Beekeepers in the Kempsey district will have the chance to hear the latest information on two major industry issues, American Foulbrood and Small Hive Beetle, at a meeting hosted by Industry and Investment NSW.

Regulatory specialist on apiaries, Mick Rankmore, said the information night would be held at the Kempsey Macleay RSL Club on Monday, 7 September, starting at 5pm and finishing at 7pm at 1 York Lane, Kempsey.

"This meeting will also address registration issues and the legal requirements for bee keeping," Mr Rankmore said.

"After the formal session beekeepers are welcome to speak with the apiary officer and regulatory officers about their beekeeping operation."

Mr Rankmore said regulatory officers would be inspecting beehives in the Kempsey district throughout the week following the night session.

"The aim of this operation is to provide advisory material to beekeepers on registration requirements and disease notification and eradication," Mr Rankmore said.

"We will also be investigating compliance with the provisions of the Apiaries Act and take appropriate regulatory action where offences are detected."

American foulbrood disease is the most serious brood disease of honey bees in New South Wales. It is caused by the bacterium Paenibacillus larvae. In Australia it has been found in all states.

It is a notifiable disease under the NSW Apiaries Act 1985.

"There is a persistent low level of infection in NSW," Mr Rankmore said.

"Early and accurate diagnosis of this disease is essential if control is to be effective. This can be a costly disease to manage and control in a beekeeping operation.

"It requires the destruction of all infected colonies to halt its spread."

Mr Rankmore said beekeepers who attended were invited to bring a 100ml honey sample recently extracted which would be tested free of charge for American Foulbrood spores.

Mr Rankmore said a Primefact information sheet was available on the web site http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/livestock/honey-bees

Further reading

Pests and diseases of honey bees

Media contact: Howard Spencer 02 6656 8825 or mobile 0428 696672