A Message from the President
As the inaugural year of Lone Star Beekeepers draws to a close, I’d like to point out some positives that happened for the honey beekeeping industry in Texas on the national regulatory front. The U.S. Congress put a stop to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s proposal to force honey producers and resellers to label pure honey as having “added sugar” on the nutritional facts label. Also, Congress enhanced honeybee research programs by requiring the Chief Scientist of the Department of Agriculture assign an individual to serve in the Office of the Chief Scientist as a Honeybee and Pollinator Research Coordinator. Among the many responsibilities assigned to the Research Coordinator, this person will be leading efforts to identify and address stressors on pollinator health, including pests and pathogens, reduced habitat, lack of nutritional resources, and exposure to pesticides. In particular, the Research Coordinator is required to ensure it be documented the stresses caused by “…pesticide residues that are found in native and managed pollinator colonies; and the prevalence of major pests, such as Varroa destructor and diseases that are transported between States through practices involving managed pollinators…”. Closer to home members of Lone Star Beekeepers Association attended the first meeting of the general membership. At that meeting the adoption of fundamental policies that will form the basis for future actions by LSBA was initiated. Following LSBA’s many purposes stated in its by-laws, beekeeping education being one of them, the membership voted to support the Texas Master Beekeeper Program. Another part of LSBA’s mission is to promote the beekeeping industry by identifying regulatory areas it believes are a hindrance or an unnecessary burden to beekeepers. Towards this end, LSBA members adopted a resolution that it supports repeal of the permitting requirement to transport honey bees or equipment across a county line in Texas. Through this resolution, LSBA aligns itself on this specific issue with House Bill 1293 that was put before Texas Legislature in 2017. Lone Star Beekeepers has been soliciting other beekeeper associations in Texas to join LSBA in adopting resolutions of support of the repeal of that provision. Several associations have either adopted resolutions of support for the repeal or have agreed to bring this issue before their membership at their next membership meeting. For me personally, the winter solstice marks the beginning of the beekeeping season. Each year I’m pleasantly surprised at how soon it arrives. The lengthening days seem to signal the start of brood production. This promise of this new life in the hive invigorates my beekeeping soul. And like every crop producer in my family in Texas for the past 175 years, I’m fortified by the hope and promise that the upcoming season will be prosperous. Here’s to wishing you and yours a prosperous 2019 Beekeeping Season. |