Two of the big discussions we will be coming to grips with here in NS concern both open feeding and SHB.
With recent discoveries of SHB in areas of Ontario where bees are brought into NS from for blueberry pollination, there is huge concern and we will be dealing with this at our next executive meeting.
The issue of open feeding is something we are also going to revisit. While I personally don't do it, I suppose I can understand why some feel the need to do so, it is much cheaper and easier. Efficiency is about the only advantage in my opinion, but I don't like the practice.
Our situation up here is that our association has a code of ethics, and providing unrestricted access (open feeding) to feed is not allowed between May 15th and Sept. 15th. I have no problem with this, but unfortunately the largest beekeeping company in the province does. They have over half of the hives in the entire province and are almost exclusively pollinators. They are part of the same company that owns the largest blueberry production in the maritimes. They are not part of our association (they left several years ago) and no longer feel bound by our code of ethics. They have taken to open feeding as early as the beginning of August when most of us still have honey supers on. I have had to shut down a yard because of their practices, and they are absolutely everywhere in the valley here. Honey is not in their lexicon, and I doubt SHB would be much of a concern to them due to it.
They are also responsible for getting the "special permit" passed that allows for the importation of honey bees into the province for pollination periods. To possibly apply for a border closure due to SHB may prove to be an uphill battle for us.
