Resources
NSWAA submissions and actions
Working for members
The NSWAA Executive are constantly working to try and ensure that our members can sustain viable businesses.
After our workshop canvasing member opinions it was apparent that secure access to floral resources is a key concern for commercial beekeepers in our state.
Below are a number of the submissions the NSW Apiarists' Association have made on behalf of our members - clink on the titles to download.
2019 Submissions
-NSWAA response to provide views on the Private Native Forestry Review
2018 Submissions
- DPI Forestry NSWAA's views on the renewal of the NSW RFAs
- NSWAA feedback on proposed changes to native timber harvesting in NSW
- Provisions of the Forestry Legislation Amendment Bill 2018
2017 Submissions
- Public consultation for Draft Pilliga Outwash Parks: Statement of Management Intent.
- Public exhibition of Morton State Conservation Area Draft Plan of Management.
- Public exhibition of Monga State Conservation Area Draft Plan of Management.
- NSW Travelling Stock Reserves Review – Public Consultation paper
- Discussion Paper | Apiary sites on public lands: a common policy framework for NSW
- Draft Biosecurity Regulation 2016
Links
Australian Honey Bee Industry Council (AHBIC)
The aim of the Australian Honey Bee Industry Council (AHBIC) is to maximise the efficient use of industry resources and funds to ensure the long term economic viability, security and prosperity of the Australian honey bee industry.
Click here to visit the AHBIC website
BeeAware
BeeAware is a hub of information for beekeepers and growers about honey bee biosecurity and pollination of agricultural and horticultural crops.
The site contains an extensive range of information about exotic and established pests and diseases of honey bees, and helps beekeepers to identify and respond to these pest threats. It also contains information about the pollination of crops and how beekeepers and growers can work together to provide and receive best practice pollination services.
Click here to visit the BeeAware website
BeeConnected
BeeConnected is a new smart-phone application (app) for Australian farmers and beekeepers who can now use this world-first technology to help ensure the safety of bees during normal farming practices.
BeeConnected can be downloaded for free as an iPhone or Android App, or accessed on a desktop computer via a web browser. For more information, and to download, visit the BeeConnected website.
Honey Bee & Pollination Program - RIRDC
The aim of this Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC) Honey Bee & Pollination Program is to support research, development and extension that will secure a productive, sustainable and more profitable Australian beekeeping industry and secure the pollination of Australia’s horticultural and agricultural crops.
Click here to visit the RIRDC Honey Bee & Pollination Program website
NSW Department of Primary Industries
NSW DPI's role is to provide support to the apiary industry through the provision of extension officers, research scientists, diagnostic laboratories, beekeeping courses and regulatory services.
Click here to visit the honey bee section of the NSW DPI website
Plant Health Australia (PHA)
Plant Health Australia is the national coordinator of the government-industry partnership for plant biosecurity in Australia. Our goal is to work with federal and state governments and industry representatives to promote strong biosecurity practices that minimise plant pest impacts on Australia, enhance market access and contribute to industry and community sustainability.
Click here to visit the PHA website
Wheen Bee Foundation
The purpose of the Wheen Bee Foundation is to raise awareness of the importance of bees for food security, and to raise money to help fund research projects that will address the national and global threats to bees.
Click here to visit the Wheen Bee Foundation website
Training and Education
Tocal College offers nationally accredited beekeeping courses developed and delivered by technical experts in the field of apiculture.
Click on this link www.tocal.nsw.edu.au/courses/bees for further information.
Code of Practice and National Bee Biosecurity Program
For the past 3 years, the honey bee industry and Plant Health Australia (PHA) have been working to implement effective biosecurity arrangements for beekeepers around Australia.
Click here to see the Code of Practice and National Bee Biosecurity Program and how you can provide feedback.
Bees swarm when they feel overcrowded. It is a natural occurrence. Many amateur beekeepers will collect swarms in their local area as a community service. They will need to be able to get a beebox to the swarm and may leave the box there for a day or two. Remember to check to see if they charge any fee to cover expenses. https://www.beekeepers.asn.au/swarms/
B-Qual B-Qual Australia Pty Limited has been been establised by the Australian Honey Bee Industry Council (AHIC) as an indepenedtly developed and audited food saftey program. B-Qual covers: Industry Food Saftey Program, 'Honey Quality Standard' Booklet, Quality Assurance Standards template, Traning materials for industry facilitators, Auditor traing material, National auditor training workshops and a developement of an industry biosecurity plan. http://www.bqual.com.au
2015-2019 Association Business Plan
After consultation with the membership and refinement of the information gathered, a business plan for the Association's operations has been recently ratified by the Executive Committee. Click here to view the business plan.
Apiary sites on public lands - a position paper
The NSW Apiarists' Association has been liaising with the Forestry Corporation to put in place a state wide beekeeping policy similar to that that has been in place with the National Parks and Wildlife Service for a numbers of years.
This position paper was created to highlight the importance of the apiary industry and the necessity for it to have access to public lands. It is hoped that this will provide government departments and interested stakeholders with a thorough understanding of these issues.
Click here to view the 'Apiary sites on public lands - a position paper'
Reporting a honey bee pesticide event
An increase in the number of managed hives available for crop pollination is crucial to the continued prosperity of the Australian agricultural industry. Further development of the managed pollination sector will also provide important opportunities for the honey bee industry. However, a significant barrier in this regard has been the risk that beekeepers face in relation to honey bee pesticide poisoning.
It is essential that any beekeeper who experiences a poisoning event from chemicals applied to flowering plants, spray drift or anything else report the incident immediately to the
Environmental Protection Agency
Phone: 131 555 or click here
Or to the
Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA)’s Adverse Experience Reporting Program
Phone: 1800 700 588 or click here
BeeAware
Further information on responding to poisoning events can be found by visiting the BeeAware website – click here
Biosecurity Manual for the Honey Bee Industry
Online biosecurity course for beekeepers
Commercial beekeepers with more than 50 hives can register for a free online biosecurity course on activities to prevent the spread of pests and diseases in their hives.
The Biosecurity for Beekeepers course, which takes about 90 minutes to complete, covers:
• checking hives for pests and diseases
• identifying exotic and established pests and diseases of honey bees
• taking action after finding a serious pest or disease in their hive
• minimising the impact of pests and diseases on their hives.
The Australian Honey Bee Industry Biosecurity Code of Practice requires commercial beekeepers (with 50 or more hives) to complete such an approved biosecurity training every three years. They can do the course for free by contacting their local Bee Biosecurity Officer to obtain a token code.
Beekeepers with less than 50 hives, who will also find the course useful, will need to pay $20 to complete it.
Visit the BeeAware website for more information on the:
-
Biosecurity for Beekeepers training course (beeaware.org.au/training)
-
Australian Honey Bee Industry Biosecurity Code of Practice (beeaware.org.au/code-of-practice)
-
Bee Biosecurity Officers in each state and territory (beeaware.org.au/national-bee-biosecurity-program)
The Biosecurity for Beekeepers course is delivered by Plant Health Australia through funding from the Australian Honey Bee Industry Council. The development of the course was funded by AgriFutures Australia.
Honey Bee Biosecurity Manual
The Biosecurity Manual for the Honey Bee Industry provides information for the industry and producers about biosecurity practices and honey bee pests.
National Best Practice for Beekeeping in the Australian Environment
Even thorough the beekeeping industry has a clear objective of preserving native flora, the industry’s position on access to government lands in particular is tenuous and needs a strong proactive stance to counter extreme negative views. By adopting a National Best Management Practice for Beekeeping in the Australian Environment, the beekeeping industry is in a more favourable position to demonstrate that it has a thorough understanding of its environmental impacts, and can adequately manage these.