Dr Sanford ~
Does he have the Answer to
Missing Bees?

I discovered Dr. Malcolm Sanford during my own research into best beekeeping practices; he is a true expert with a vast amount of knowledge concerning the history and background into beekeeping.

You can read his impressive Vitae here: http://apisenterprises.com/vita.htm

Dr Sanford was once but now a retired Professor Emeritus at the University of Florida, a position he held from 1981.

Before this highly impressive position he was Assistant Professor at Ohio State University and a Temporary Lecturer at University of Georgia

Throughout my own and many years of research into the benefits of honey and other amazing products our honey bees produce I have found myself totally embroiled in their world and that of beekeeping.

Amongst the huge amount of emails I receive many of them are from those of you who are interested in beekeeping and honey bees.

I truly appreciate you all taking the time to write to me and because of this I take the time to find the answers you seek from the experts.

Dr Sanford is indeed one of these experts and I thank him sincerely for agreeing to this interview.

The interview kindly granted to me below by Dr Sanford goes a long way into the explanation of good beekeeping practices and the possible reason for Colony Collapse Disorder.

Dr Sanford is the author of many successful and informative articles; his work has been published extensively in the apiculture press including the journals Bee Culture and American Bee Journal.

He has also been a beekeeping management consultant in Egypt, Italy, France, Chile, Ecuador, Iraq, and Mexico. In fact, Dr Sanford is a truly unique Beekeeping specialist.

Dr Sanford has provided me with this link which will take you to a full and extensive list of his articles.

He kindly granted me this private interview whilst attending the Pine Honey Congress in Turkey.

He then travelled on to Brazil but took the time to email me answers to the questions, you my readers, ask me often.

Storey’s Guide to Keeping Honey Bees is written by Dr Sanford and a must read for anyone who is involved in beekeeping.

A: I began my beekeeping career in 1973, when I visited the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. At the time I was doing a thesis on diffusion of innovation in the fishing industry in Latin American Geography.

However, as I prepared for the study and then traveled to Merida, capital of the state of Yucatan, I found that it was one of the world's largest honey producing and exporting areas in the world.

Thus, I petitioned to do my thesis with a different title: The Geography of Apiculture in the Yucatan, Peninsula.

When I graduated with an M.A. in geography, I became employed as a graduate student in entomology, pursuing a Ph.D. and at the same time managing the honey bee facility at the University of Georgia, under my professor Dr. Alfred Dietz.

After getting my Ph.D. I replaced Dr. Dietz for a time while he was on sabbatical and then took a temporary job at Rossman Apiaries in Moultrie, Georgia rearing queens. Most of this I wrote up for

The Speedy Bee and that began my journalistic, extension career that continues into my formal retirement at The University of Florida.

I started beekeeping in the 1970s, and as a result of my employment and experiences, I have seen the complete transformation of beekeeping via introductions of Tracheal mites, Varroa mites, small hive beetle, Africanized honey bees and pesticides.

I point out that the current bee losses continue to be a complex of things that are different in many parts of the world. Pesticides are only a part of the equation and probably not the most important in many areas, although they get a lot of press.

I still believe that the real culprit is the Varroa bee mite and its role in weakening the honey bee immune system, introducing and activating viruses and causing beekeepers to continue to employ pesticides in a living beehive in a futile attempt to eradicate the mite from the bee nest.

Q: There are still many people who are unaware that honey bees are our master pollinators. If some reports are to be believed there are other types of bees such as the leaf cutter bee who could take over their role.

I believe this not to be true as bees in general seek their own favored source of nectar; all species of bees tend to have differences in their anatomy such as the length of their tongues.

This would therefore I believe, make it impossible for a lot of them to take over the role of the honey bee. May I have your expert opinion on this please?

A: The honey bee is a "master pollinator" because of its social structure and the fact that colonies can by managed strictly for pollination. No other solitary bee can match the honey bee for pollinating the wide range of plants needed in the human diet.

If you look at agriculture as it has developed over the years, most inputs like soil nutrition, water, etc. have been studied, but pollination has often been ignored in the process.

Q: Dr Sanford you have written many articles which are fascinating including "Diseases and Pests of the Honey Bee"

Your book "Storey’s Guide to Keeping Honey Bees" is indeed a must read for anyone considering the practice of beekeeping.

Please explain to my readers what they can expect to learn from this excellent book?

A: I have only written one book. This volume is unique in several aspects. Most important is that the Varroa mite is included as a "fourth" member of the honey bee colony.

My book is written to make beekeepers aware that eradication is not possible and many of the chemicals for treating hives no longer work and are generally detrimental to honey bees.

Another important addition to the book includes remarks from both beginners and experienced beekeepers about what does and does not work for them as a beekeeper. Because it is a new book, it contains much more information that the older volumes do not.

Q: Colony Collapse Disorder is still something unexplained. There are many scientists who are working round the clock to find an answer to this devastating condition. In your considered opinion do you think that Governments around the world are funding these programs enough?

A: This is a highly charged area. I do not know about governments around the world and their funding levels, but again point out that it is a multifaceted situation.

There are many losses, yes, but not all are CCD. The situation continues to be looked at on a global scale. Funding is also available for the CAP program, which produces the honey bee health extension site as well as the influential MAAREC site .

Q: I recently had an email from Sarah at “mastsanity.org” she gave me her personal views that mobile phone masts have been proved by Dr Warnke, a German scientist; to be the reason our bees are disappearing.

He has she tells me, analyzed at least 40 studies on bees and radiation effects. There are many who feel these mobile masts are the reason for our missing bees because they interfere with their navigation system and basically they cannot find their way home. Do you consider this to be a major factor?

A: The increasing use of electrical devices may have something to do with disorienting honey bees. However, of all the possible causes for world wide honey bee losses, "electrosmog" is not one that most investigators in bee health take seriously at the moment.

Q: You have travelled the world extensively and have discovered I’m sure many different aspects and practices in the world of beekeeping. May I ask where you have discovered the best and the worst practices and what they were?

A: All beekeeping is local and sometimes very local as I point out in my book. There are no best and worst practices. They must be looked at in the context of the geographic area they are practiced in.

As I point out above, current practices using chemicals inside beehives in a futile effort to eradicate the Varroa mite should be avoided by all beekeepers, no matter where they reside.

Q: And my last question Dr Sanford, because you are indeed a busy man who has taken time to answer my questions and those I know my readers are most interested in, what would be the most valuable piece of information you would give to anyone who is either a beekeeper or to anyone who is planning on becoming one?

A: The most important thing a beginning beekeeper must do is identify a mentor, someone who currently keeps bees and then learn that person's management system and philosophy.

Once accomplished, the beekeeper should then move on to develop his/her own particular system, based on what the mentor suggests, but also complemented by reading beekeeping magazines and attending beekeeping association meetings as well as enrolling in a master beekeeper program offered by the Cooperative Extension Service in several states: http://www.masterbeekeeper.org/masterbeekeeper.htm

Only in this way will the beekeeper be able to keep up to date on valuable information needed to successfully manage a colony of honey bees.

Dr Sanford, I am truly grateful to you for this interview, your knowledge and expertise will be a source of inspiration to my readers. I wish you much success with your book which of course I highly recommend.