In an effort to condense and streamline information relating to the response to the varroa mite detection in NSW, the QBA will now be producing a weekly update to all members and our affiliate clubs. 

The updates will predominantly be from a Queensland perspective, highlighting our ongoing work to protect Queensland from varroa, and a focus on extension and preparedness measures we continue to work on should we see a detection in Queensland. 

Please click on the attachment below to read the latest weekly update.

QBA VD Update to Members 09092022.pdf

Kind regards,

Jo Martin 

QBA State Secretary

Please find below an essential update from Biosecurity Queensland relating to the work currently underway to keep Queensland free from Varroa mite. 

Biosecurity Queensland - Update 07092022.pdf

We actively encourage all QBA members and members of affiliate clubs to undertake mite surveillance checks now and report their findings (including negative results) to Biosecurity Queensland through the Bee 123 app. Beekeepers can access the app by clicking on the following link. Bee 123

Beekeepers are also encouraged to visit and become familiar with the DAF Engagement Hub. This information portal provides regular updates to beekeepers as we migrate our way through the dynamic situation we find ourselves in. To visit the hub please click on the following link https://daf.engagementhub.com.au/varroa-mite

On a final note, please ensure you reach out for support, assistance or direction if you have been directly or indirectly impacted as a result of the detection of varroa. We are here to help. 

All the best,

Jo Martin 

QBA State Secretary

New permit arrangements are in place in Victoria for the movement of hives, queens, used beekeeping equipment and a range of other bee related products into Victoria from varroa free states and territories. 

Please note, the new permit arrangements do not cover the movement of hives, queens or other related products at this point in time. We encourage members to read the update from Agriculture Victoria below. 

Update from Agriculture Victoria - Published 28th August 2022.

Beekeeper permits

Update: From 23 August, a permit is required for anyone bringing bees, hives, queen bees, used beekeeping equipment, pollen for bee feeding, and bee products, including honeycomb, into any part of Victoria from any state or territory.

Used equipment (including extracted frames/empty supers) and full honey supers can enter Victoria/Sunraysia from NSW provided they are items owned by Victorian beekeepers and have spent no time since 1 January 2022 in the New South Wales Eradication (red) or Surveillance (purple) Zones. Visit NSW Varroa mite emergency response for more information.

Used equipment (including extracted frames/empty supers) and full honey supers from other states are permitted provided they have spent no time since 1 January 2022 in the New South Wales Eradication (red) or Surveillance (purple) Zones.

Honeycomb, unprocessed beeswax and pollen for feeding bees can enter Victoria/Sunraysia from any state (including NSW), provided they have spent no time since 1 January 2022 in the New South Wales Eradication (red) or Surveillance (purple) Zone.

Application for hives and queen bees from all states except NSW will be assessed.

Permits will not be granted for bees, hives, queens, escorts and queen cells from New South Wales.

For more information relating to the movement restrictions and permit conditions, please click the link below. 

• https://agriculture.vic.gov.au/biosecurity/pest-insects-and-mites/priority-pest-insects-and-mites/varroa-mite-of-honey-bees/beekeeper-permits

Kind regards,

Jo Martin 

QBA State Secretary

Teams from Agriculture Victoria have been undertaking varroa mite surveillance throughout many of the Almond orchards located in the Sunraysia region of Victoria. During routine surveillance teams made a detection of Braula fly.

Although Braula fly is endemic within Tasmania, the fly is still considered to be exotic on mainland Australia. The QBA were advised late last week that the infected hives are being euthanised and further information will be provided to industry in due course. 

On Saturday 27th August 2022, Agriculture Victoria published the following media release in relation to the detection of Braula fly. 

Please click here to read a copy of the media release. 

Kind regards,

Jo Martin 

QBA State Secretary

Please find additional correspondence from AHBIC CEO Danny Le Feuvre in relation to the AHBIC Varroa mite industry briefing. 

AHBIC is organising an open information session for the Varroa response in NSW on Wednesday the 31^st August at 6pm.  The session will include presenters from the response that are topic experts.  The link can be shared as widely as possible as the session is open to everyone.

The session is free but registration is required.  Questions will not be allowed form the floor but the chat function maybe facilitated if possible.  We will be recording the session and hosting it on the AHBIC website for those that can’t attend.

To register to participate in the event, please click on the link below. 

• https://www.eventbrite.com/e/varroa-mite-emergency-response-honeybee-industry-briefing-tickets-407816138047
  

Kind regards,

Jo Martin 

QBA State Secretary

Dear Members, 

Please find attached below the latest update from AHBIC relating to the Varroa mite response and detection of Braula fly in Victoria. 

• AHBIC Varroa incursion update 10.pdf

Kind regards, 

Jo Martin. 

The detection of varroa destructor in New South Wales has presented many dynamic challenges for our industry members in recent weeks. 

The basis of our email today is to assist the QBA in identifying those beekeepers who currently have Queensland based hives, stranded in NSW and work on solutions to provide support to beekeepers in this concerning situation. 

We've already received a number of calls from QBA members with hives stranded outside of Queensland, however we're now calling on others to come forward and make their own situation known to the QBA. 

Although we've been advocating for measures to support beekeepers with stranded hives for some time, we're keen to build a more accurate profile of the true situation in order to better understand exactly where support is needed. 

At the present time we are keen to hear from any QBA member who has Queensland based/registered hives stranded outside of the state. To be clear, this does not include beekeepers from Queensland who are currently providing pollination services in Victoria. 

If you happen to have hives stranded outside of the state, we ask that you make contact with me (Jo Martin) as a matter of priority. I can be contacted via phone on 0498 000 496 or via email statesecretary@qbabees.org.au 

It is our intention to collect data on the current location of hives, the total number of hives and the immediate needs for the colonies. We plan to use the data collected to:

1. Understand the number of hives and beekeepers currently impacted.
2. Understand where the hives are located in relation to current biosecurity zones. 
3. Understand the immediate support needed to sustain beekeeping operations.
4. Work one on one with the beekeepers impacted to provide tailored/individual support.

All information provided will be treated as strictly confidentiality and with the greatest respect to privacy of personal information. 

As a final note, if you happen to know of a beekeeper with hives stranded outside of the state, who isn't a member of the QBA,  please point them in our direction for support. 

Kind regards,

Jo Martin 

Please find the latest update from the NSW DPI in relation to the varroa mite incursion and subsequent response operation. The update was published a short time ago (16/08/2022) and contains important updates to the response and eradication operation, as well as additional changes to the NSW DPI Biosecurity (Varroa Mite) Emergency Order. 

NSW DPI Website Update - 16/08/2022

Transition of yellow zone into blue General emergency zone

55 days in to the Varroa mite emergency response, the yellow zone (which contains over 3,700 registered beekeepers), is now transitioned into the blue general emergency zone.

This means that those that were in a yellow notification emergency zone now fall under blue general biosecurity zone rules.

Our intensive surveillance for the length of the response provides DPI confidence and a clear understanding of the limit of the spread of Varroa mite. More information on the zone transition can be found in the latest media release https://fal.cn/3r3Vk

This achievement is thanks hundreds of people in the honeybee industry and from our agency partners across NSW and in other jurisdictions. We've worked together to report, test and trace the Varroa mite incursion to where it is.

We continue to work towards eradicating Varroa mite in NSW.

What can I do in each zone?

A new emergency order has been issued (https://fal.cn/3r3Vl), which specifies what beekeepers are permitted to do with their hives in each zone. A revised set of frequently asked questions will be made available tomorrow (Wednesday 17 August) at https://fal.cn/3r3Vm.

Current situation

The number of infected premises remains at 97, with no new IPs detected for a number of days. Work continues on eradication of IPs in the Hunter area, and Varroa mite surveillance in the Narrabri and Nana Glen areas.

NSW DPI Biosecurity (Varroa Mite) Emergency Order No.22

To read the latest changes to the NSW DPI Varroa Mite Emergency Order, please click the attachment below. 

• Biosecurity Varroa Mite Emergency Order No. 22.pdf

Kind regards,

Jo Martin 

QBA State Secretary

Please find the latest update from the NSW DPI in relation to the varroa mite incursion and subsequent response operation. The update was published a short time ago (16/08/2022) and contains important updates to the response and eradication operation, as well as additional changes to the NSW DPI Biosecurity (Varroa Mite) Emergency Order.

NSW DPI Website Update - 16/08/2022

Transition of yellow zone into blue General emergency zone

55 days in to the Varroa mite emergency response, the yellow zone (which contains over 3,700 registered beekeepers), is now transitioned into the blue general emergency zone.

This means that those that were in a yellow notification emergency zone now fall under blue general biosecurity zone rules.

Our intensive surveillance for the length of the response provides DPI confidence and a clear understanding of the limit of the spread of Varroa mite. More information on the zone transition can be found in the latest media release https://fal.cn/3r3Vk

This achievement is thanks hundreds of people in the honeybee industry and from our agency partners across NSW and in other jurisdictions. We've worked together to report, test and trace the Varroa mite incursion to where it is.

We continue to work towards eradicating Varroa mite in NSW.

What can I do in each zone?

A new emergency order has been issued (https://fal.cn/3r3Vl), which specifies what beekeepers are permitted to do with their hives in each zone. A revised set of frequently asked questions will be made available tomorrow (Wednesday 17 August) at https://fal.cn/3r3Vm.

Current situation

The number of infected premises remains at 97, with no new IPs detected for a number of days. Work continues on eradication of IPs in the Hunter area, and Varroa mite surveillance in the Narrabri and Nana Glen areas.

NSW DPI Biosecurity (Varroa Mite) Emergency Order No.22

To read the latest changes to the NSW DPI Varroa Mite Emergency Order, please click the attachment below. 

• Biosecurity Varroa Mite Emergency Order No. 22.pdf

Kind regards,

Jo Martin 

QBA State Secretary

Please find attached below the latest QBA Members update covering information relating to the National Varroa Update, Queensland Varroa Update and QBA Business Update. The communication has been prepared by QBA President Jacob Stevens. 

• QBA Members Varroa Update 15082022.pdf

Kind regards,

Jo Martin 

QBA State Secretary