Beehive Buzz: How to Handle a Bee Kill Complaint

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AHA saw a report on Facebook of a beekeeper complaining about her bees dying after mosquito treatments.This posting prompted AHA to ask Mr. Allen Fabre, LA State Apiarist, this question, “If a beekeeper suspects that a mosquito treatment has caused a bee kill, is that beekeeper entitled to file a complaint with LDAF?”

Mr. Fabre promptly responded, “Yes, they can file a complaint [with the Louisiana Department of Agriculture & Forestry (LDAF)] and an investigation will be pursued.” To contact LDAF regarding a bee kill, there is a toll-free number, 1.866.927.2476.

Ms. Nola Ducote, President of the Lake Area Beekeepers Club (LABC) and Secretary for the Louisiana Beekeepers Association (LBA), recommended this step to enable beekeepers to make a complaint with LDAF:

  • Dead bees need to be collected quickly after a kill for testing.

Ms. Ducote also makes these recommendations to make claim lost hives with the USDA Farm Services Agency (FSA):

  • The hive is registered with the LDAF, and
  • The hive is registered with the USDA through its Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees, and Farm-raised Fish (ELAP) program.

Contact your nearest USDA office to contact the FSA executive for more information about the ELAP program: https://www.fsa.usda.gov/state-offices/Louisiana/index .

Please send your beekeeping questions and pictures to Keith Hawkins, Area Horticulture Agent (AHA), 318.264.2448 or khawkins@agcenter.lsu.edu . Also, you can be on the “beemail” email list by emailing your request to the address above.

“This work has been supported, in part, by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Renewable Resources Extension Act Award, Accession Number 1011417.”

“Mention of trade names or commercial products and services in this article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute endorsement by Louisiana State University AgCenter.”

10/21/2021 4:51:19 PM
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