Honeybee Blog

Bees, Crops, Oil, Biodiesel - Start your engines

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 21:08:00 -0500

We all know bees pollinate our crops for 1/3 to 1/4 of the food we eat. But what is not said are the crops pollinated used for feeding live stock or other uses. Clover and Alfalfa are two of the biggest live stock greens that give our meats and dairy the Omega 3's we need.

However, what I want to write about today is vegetable oils and biodiesel. It was a sad day when the largest biodiesel chain - BioWillie close up. But, that doesn't mean you can't make your own.

Before I get started I'd like to acknowledge this blog is a response to Lauren's blog: What Oil is Best Used for What?

So here's my answer being a guy, oil is best used to make my truck grrr like a tiger. Ha Ha. (Sorry I'm trying to put more personality into my writting).

But, seriously. I'll respond with asking questions to her question, "What oils make the best biodiesel? And, what is their sustainability?" So are you ready for some crazy oil data?

Let's look at the sustainability first. Okay oil; let us consider the amount of oil given by various crops, because we can't have 100 acres giving only 2000 gal of oil a year. Obviously there are other factors like soil fertility, climate required, water required by the crop to name a few. But, for this lets focus on the crop yield. Here are some yields:

Side note: briefly think of all the pollination the bees do to make these crops and oils.

So now that we have a few oils that might be able to meet the volume we need to be our car or truck's fuel, let's look at what oil makes better biodiesel.

Iodine number is important because it relates to the cloud point of biodiesel. Cloud point is when your fuel turns to a solid and no longer flows into the engine. Very Bad! So some fats like lard are solid at room tempurature and would need to be pre-heated to be used as a fuel in liquid state.

Cetane number is important because it is the diesel equivalent of regular gas octane rating. So the higher the cetane the more premium the fuel, and thus you'll get more power out of 1 gal.

Here are some oil characteristics:

So maybe this has sparked an interest in biodiesel. Perhaps you're thinking you'd like to cut loose from your reliance on our gas imports. Perhaps you like doing things your self or going the green way.

You can actually build your own reactor to make biodiesel for a few hundred bucks. Biodiesel can be made from waste vegi oils, methanol and lye. The waste oil is often availible for free from restaurants. You will need to filter the particles out of the oil (to less than 10 microns), mix it with the meth. and lye. Then separate out your by product, glycerine. (which can be used as a home fuel in a special furnace). Then you wash and dry the biodiesel and its ready for your car.

Obviously you'll need to read and learn more than just my short sales pitch. And each step has more to it that you might think. So where can you go to find out more:

Utah Biodiesel Supply

Try a YouTube or Google Search

I also recomend checking out a centrifuge to filter out your oil and diesel's waste particles instead of using lots of filters:

Simple Centrifuge

Where did my numbers come from:

Yellow

White

Honey can be Vegan

Tue, 02 Feb 2010 11:32:00 -0500

From a letter to a friend about the Vegan honey debate,

Our honey is raw, I never have it hotter than the normal temperature range inside a hive. I normally extract honey on warm summer days so it flows without needing to be heated. I also sell other products like comb honey, which is about as raw as you can get.

It is my feeling, that my beekeeping practice of putting the bee first makes my honey vegan:

My primary goal is to make more bees and to keep them alive. So if one hive is having a slow year and doesn't make enough honey to survive the winter, I transfer some from a hive that did very well. So the hives help each other by sharing their honey. If there is a surplus after all the hives have been given enough to get them through to the spring, then I take my share, and harvest.

After all honey has been harvested I feed the bees, so they can avoid eating their winter stores as long as possible. I'm sure this might not be the case for commercial beekeepers who have several thousand hives.

Vegans argue they honey bee is exploited by the beekeeper, that the bees are the beekeepers slaves. I actually feel the opposite sometimes.

1. The bees are free to come and go, and sometimes they do leave (swarm)

2. The bees are fed pollen and sugar by me in periods when they can't get their own food. I purchased 1500lbs of sugar to feed them last year.

3. They are not forced to do work, they work various jobs on their own accord. They work to feed themselves as any free spirit does.

4. I give them a clean and dry home at great cost to myself. I repair their home if it is damaged or needs paint.

5. If a predator like a raccoon is attacking them I will defend them. I trapped one last year and let it go in a park 25 miles away.

I also sell bee pollen, a super food. Bees use it as the protein source of their diet. It is a super food because it has the highest protein concentration per ounce than any other food source. It's also vegetarian since it comes from flowers. Many people like it to pre-expose their body to pollen before allergy season.

Lastly, I'll say a beekeeper can live in a symbiotic relationship with his bees, though not all beekeepers are. Some beekeepers might exploit their bees, such as taking too much honey at the end of a year. Such a practice is also not sustainable beekeeping. A symbiotic relationship with bees is not the same as those that exploit them. I stand firm in saying a symbiotic relationship provited Vegan honey. So some honey is vegan, and some honey is not.

Insurers Sued for $1 Billion for Allegedly Enabling 'Dumping' of Food Products From China

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 00:26:00 -0500

"What do fresh garlic, crawfish meat, canned mushrooms and honey have in common? A $1 billion lawsuit by their domestic producers against major insurance companies for enabling the "dumping" of competing food products from China.

The domestic producers, represented by the Washington, D.C., office of New York's Kelley Drye & Warren and by Washington's Adduci, Mastriani & Schaumberg, filed the class action in the U.S. Court of International Trade, charging that the insurance companies posted "surety bonds" that allowed importers to bring in food products from China at below cost, or "dumped" prices, causing the domestic producers severe financial harm. Sioux Honey Association v. Hartford, No. 09-00141.

The lawsuit also claims that the U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the U.S. Department of Commerce failed to enforce four anti-dumping orders issued years ago to protect the domestic producers from dumped Chinese imports.

Named as defendants in the billion-dollar lawsuit are the Hartford Cos., Lincoln General, Washington International, American Home Assurance, Great American Insurance Cos. and International Fidelity.

The complaint states that from May 1998 until August 2006, the insurers negligently issued hundreds of customs surety bonds that guaranteed the payment of any dumping duties the government might determine were owed by U.S. importers for the specified Chinese goods.

"Without these customs surety bonds, the importers could not have brought in and sold the Chinese goods in the U.S. market at steeply dumped prices," said Michael Coursey, a partner in Kelley Drye's international trade practice group. "The dumping of these imports forced the domestic producers to significantly lower the prices for their competing products, causing the producers to lose hundreds of millions of dollars."

John Heintz, chairman of Kelley Drye's insurance recovery and Washington litigation practice groups, said the insurers knew or should have known that the importers posed a significantly high risk of defaulting on assessed dumping duties because these importers "were new, thinly capitalized, and had little or no credit history or experience in importing. The insurers, nevertheless for years, continuously issued the bonds on behalf of the importers, and made millions of dollars in premiums."

The importers, they said, have now defaulted on paying hundreds of millions of dollars in dumping duties assessed by the government. The insurers similarly have refused to pay the duties as required by their bonds, and Customs has failed to prosecute any collections lawsuits against the insurers, they added.

The lawsuit states that according to Customs' Web site, that agency has failed to collect 93 percent -- $723 million -- of the $771 million in final anti-dumping duties it assessed under four orders during the past six years. To date, the suit adds, Customs has not filed any collection lawsuits against the insurers for recovery of those duties, and "it is unlikely that any [insurer-defendant] will perform as promised under any of its new shipper bonds without the intervention of this Court on behalf of the] Plaintiffs and the Class."

The government, according to Coursey and Heintz, is legally obligated to distribute to the competing domestic producers any dumping duties ultimately paid by the importers or the insurers. The government's failure to collect these duties from either the importers or the insurers, they contend, has resulted in huge losses for the domestic producers."

Marcia Coyle

The National Law Journal

April 08, 2009

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Fri, 29 Jan 2010 17:28:00 -0500

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US colony loss survey results are in

Fri, 15 Jan 2010 14:52:00 -0500

"The Apiary Inspectors of America (AIA) and USDA-ARS Beltsville Honey Bee Lab conducted a survey between September 2008 and early April 2009 to estimate colony loses across the country. Over 20% of the country’s estimated 2.3 million colonies were surveyed. A total loss of 28.6% of managed honey bee colonies was recorded.

This compares to losses of 35.8% and 31.8% recorded respectively in the winters of 2007/2008 and 2006/2007. While a decrease in total losses is encouraging, the rate of loss remains unsustainable as the average operational loss increased from 31% in 2007/2008 to 34.2% in the 2008/2009 winter.

Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) is characterized by the complete absence of bees in dead colonies or in apiaries. This survey was not able to differentiate between verifiable cases of CCD and colonies lost as the result of other causes that share the “absence of dead bees” as a symptom. The 26% of operations that reported some of their colonies died without dead bees lost 32% of their colonies, while beekeepers that did not lose any bees with symptoms of CCD lost a total of 26% of their colonies.

Only 15% of all the colonies lost during the 2008/2009 winter died with symptoms of CCD, this compares to a 60% colony loss with CCD-like symptoms in the winter of 2007/2008. While losses from CCD may have decreased in the winter of 2008/2009, losses from other causes remain a significant concern. 58% of all beekeepers reported above normal losses last year, losing a total of 32.8% of their colonies compared to the minority of beekeepers who claimed a normal or below normal loss of 17%.

These findings emphasize the urgent need for research, not only of CCD, but of general honey bee health."

Source

Peace keeper to beekeeper

Fri, 15 Jan 2010 14:40:00 -0500

American Honey Producers Assoc. National Convention:

"Around 600 people registered for the convention, and about 37 vendors. Seminars included “The Honey Revolution – Restoring the Health of Future Generations” with Dr. Ron Fessenden of Colorado and The Sierra Club’s “Working to Protect Pollinators” with Dr. Neil Carman of Texas, to name just a few."

"Three members of the National Guard’s Oklahoma Agricultural Development Team (ADT) attend: Warren Higginbotham, Crystal Sims, and Chris Shoffner. The three are part of a team of about 60 Oklahoma Army National Guardsmen who will take the agricultural skills and resources they’ve amassed to Afghanistan for 10 months of teaching and training outreach programs."

"'After every war there is need for an economic development program. That’s where our Agriculture and Development teams and Provincial Reconstruction teams come in. We’re focusing on implementing an infrastructure with agriculture,' Higginbotham said."

“These citizen-soldiers are literally sowing the seeds of peace in Afghanistan,” said U.S. Senator Kit Bond.

Full Article

Bees get ready to pack their hives for California

Mon, 04 Jan 2010 11:16:00 -0500

Beekeepers around the country are preparing to make their migration to California for February's almond pollination.

"By 2012, the ARS expects almond-bearing acreage in California to top 800,000, a sharp increase from the 680,000 acres of almonds farmed in 2004. The increase has helped drive up the price of honeybees from about $50 per hive in 2003 to as much as $170 per hive this year, the agency reports." -1

"California is the world's biggest producer and exporter of almonds, harvesting about 635,000 tonnes [2009] and accounting for 80 per cent of global production." - 2

2010 Season Predictions

"With more Westside almond acreage being pulled out (due to water constraints) and with growers likely to cut back on bee colonies/acre (as some did this year) there may well be a "glut" of bees in 2010 (hate that word glut; there has never been a glut of strong colonies for almonds and there probably never will be).

Some almond growers are already telling their bee suppliers that they better make a significant price reduction next year. At Scientific Ag Co., Bakersfield the thinking is for a $10/colony reduction and telling growers that if they want to cut pollination costs, they are better off cutting back on colonies per acre." -3

Some farmers as seen on 60 minutes have mulched half their orchards due to water issues. 20 years of growth and devolopment gone in 20 minutes. Perhaps the decrease in orchard size will decrease the demand. It becomes a question of water and is the ARS projection correct. Persistant drought may require bees to be given sources of water. It may also cause more acres of Almonds to be mulched.

"A court order restricts water pumped from the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta to 220,000 acres of almond trees on the western side of the San Joaquin Valley, recession, falling prices for nuts, and the [limited population] of honeybees required for pollination. It all adds up to trouble." -4

However, some environmental media claims the water shortage is just a large corporate farmer ploy to get more water to farm water demanding crops in dry lands. They claim the farmer on 60 minutes actually is not a poor small farmer, but the owner of a multi million dollar farming enterprise. - 5

So, what is the best course of action for California. Who is telling the truth? Is there a wold in sheep's clothing? Clearly growing populations and farming bussines both need water. Plans and resevoirs need to be made to hold enough fresh water to meet all needs in time of drought. The control of the water flow needs to not be controlled by barons or corporate kings, and should be availible to all. Are water substities the answer, can we find a better way? Let's just hope we've learned over the years, and not have an old testimate, biblical water crisis.

Source:

1 - http://www.capitalpress.com/newest/TH-blue-orchard-121109-photos--infobox

2 - http://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/article/2009/12/16/141721_horticulture.html

3 - http://californiafarmer.com/story.aspx?s=22848&c=9

4 - http://articles.sfgate.com/2009-03-01/business/17213067_1_almond-board-almond-growers-almond-trees

5 - http://www.alternet.org/media/144992/why_just_about_everything_you_hear_about_california's_water_crisis_is_wrong,_wrong,_wrong/?page=1

Honey Bee Music Videos

Tue, 29 Dec 2009 18:17:00 -0500

2 Great Videos to check out, 1st in 2009 - Where my Bees at?

Music Video Directed by Max Lanman Music Video Produced by Connor Lanman Original Song Produced by James Lanman Lyrics for Do The Honey Bee Co-written by Max Lanman, James Lanman, and Connor Lanman

[verse 1] What up everybody? What up? Whats good? The honey bees are here— straight from the hood, We only roll in two colors: yellow and black, We be getting no respect, and its getting kind of whack.

[verse 2] Do you know what would happen if we just up and went, Youd be floored by the facts if you knew just what it meant, yo, No more sweets, ice cream and no more honey, No more veggies and fruit naw--- that just aint funny.

[CHORUS] Lets get the word up and walk it out, These moves right here are what its all about, Shake your stingers and bend your knees, Get down real low and DO THE HONEY BEE Do the Honey Bee, Do the Honey Bee, Do the Honey Bee, Do the Honey Bee, Do the Honey Bee, Do the Honey Bee, Do the Honey Bee, Do the Honey Bee, Shake your stingers and Do the Honey Bee, (the honey bee) Shake your stingers and Do the Honey Bee, Get down real low and Do the Honey Bee, Get down real low and Do the Honey Bee!

[verse 3] Well people let's take a minute and think of where we'd be, now, Livin without the labor that be costing no money, now They buzz and buzz, and they go all day, While we be chlilin away, just eatin PB &J.

[verse 4] If the bees go, we got four years till we die, Einstein said that, and hes a pretty clever guy, Its not our style to go without a fight, We need to make it right and before the bees take flight, yo.

2nd 2008 - Bee-Boy dance crew drops dead

Hanukkah Honey Indulgence

Wed, 16 Dec 2009 09:06:00 -0500

One favorite Hanukkah indulgence is the fried honey puff. These sugared balls of fried dough are popular at Sephardic Hanukkah celebrations and are an excellent treat to add to the menu for the last nights of the holiday. A batter prepared with yeast gives the pastry a light and airy texture, very similar to a doughnut when fried. However, it is the honey coating that gives these puffs their exclusive flavor. A glaze made of honey, lemon juice and sugar ice the puffs just after frying, sealing in their delectable flavor with a slightly crisp outer shell. A smattering of cinnamon completes the dessert, offering a lovely winter spiciness that mingles so well with the flavor of the honey.

Recipe:

Yield: about 36

Batter

1 (2 1/4 teaspoon) packet active dry yeast
1 cup warm water
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1 large egg
2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt

Honey Syrup

1 cup sugar
3/4 cup cold water
1/2 cup honey
1 tablespoon lemon juice

Plus cinnamon to garnish

For the batter, mix together the yeast, 1/2 c of warm water, and the sugar. Let mixture rest for 5 minutes or until it is foamy. Stir in the remaining batter ingredients, including water, until smooth. Cover the bowl loosely with plastic wrap and let batter rise for 1 hour.
While the batter rises prepare the honey syrup. Mix all ingredients together in a large saucepan and slowly bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring only until the sugar dissolves. Lower the heat and boil the syrup for 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and set aside to cool.
When the batter has risen, stir it down. Heat oil, about 1 1/2 inches deep, in a large pan until it is about 375 degrees. Dip a teaspoon into the oil, and then use the spoon to scoop up some batter and gently slide batter into the oil. The batter will quickly puff up to almost twice its original size. Continue making puffs but do not crowd the pan. Turn puffs with a slotted spoon until they are browned on all sides and very crisp.
Drain them on paper towels or a wire rack, then drop them into the syrup to coat. Sprinkle the puffs with cinnamon and serve immediately.

Outlook not so sweet for honey giant

Wed, 16 Dec 2009 09:01:00 -0500

"AUSTRALIA'S biggest commercial honey group, Capilano Honey, has warned it will lose about $2 million in the first half of the financial year, a slide back into the red that could jeopardise its attempts to meet a $10 million debt deadline in March.

Capilano, close to launching a rights issue, said yesterday that worsening exchange rates for exporters and shrinking honey supplies due to drought were to blame.

''International conditions for supply of raw honey remain unpredictable,'' Capilano said. ''These conditions have a material unfavourable impact on Capilano's profit expectations through decreased export revenues and expected 'mark to market' devaluation of assets held in other currencies and higher-than-expected domestic honey prices to secure supply.''

It said the dire environment would force it to retreat from some of its offshore markets, including a large proportion of the Canadian market."

Full Article:

http://www.smh.com.au/business/outlook-not-so-sweet-for-honey-giant-20091216-kxmr.html

Further:

Austraia is trying to raise half a million dollars a year for research and development with a new levy plan.

Bee keepers, pollinators and queen bee breeders have agreed to switch from the current levy of 2 cents/kg on honey to a $1 per bee hive.

Australian Honey Bee Industry Council chairman, Lindsay Bourke, says while the industry has voted it through, they still need to figure out the details.

"The state's don't want to collect it and send it off to the commonwealth and if the commonwealth collects it there is a fee," he said.

"We haven't worked that out yet, but it's for Australia's interests and for the bee keeping industry that we all pay our little bit for research and development.

Bill goes after fake honey peddlers

Wed, 16 Dec 2009 08:57:00 -0500

"Consumers stung by falsely labeled honey would get new protections under a bill introduced in the Legislature last week.

The WI state's beekeepers say the proposal would help smoke out supposed "honey" products that actually contain corn syrup or even dangerous antibiotics.

...

Currently, there's no federal or state standard for what constitutes honey. The bill would provide one by adopting a definition of honey set by a joint commission of the United Nations and the World Health Organization as pure honey with no additives. It would also set up a process for the state to certify the products of state beekeepers like Fulton as pure Wisconsin honey - with the costs covered by placing fees on the producers and stretching existing agency budgets."

Full Article:

http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt_and_politics/article_30934c82-e525-11de-ac76-001cc4c03286.html

10 Ways To Fight Ants Without Chemicals

Thu, 04 Jun 2009 13:27:00 -0400

Baking soda is poisonous to ants, spinkle it around your plants to ensure ants will stay away. (But it will change the ground ph so use caution (blue berries will not like it).
Instant Grits, instant rice or instant cream of wheat can be sprinkled around plants or hives. Keep it dry, replace if the rain gets it wet. The ant will eat a piece of whichever you sprinkle, drink water and the grain expands and kills the ant.
You can use instant coffee grounds, chili powder, cinnamon, peppermint or black pepper. All deter ants and if you pour instant coffee grounds directly on an anthill, they will eat the coffee grounds and implode. Mint oil and hedges of mint will not be crossed by ants.
Flour & Baby Powder will keep ants from reaching your plants, ants will not cross the powder - so circle your plants with it.
Fill a spray bottle with 1 part vinegar and 1 part water and spray on plants. The acid in vinegar will kills ants.
Mix together one-third cup of molasses, six tablespoons of sugar, and six tablespoons of active dry yeast into a smooth paste. Use the mixture to coat strips of cardboard. Keep out of reach of pets and small children. You can leave mixture on a saucer outside anthill and they’ll eat it and die!
Fold contact paper in half, with the sticky side out and make a circle around base of plant. The ants get stuck on the paper - problem solved.
Cut off the bottom of a paper cup and cut a slit up the side of the cup and coat outside with vaseline and place around base of plant. You can also use packing tape.
Mix one cup of borax, two-thirds a cup sugar and one cup water. Dip cotton balls in the solution and place in areas near your anthill Ants will leave the plants alone and ingest the sweet mixture. The borax kills the ants. Use caution near hives.
Diatomaceous Earth is a commonly sold organic pesticide that will destroy the insects outer skeletons, causing the pests to die from dehydration. Use caution near hives.