APIARY INSPECTION 



Thomas S. Leonard, Chief Inspector 



Funds for the spring, summer and fall apiary inspection of ten 

 counties are allocated for the employment of six part-time apiary 

 inspectors. Trained in the use of aseptic techniques, each 

 inspector checks the apiaries in a designated area for the presence 

 of all contagious or infectious diseases of honeybees. Chemotherapy, 

 destruction of diseased colonies, or changes in bee management are 

 ordered upon diagnosis of each disease. 



A fairly mild winter with a prolonged insulating snowfall, 

 followed a near ideal spring, resulted in an above average spring 

 honeyflow. A sxommer of near average temperature and rainfall resulted 

 in a good fall crop of honey with strong winter stores of honey and 

 pollen. 



Most apiary inspection was concentrated in Eastern Massachusetts 

 due to a lack of applications from qualified candidates from the 

 western counties. Much effort was madd to inspect larger commercial 

 apiaries which are involved in the interstate movement of honeybee 

 colonies. The incidence of disease was found to be quite stable 

 in the apiaries regularly inspected, but was found to be increased 

 in apiaries not inspected during the previous year due to a 

 lack of inspectors or where locations were not made available 

 for inspection. 



Legislation for the mandatory registration of all Massachusetts 

 beekeepers was filfed and defeated. The fear of potential taxation 

 on bee equipment was cited by most coxmty bee organizations as 

 the reason for their strong opposition to this legislation. It 

 is strongly felt that an increased education of beekeepers 

 should be conducted to make them cognizant of the necessity 

 of mandatory registration so as to provide a thorough inspection 

 program. 



Restrictions on the use of various pesticides and the awareness 

 of their danger to honeybees resulted in a below average report 

 of pesticide damage to Massachusetts honeybees. To further 

 decrease this potential danger, it is recommended that bee- 

 keepers be made aware of the techniques involved in protecting 

 their colonies f-rom pesticide damage and realize the necessity 

 for mutual cooperation of all parties involved. 



The most serious deficiencies in the apiary inspection 

 program seem to be the lack of mandatory registration of 

 beekeepers and the lack of applicants for apiary inspectors. 

 It is strongly recommended that legislation for mandatory 

 registration should be again pursued and that the salary 

 schedule and auto use remuneration for apiary inspectors be 

 reevaluated. 



Retail prices of honey ranged from $1.00 to $1.50 per 

 pound depending on color, flavor, floral origin, and area of 

 sale. 



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