Getting beekeepers to practise better.

Per Kryger; Annette Bruun Jensen

Abstract

Introducing beekeepers to a reduced use of varroa treatment is the purpose of our project "Better Beekeeping Practise". The policy of the EU is to reduce the use of pesticides dramatically in agriculture. Beekeeping does not hold a unique position; not to take part in these efforts. However; beekeepers are not well prepared for change. In order to engage beekeepers; we meet them in local organisations during winter; and in summer we visit school apiaries in order to introduce better practise. Many are still mainly applying the calendar in their varroa strategy. To actually follow the guidelines of any approved medicine; and examine the colony before applying treatment; is bewildering. Many ask; “why?” This stubbornness is a major hinderance to ever achieving the goals of sustainable beekeeping. Beekeepers who treat all colonies equally; regardless of varroa infestation levels; will never notice; those colonies that have lower increase in mite populations. Hence these beekeepers are unable to breed from these better bees. This is frustrating; since beekeepers keep experiencing episodes of high losses; due to misguided learnings; like "better be safe than sorry"; or "if a little helps a bit; then more helps a lot". Clearly, we need to reform teaching at the beginners’ level and take old practises out of the existing handbooks.

Original language	English
Publication date	2 Apr 2025
Publication status	Published - 2 Apr 2025
Event	COLOSS Spring workshop 2025: Varroa Task Force - Olsztyn, Poland, Olsztyn, Poland Duration: 2 Apr 2025 → 3 Apr 2025 http://coloss.org

Conference

Conference	COLOSS Spring workshop 2025
Location	Olsztyn, Poland
Country/Territory	Poland
City	Olsztyn
Period	02/04/2025 → 03/04/2025
Internet address	http://coloss.org

Keywords

Varroa destructor
Better Beekeeping Practise
Reduced chemical treatment

Access to Document

Abstracts-VarroaWorkshop2025-FINALLicence: Unspecified

Cite this

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title = "Getting beekeepers to practise better.",

abstract = "Introducing beekeepers to a reduced use of varroa treatment is the purpose of our project {"}Better Beekeeping Practise{"}. The policy of the EU is to reduce the use of pesticides dramatically in agriculture. Beekeeping does not hold a unique position; not to take part in these efforts. However; beekeepers are not well prepared for change. In order to engage beekeepers; we meet them in local organisations during winter; and in summer we visit school apiaries in order to introduce better practise. Many are still mainly applying the calendar in their varroa strategy. To actually follow the guidelines of any approved medicine; and examine the colony before applying treatment; is bewildering. Many ask; “why?” This stubbornness is a major hinderance to ever achieving the goals of sustainable beekeeping. Beekeepers who treat all colonies equally; regardless of varroa infestation levels; will never notice; those colonies that have lower increase in mite populations. Hence these beekeepers are unable to breed from these better bees. This is frustrating; since beekeepers keep experiencing episodes of high losses; due to misguided learnings; like {"}better be safe than sorry{"}; or {"}if a little helps a bit; then more helps a lot{"}. Clearly, we need to reform teaching at the beginners{\textquoteright} level and take old practises out of the existing handbooks.",

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T1 - Getting beekeepers to practise better.

AU - Kryger, Per

AU - Jensen, Annette Bruun

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N2 - Introducing beekeepers to a reduced use of varroa treatment is the purpose of our project "Better Beekeeping Practise". The policy of the EU is to reduce the use of pesticides dramatically in agriculture. Beekeeping does not hold a unique position; not to take part in these efforts. However; beekeepers are not well prepared for change. In order to engage beekeepers; we meet them in local organisations during winter; and in summer we visit school apiaries in order to introduce better practise. Many are still mainly applying the calendar in their varroa strategy. To actually follow the guidelines of any approved medicine; and examine the colony before applying treatment; is bewildering. Many ask; “why?” This stubbornness is a major hinderance to ever achieving the goals of sustainable beekeeping. Beekeepers who treat all colonies equally; regardless of varroa infestation levels; will never notice; those colonies that have lower increase in mite populations. Hence these beekeepers are unable to breed from these better bees. This is frustrating; since beekeepers keep experiencing episodes of high losses; due to misguided learnings; like "better be safe than sorry"; or "if a little helps a bit; then more helps a lot". Clearly, we need to reform teaching at the beginners’ level and take old practises out of the existing handbooks.

AB - Introducing beekeepers to a reduced use of varroa treatment is the purpose of our project "Better Beekeeping Practise". The policy of the EU is to reduce the use of pesticides dramatically in agriculture. Beekeeping does not hold a unique position; not to take part in these efforts. However; beekeepers are not well prepared for change. In order to engage beekeepers; we meet them in local organisations during winter; and in summer we visit school apiaries in order to introduce better practise. Many are still mainly applying the calendar in their varroa strategy. To actually follow the guidelines of any approved medicine; and examine the colony before applying treatment; is bewildering. Many ask; “why?” This stubbornness is a major hinderance to ever achieving the goals of sustainable beekeeping. Beekeepers who treat all colonies equally; regardless of varroa infestation levels; will never notice; those colonies that have lower increase in mite populations. Hence these beekeepers are unable to breed from these better bees. This is frustrating; since beekeepers keep experiencing episodes of high losses; due to misguided learnings; like "better be safe than sorry"; or "if a little helps a bit; then more helps a lot". Clearly, we need to reform teaching at the beginners’ level and take old practises out of the existing handbooks.

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