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Greetings from the President of the IHPA

Dear Honey Producers,

I knew that I used my computer a lot, but when it broke a few weeks ago, I was almost helpless! I know I was very impatient with the repair people. They told me it would be two days and it would be ready to go, but a couple weeks passed and I was getting very upset. We had personal business deals on hold, IHPA work waiting to be completed, and over 500 emails when we borrowed our son’s tower to retrieve messages. I didn’t lose anything but time, so I guess I shouldn’t complain too much.

Make sure that you check your hives when the weather is nice to do so. If they are light, make sure that you feed the honey bees. Lots of hives are lost in the early weeks of the year due to cold and lack of food. Many beekeepers suggest different foods for them. The jury is out as far as I am concerned. There is research to suggest that honey is the best for them to eat and others suggest that it is not. Others want beekeepers to feed sugar water, yet others suggest corn syrup. I guess use your judgment, but do keep an eye on them. Pollen substitutes are also an idea for good buildup. Read your beekeeping journals and books and decide what will fit your operation best.

I have received several phone calls, emails and letters about the new bee rule. To set the record straight, the IHPA officers and board had nothing to do with this. Don’t send me hate mail concerning it. I am not real pleased with it in some parts. I agree with some of the changes, but I feel the limit of two miles should have remained the same. I like the fact that we can register hives in different locations all year long. I hope that you have registered or are going to register your hives. Work is being done so that sometime in the future maybe we can all be pleased with the outcome of this rule and there are consequences in place for violators. Let’s work together, not fighting among ourselves. Here is the rule as it stands now.

AGRICULTURE AND LAND STEWARDSHIP

DEPARTMENT [21]

Adopted and Filed Emergency after Notice

Pursuant to the authority of Iowa Code section 206.19, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship hereby gives Notice of Intended Action to amend Chapter 45, “Pesticides,” Iowa Administrative Code.

This amendment rewrites the existing rule related to the application of pesticides near bees. Commercial pesticide applicators spraying within one mile of a registered apiary shall not spray between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Commercial pesticide applicators will need to keep records of the time pesticide application began and ended.

Notice of Intended Action was published in the December 12, 2008, Iowa Administrative Bulletin as ARC 7432B. A public hearing was held on January 7, 2009. A full spectrum of comments was received. Applicators objected to restrictions on spraying and beekeepers wanted additional restrictions. Since publication of the Notice, the Department has provided that the apiary registration forms will be available from the Department instead of the State Apiarist.

The Department adopted these amendments on January 22, 2009.

The Department finds, pursuant to Iowa Code section 17A.5(2)”b”(2), that the normal effective date of the amendment should be waived and the amendment should be made effective on January 22, 2009, so as to provide applicators and beekeepers that must comply with the provisions with clarification, guidance or appropriate training.

No waiver provision is included in these proposed amendments. However, the Department’s general waiver provisions, found at 21—Chapter 8, would apply.

These amendments are intended to implement Iowa Code sections 206.6 and 206.19.

The following amendments are adopted.

      ITEM 1. Adopt the following new paragraph 45.26(3)“i”:

      i.    Time pesticide application begins and ends.

      ITEM 2. Rescind rule 21—45.31(206) and adopt the following new rule in lieu thereof:

21—45.31(206) Application of pesticides toxic to bees.

45.31(1) Owners of apiaries, in order to protect their bees from pesticide applications, shall register the location of their apiaries with the state apiarist. Registration shall be on forms provided by the department. The registration expires December 31 each year and may be renewed the following year.

45.31(2) Between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., a commercial applicator shall not apply to blooming crops pesticides labeled as toxic to bees when the commercial applicator is located within one mile of a registered apiary. A commercial applicator shall be responsible for maintaining the one-mile distance from apiaries that are registered and listed on the sensitive crop registry on the first day of each month.

This rule is intended to implement Iowa Code sections 206.6(5)“a”(3) and 206.19(2).

Plan to attend the Iowa State Horticulture Society’s Horticulture Expo in Ottumwa on April 3^rd and 4^th, please stop by the IHPA table to visit. If you would be able to help with manning the booth, please let Louise Johnson, Pat Randol or myself know. We would love to have some members working in the booth. We will be selling t-shirts, aprons, cookbooks and honey products along with new membership directories.

The honey bee packages for the youth will arrive sometime in middle to late April. We will contact everyone when we have a date. Don’t worry, they will arrive. We know everyone is excited and anxious to receive honey bees, but we want it to be a pleasant experience. All of the knowledge that was learned in classes will still be there when they do arrive.

Mike and I attended another farewell ceremony for our youngest son, Mitch, as he returns to Iraq. This will be his third time. His wife, Abbie and two year old son, Zane were there also. There are 299 Army Reserves from the 443^rd Transportation Company spending at least one year in Kuwait, driving into Iraq each day making deliveries and transporting equipment.

Bee optimistic about an early spring and a great new beekeeping season .

Sincerely,

Donna Brahms, IHPA President