The Future of Certified Organic Beekeeping
Consider what you have learned about the process of organic beekeeping and honey production over the term. Write a 7 page reflection on the future of certified organic beekeeping. It’s difficult (next to impossible!) to be certified organic in the United States! What do you see for the future of organic honey production in the United States? Should organic certifiers relax rules on organic beekeeping and honey production include “nearly-organic” beekeepers doing their part in hive management and honey production? Or should we retain the rigid rules to ensure a pure honey product? What changes to our agricultural processes would be necessary so that honey bees have access to clean forage? What could “nearly-organic” beekeepers do to effectively market their honey without organic certification? And how about on a personal level….if you were to start beekeeping, would you adhere to guidelines described in this class in your management or are they too limiting or too difficult?
Sample Solution
According to Robyn Underwood of the Penn State University Department of Entomology’s López-Uribe Lab, everything revolves around varroa mites for beekeepers. “All you hear are horror stories,” she adds, adding that in response to the continual stresses of infestation, each beekeeper “does their own thing.” Chemicals and mechanical manipulations are among the treatment options. Some people would rather not have any treatments at all. Many beekeepers are only comfortable with “soft” products, such as organic acids or essential oil-derived products. Some beekeepers are breeding for resilience by focusing on mite resistance and overwintering strength. The National Organic Standards Board’s (NOSB) final recommendation includes a 25% cap on the introduction of replacement bees, which prioritizes hive resilience.
