Honey Bee Pest and Disease Update

Based on presentations made by leading researchers during a conference sponsored by the Oregon State Beekeepers Association and focused on Honey Bee Pests and Diseases (primarily the Varroa mite, tracheal mite, American and European foulbrood, and Nosema), I wrote up the substance of the presentations and had resulting materials reviewed for accuracy. I put them together with additional resources related to sampling procedures, identification of agents involved, and suggestions for obtaining further information. These materials then were used in workshops presented in a variety of locations throughout the state of Oregon.

For this project, I also created flyers for advertising, got the word out, and managed the registrations for the workshops during the first year. In addition, I collected information from a variety of sources, verified accuracy of names and contact information to the degree possible, and prepared a database of known beekeepers in the region to contact in the event of an emergency situation regarding honey bees.

The project was funded by an Oregon Department of Agriculture specialty crops grant awarded to the Oregon State Beekeepers Association and managed by George Hansen, Foothills Honey Company, Colton, Oregon.