As a result of the launch of the Bee 123 varroa mite surveillance reporting software, we are putting another call out to all QBA members and members of affiliate clubs to commence varroa mite surveillance activities immediately, and report the activities you've completed (regardless of the result) to the Bee 123 app or online via the following link:

• https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/e7fb92e833744be7b2b32d25981779bf?portalUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fqportal.information.qld.gov.au%2Farcgis
  

The Bee 123 program is a critical mechanism that will assist in our preparedness efforts for varroa mite. 

We also ask if you have completed mite surveillance activities since the detection of varroa destructor in the Port of Newcastle, the results of your activities should be reported to the Bee 123 portal. 

Reporting your findings takes just a few moments. I have attached the Bee 123 announcement and fact sheet (sent to members last week) to support our members to fulfil this request from the QBA. The fact sheet supports you in a step by step process to set up the app with ease.

• Queensland Beekeepers Association - Bee 123 Announcement.pdf

The QBA executive team have also produced a limited number of alcohol wash kits for QBA members. The alcohol wash kits were distributed to the 5 QBA branches last week. We strongly recommend QBA members make contact with their branch executive to arrange collection of a kit. 

The varroa mite detection in Newcastle and subsequent response effort is the 'when' industry has been inevitably waiting and preparing for. Conducting varroa mite surveillance today is the activity you can complete now, to play your role in the national fight to contain and eradicate varroa. 

Please support the significant effort from the QBA, our team on the ground in the biosecurity zones and the efforts of DAF and Biosecurity Queensland to protect and support the future of beekeeping in Queensland.

You are a critical member of the team, its now time to take the field. 

Kind regards,

Jo Martin 

QBA State Secretary

Please find below, the updated NSW DPI Biosecurity (Varroa Mite) Emergency Order No.14 issued by the Deputy Plant Protection Officer of NSW. 

• Biosecurity Varroa Mite Emergency Order No.14.pdf
  

I have taken the following update (posted yesterday evening 17/07/2022) from the NSW DPI website. 

A new Biosecurity Order has been made available, including one new infested premises detected. The infested premises is located east of Singleton, within the existing Hunter area emergency zones.

The order includes the following changes:

• the Varroa Mite Response map has been updated online at www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/varroa
• the definition of rendered wax has been updated to exclude straining. Commercially, the process may not include straining.  As varroa mites will not survive in temperatures above 50 degrees Celsius and wax melts between 62.5 and 65 degrees Celsius, the rendering process kills varroa mites. Consequently, there is no biosecurity risk posed by rendered beeswax.

Industry and DPI working together

DPI continues to work closely with industry representatives in response the Varroa mite emergency in the Hunter area.

DPI and industry representatives want to assure both commercial and recreational beekeepers that their concerns are being heard and addressed as surveillance continues as a priority across the Hunter.  DPI and NSW bee industry representatives continue to work together during this emergency response.

Preparing for NSW registered commercial beekeepers to move hives

As included in this newsletter yesterday, later this week registered commercial beekeepers will be able to apply to move hives enabling business continuity for the honeybee industry and support for crops that require pollination services.

The registered commercial beekeepers must be located within NSW outside of the eradication, surveillance or notification zones (red, purple and yellow zones).

Beekeepers can start to prepare by:

• Alcohol washing a proportion of their hives and recording the results to prove they are free from Varroa mite.
• Checking their records are up to date and that none of their hives have been in an eradication, notification or surveillance zone within the past 24 months.

The number of hives that need to be sampled with an alcohol wash will depend on how many hives are to be moved

• Less than 640 hives requires 64 hives to be sampled
• 640 hives or more require 10% of the hives being moving to be sampled.

More information on the permit, including answers to frequently asked questions will be provided through the week.

As a final note, I have placed the updated NSW DPI Varroa Mite map at the bottom of this email. Should you wish to access the interactive version of the online map, please click here. 

Kind regards,

Jo Martin 

QBA State Secretary

In the last hour, an announcement was made via a media release from Agriculture Victoria in relation to the imminent Almond pollination event. Please see the media release below. 

• https://agriculture.vic.gov.au/about/media-centre/media-releases/almond-pollination-season-to-proceed
  

Queensland based beekeepers are urged to explore the movement requirements and relevant permit requirements to ensure they are in a position to comply with the entry provisions. To learn more about the permit to enter Victoria, please click on the link below. 

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

QBA continues to have an active presence at all industry meetings relating to the movement of hives for almond pollination activities. Where possible, we will continue to provide information in a timely manner to our members. 

Kind regards,

Jo Martin 

QBA State Secretary

Earlier today (14th July 2022) a new and updated Queensland Movement Control Order came into effect to reflect a number of important changes.

The new order, means you still cannot move bees, beehives, used beekeeping equipment or bee products (including honey) into Queensland, but you will be able to move some products and equipment consistent with the movement control order, including:

• processed honey or processed beeswax
• a new and unused apiary appliance
• a quarantine secured diagnostic honey sample for testing at a recognised diagnostic facility.

Where processed honey and beeswax is being transported, the container must be clean on the outside to avoid attracting bees.

To download a copy of the new Movement Control Order (MCO) please click on the attachment below. 

• movement-control-order-varroa-mite-varroa-destructor-and-carriers-14-july-2022.pdf

We are asking all members to direct questions in relation to the MCO to the DAF Engagement Hub. You can visit the hub by clicking the link below and submit a question online. 

• https://daf.engagementhub.com.au/varroa-mite
  

Kind regards,

Jo Martin 

QBA State Secretary

Please find attached below the latest NSW DPI Biosecurity (Varroa Mite) Emergency Order No.13 issued by the Deputy Chief Plant Protection Officer of NSW. 

• Biosecurity Varroa Mite Emergency Order No.13.pdf
  

To view the latest varroa mite response map issued by NSW DPI Biosecurity, please click on the link below. 

• NSW DPI Biosecurity Live Varroa Mite Response Map
  

I have chosen to combine today's media update from NSW DPI Biosecurity within this email. Please see the update to the NSW DPI Biosecurity website below. 

There has been one new detection of Varroa mite in honeybee hives at a property at Wards River, north-west of Bulahdelah.

This brings the total number of infested premises to 39.

Tracing is underway to confirm if this new detection is linked to a case in an existing emergency zone.

A state-wide ban on the movement of honeybees and hives remains in place, and beekeepers within current eradication zones are not permitted to work their hives other than to conduct surveillance for Varroa mite.

DPI are working hard in partnership with the apiary and horticulture industries to develop a permit process to manage the movement of hives outside of the current emergency zones.

Kind regards,

Jo Martin 

QBA State Secretary

Tonight the live webinar on Varroa mite – preparedness, surveillance, and reporting will take place at 7.00pm

Biosecurity Queensland and the Queensland Beekeepers Association are hosting a live webinar on varroa mite, including how to check your bee hives and report your results via the Bee 123 form on the Survey 123 app.

To access the live webinar, please use the following link.

https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_OTgwODhjZmYtZDI5Mi00YmNlLWE0ZDEtOTFjODQ2ZTI0NzVj%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%22d16de530-94e7-4158-b7e2-6ee220af628d%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%22a3a227a6-4772-42fd-9877-c7356e5b0adc%22%2c%22IsBroadcastMeeting%22%3atrue%7d&btype=a&role=a

Anyone wishing to participate in this live event will need to download Microsoft teams in order to view and participate in the event.

To read the announcement on the Bee 123 app that was communicated to industry yesterday, please download the attachment below. We also recommend our members and colleagues download the Survey 123 app prior to the event to have the ultimate user experience. 

• Queensland Beekeepers Association - Bee 123 Announcement.pdf

We're hoping to see a large audience tonight during the live webinar. There will also be an opportunity to for participants to engage in a live Question and Answer session that will take place at the end of the presentations. 

Please continue to support the work underway to detect, contain and eradicate varroa mite in NSW. We're calling on every beekeeper across the state to join in the webinar and learn more about varroa, the detection methods, and how to report all surveillance activities.

We thank everyone for your ongoing support and assistance in communicating this message to the broader beekeeping community. 

Kind regards,

Jo Martin 

QBA State Secretary

Due to the serious nature of the detection of Varroa mite in NSW and the continuing efforts being undertaken to contain and eradicate the mite, the QBA have been providing consultation to Biosecurity Queensland to develop a state wide hive surveillance program to increase Queensland based surveillance activities. 

Today, we're pleased to announce the roll out of the Queensland Hive Surveillance program that will be facilitated through the Bee 123 portal. 

Please find the media release from Minister Furner relating to the launch of Bee 123 in the link below. 

• https://statements.qld.gov.au/statements/95737
  

To compliment the launch of the new Bee 123 software, Biosecurity Queensland and the Queensland Beekeepers Association are hosting a live webinar on varroa mite, including how to check your bee hives and report your results via the Bee 123 form on the Survey 123 app.

The live webinar will take place tomorrow (14th July 2022) at 7.00pm.

We will send the link to the live webinar in a separate email tomorrow. Please use the link provided in the email tomorrow to access this important information session for all beekeepers. 

Anyone wishing to participate in the webinar will need to download the Microsoft teams app prior to the webinar. Simply search the Apple App Store, Google Play Store or your internet Browser to download the Microsoft teams app. 

I have also prepared a fact sheet on the Bee 123 program. Please feel free to download and print the fact sheet in preparation for the live webinar tomorrow. 

• Queensland Beekeepers Association - Bee 123 Announcement.pdf
  

We're calling on every beekeeper across Queensland to support and actively contribute the Queensland Hive Surveillance Program to assist in the national effort to detect, contain and eradicate the mite.

Please ensure you take the time to join us tomorrow evening. Much effort has been put in behind the scenes to coordinate the program and tomorrow nights webinar for industry on top of the efforts to support the national response to the varroa mite incursion. 

Bee a part of #teambee

Kind regards,

Jo Martin 

QBA State Secretary

Please find the following update from NSW DPI Biosecurity which was published to their Facebook page today (12/07/2022) at 6.00pm.

 There have been no new detections of Varroa mite as field officers continue to carry out hive inspections and surveillance with beekeepers in the affected areas.

 A reminder to all beekeepers during this difficult time that there are free and confidential support services available, and we encourage beekeepers to access small business, and mental health and wellbeing support early. You can read more in the latest assistance guide for beekeepers: https://fal.cn/3q9OA

 Report managed hives, wild hives or abandoned hives here: https://fal.cn/3q9Oy

 For the latest information visit https://fal.cn/3q9Oz

The NSW DPI Biosecurity (Varroa Mite) Emergency Order No.12 remains the most recent order for NSW. 

We remind all members that there strict conditions allowing commercial beekeepers to work their hives if they are outside of the red zone. It is important that we reiterate  the standstill (restriction on the movement of hives) remains in place. 

For more information on activities permitted under the current emergency order, please visit the link below. 

• https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/emergencies/biosecurity/current-situation/varroa-mite-emergency-response

Kind regards,

Jo Martin 

QBA State Secretary

Please find the update from AHBIC below which was posted to social media at 3pm today (10/07/2022). 

AHBIC is working hard for the benefit of our Honey Bee industry and partners in Australia.

In order to do this we take into account the diverse needs and desires of beekeepers throughout Australia encompassing various business models, regions and available floral resources.

The approach AHBIC is taking in providing advice to the incident management team is a risk based approach, to achieve business continuity for beekeepers without taking unconsidered risks.

DPI is working on a movement permit system to allow movement of bees from certain areas of NSW, under certain conditions, without compromising the effort to eradicate Varroa.

AHBIC is providing input to DPI to ensure a balanced risk based approach to hive movement. Spring is a critical time for beekeepers who need to move hives for business continuity, without spreading Varroa.

The first stage of this approach is to allow beekeepers to manage beehives without moving. This was achieved yesterday when the no-tamper order was lifted for the areas outside the eradication zone. The second stage will be to implement controlled and traceable movement permits. This permit system is being carefully considered with input from many experts including AHBIC. The permits will contain conditions to minimise the risk of Varroa spread. Permits will not be implemented until the experts believe the risk is considered and minimised.

AHBIC will continue to represent the needs of the Honey Bee industry and strive for the best outcome possible for this dire situation we find ourselves in.

There is a large team of professionals working hard to provide the best possible outcome including 80 DPI staff at Orange, 188 DPI staff at Maitland and over 50 beekeeping volunteers.

AHBIC also shared a shot video of the activity at the State Control Centre. 

Please click here to watch the video.

Kind regards,

Jo Martin 

QBA State Secretary