NOD visits California Pollinators

In February, David VanderDussen and Steven Haylestrom, NOD's CEO and Marketing Director visited beekeepers in the midst of pollinating California's almond orchards. Workshops were put on in the bee hives right in the almond orchards. David and Steven provided beneficial knowledge about switching from damaging chemical treatments to Mite-Away II formic acid mite treatments. Formic acid leaves no harmful residues in the wax or honey.

They were able to see first-hand the devastating effects of Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD).

The bees, seemingly healthy only 2 or 3 weeks before, abandon the hives. Causes of this disorder are currently being investigated. For more information on this disorder, visit the website at www.maarec.org.

Formic acid is considered an antiseptic or astringent and promotes a generally healthy hive along with killing varroa mites. Several beekeepers who have been on the Mite-Away II program for a year or more, report very healthy hives with abundant bees. Bonnie and Brent Woodsworth are migratory beekeepers who have been using Mite-Away II since spring 2005.

Bonnie tells me that the bees look like "the good old days" and they are currently splitting hives not only for their own use, but are selling packages as well. They are unaffected by CCD.

Randall Johnston is another migratory beekeeper who moves bees from his home in Idaho down to California for almond pollination. He has been using Mite-Away II for one year and is pleased to open his hives and see abundant populations. He is also unaffected by CCD.

At NOD Apiary Products, we want to help, educate and inform. Promotion of sustainable beekeeping practices is what we are all about. Helping keep beekeepers in business in one thing we hope to achieve.

To view videos of workshops held during the California trip, please visit the following google links:

A Wash
http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=4106806624347737262
Bee Brief
http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=-4840313867093371963

Steven is heading down to Florida from March 25- 29 for another trip to visit beekeepers in the field. If you are a commercial beekeeper and would like to attend a workshop call 866-483-2929 for information on workshop locations. You may also call 813-579-3828 and leave a message.