beekeeper training. Together the results of these surveys will provide a much clearer picture not only of the incidence and absence of a variety of honey bee pests and diseases, but also an insight into beekeeping practices and how these may impinge on the health of our bee stocks.
For further information about the NBU survey to assess the health status of apiaries in England and Wales (The Random Apiary Survey) click here.
For further information about the NBU husbandry surveys, please see below.
The NBU will be carrying out further surveys along these lines each year.
• Overall, winter losses from 2011-2012 were calculated as 16.1% using internationally recognised calculations from the COLOSS network (http://www.coloss.org/).
• We have obtained useful information about beekeeping practices from 1226 beekeepers beekeeping in over 80 counties across England and Wales.
• The average length of time for which respondents have kept bees was 14 years, with 25% of beekeepers keeping bees for 2 years or less.
• Most beekeepers (71%) produced 0-40lbs of honey per colony, whereas 7% of beekeepers produced over 80lbs per colony.
• A minority of beekeepers (7%) move their bees during the year for the purposes of, for example, honey production.
• Overall, 83% of beekeepers did not treat their colonies for Nosema.
• Overall, winter losses from 2010-2011 were calculated as 19% using internationally recognised calculations from the COLOSS network.
• We have obtained useful information about beekeeping practices from 1915 beekeepers beekeeping in 55 counties.
• The average length of time for which respondents have kept bees was 11 years, with 29% of beekeepers keeping bees for less than 2 years.
• Most beekeepers (75%) produced 0-40lbs of honey per colony, whereas 9% of beekeepers produced over 80lbs per colony.
• A minority of beekeepers (11.6%) move their bees during the year for the purposes of, for example, apple pollination.
• Eighty percent of respondents monitor for Varroa and ninety four percent of respondents treat for Varroa.
• Overall, winter losses from 2009-2010 were calculated as 21% using internationally recognised calculations from the COLOSS network.
For Further information about the NBU Bee Husbandry 2008/2009 survey click here.
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