Natural Beekeeping International Forum

[muddymom]

Check out the site globalresearch.ca/globalresearch.org. a well established knowlegable beekeeper in Illinois has had his apiary raided and bees removed without a warrant or a day in court. He was developing a Roundup resistant line of bees. The person who inspected his apiary is also believed to have killed several queens while inspecting his hives--without the beekeeper being present.
This beekeeper has had bees for years and speaks plainly about what occurred.
It seems the inspector was following orders as she seems lacking in even the basic understanding of bee biology or diseases.
Are we entering a time when large chemical companies can dictate what actions the Dept. of Agriculture does.
If so welcome to the new police state in the USA.
(by the way apiaries in Illinois are moving out or refusing to register their hives according to the article)

[biobee]

I have seen this story so many times, I am getting bored with it!

'Roundup-resistant bees' is a non-sequitor - Roundup is a herbicide, not an insecticide, so they would have no need to become 'resistant' to it. Bees would not be visiting plants that have been killed by a herbicide!

I strongly suspect that this story has little foundation in fact and has been spun by somebody for unknown reasons. It is entirely possible that the Illinois inspectors were working well within their rights and had good reason to think this guy - who, lets face it, doesn't sound like the easiest person to deal with - had AFB in his apiary and was trying to cover it up.

I don't know the background, but there is something about this story that does not ring true to me.

Of course, I may be wrong, and if anyone can shed more light on it, be my guest!

[DurangoKid]

While Roundup is an herbicide it can also burn the skin when freshly applied. The notion of a Roundup-proof bee is quite odd . However, I can see how it would harm bees or any other insects present whilst it was applied.

Of course, if Monsanto is involved then all bets are off. I can only hope they have no presence in the UK to spread their mischief.

[usngunner]

[DurangoKid]

[madasafish]

Having experienced AFB at first hand, any beekeeper who does not investigate it properly at once he suspects it, and then destroys the bees (as is the UK treatment).. is a risk to ALL neighbouring beekeepers .

Period. Think of it like Ebola for bees but much worse.

No sympathy at all.

[DurangoKid]

To be clear, I am not advocating for sympathy nor for the beekeeper in question. I am simply advocating for the rule of law. In the US, a legitimate warrant must be served at the time of entry onto private property. British law is not much different. Albeit some of the requirements for warrantless entry are less stringent.

[madasafish]

In the UK, Bee Inspectors have right of entry to land on which they believe bees are kept. That right only serves to allow inspection of the bees.

[Trip]