Volume 124 I September 26th, 2022 I email:agined@agrihq.co.nz I www.farmersweekly.co.nz/agined Are you a parent or teacher and want to receive AginED every week directly to your email inbox? Send us an email to sign up at agined@agrihq.co.nz
NEW TECHNOLOGY TO FIGHT VARROA MITES
WEEDS, WEEDS, WEEDS
Varroa mites are a large concern to beekeepers and can cause widespread devastation to hives. In the USA they have developed RNA technology to target the varroa mite to find out more follow this link https://www.youtube. com/watch?v=2YdM54bRZGw
We know that wines are savoured for their variations of sweetness, acidity, tannin, alcohol and body and these are influenced by environmental factors where the grapes are grown. It is hoped that soon there will be a similarly descriptive taste vocabulary for New Zealand honey. Manuka honey is well known and is a high value export product. It is hoped that the “Flower to flavour” project will give other varieties the same opportunity.
1 What are varroa mites? 2 How do they affect bees?
STRETCH YOURSELF:
Weeds are an ongoing issue for farmers and things have been compounded by recent discontinuation of certain herbicides and supply issues with others.
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Interestingly from as far back as the 1890’s agronomists have been theorising that electricity could be used to shock weeds and halt growth. Original inventions were unwieldy, large and dangerous. However, a Massey University PHD student and professor has proven that small doses of electricity can provide good control of a variety of weeds across New Zealand pastures and crops.
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Do some research, in NZ are varroa mites a large issue? In NZ what is currently used to combat varroa mites? What is RNA? How does using RNA technology give us the ability to target just bees and not affect other insects? How long have they been testing this technology? How effective is it? When is this technology expected to be internationally available? U.S. beekeepers lose approximately 40% of their honey bee colonies each year. The varroa mite is a leading cause of honey bee mortality.
To read more head to: https://www.farmersweekly. co.nz/electric-shocks-could-give-peskyweeds-the-zap/?utm _ source=AgriHQ&utm _ campaign=69938dd0cf-EMAIL _ CAMPAIGN _ 2022 _ 09 _ 12 _ 03 _ 50&utm _ medium=email&utm _ term=0 _ 4f497899e669938dd0cf-82897495
Head to https://www.farmersweekly.co.nz/ research-to-put-honeys-taste-on-tongues/ and then answer the following questions: 1
What makes manuka honey different from other varieties?
2 What are researchers aiming to find out? 3 What will they be collecting? What are they extracting? What are they measuring from this? 4 What is the issue with labelling honey based on taste? Why is it problematic? 5 What will they use to analyse the chemical profile of the nectar’s? How do these work? 6 How many flowers are they hoping to collect samples from? Why would they need this many?
All About Bees ALL ABOUT
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BEES
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Finding out how they got to where they are now, what they’ve learned along the way, and what their advice is to other aspiring agri-innovators.
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In this edition Rebecca talks to Delwyn Tuanui from the Chatham Island Food Co and how he chased his dreams from the ground up. From running around Melbourne with a chilly bin of blue cod, knocking on the doors of the city’s best chefs, he knew that he had a top class product.
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Why are weeds a problem in crops and pastures?
2 There was a surge in interest in “weed zapping” in the 1970’s and 1980’s, what happened to make interest subside?
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To listen follow this link: https://open.spotify.com/epis ode/01ScnDBO5W2YcSLJhDf8y2?si=4f872598e33742b 5&fbclid=IwAR1a3ICwqeCmEZX35RS3kVtpNGxrlCMvn xUOI33I-MWlP5qqBV4H13JJszU&nd=1
STRETCH YOURSELF:
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HIVE APIARY APISMELLIFERA HONEYCOMB NECTAR
7 What are some of the other options being studied under AgResearch’s resistance programme?
Across 6 BEEKEEPER 8 HONEYSUPER 13 COMB 15 LAYINGWORKER
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PUPA INSECT SMOKER BEESUIT STING
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METAMORPHIC CARBOHYDRATES FORAGE SWARM THORAX HIVETOOL
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DOWN 26. Made into honey 14. Midsection of a body 1 bee’s What does Chatham Island Food Co produce? 16 Used to pry hive partsto apart 1 Where bees raise young 16. Used pry hive parts Down for hive inspections 2 Group of 20,000-60,000 bees 2 What are some of the unique challenges of living and apart for hive inspections 1.3 Where bees raise young 19 Third stage of bee life cycle Bee protein source working in the Chathams? life 20 Bee 19. Third stage of bee 2.4 Group of head 20,000-60,000 Covers your and face 21 Keepscycle bees sedated when bees 3 What was the catalyst that started Chatham Island 5 Male bee opening hiveBee 20. 3.7 Bee protein Keeps Queen outsource of the Food Co and saw Delwyn return to study? 22 Keeps21. bees from stinging Keeps bees sedated when honeycomb 4. Covers your head and face you when you are working 4 What course did Delwyn undertake in Melbourne? opening hive Type ofbee a bee’s life cycle 5.9 Male with the hive 22. Keeps bees from Honey toQueen a bee out of the 7.10Keeps 5 stinging How did he manage to get the Chatham Island blue 25 Small apparatus that 11 Finding food when with injectsyou poison into anyou are working honeycomb cod in front of the best chefs in Melbourne? 12 Colony splits to form new colony the hive enemy from the bee’s body 9. Type of a bee’s life cycle 14 Midsection of a bee’s body 25. Small apparatus 6 that What was the turnaround time from freshly caught in 10. Honey to a bee injects poison into anthe enemy Chathams to on plate in Melbourne? 11. Finding food from the bee’s body 12. Colony splits to form new 7 What award did they win? colony 9 10 11 12 14 16
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Glyphosates have been a mainstay of many productive land users. Do some research, how ACROSS does glyphosate work? Across 6 Person who takes care of bees 6. Person who takes care of Why has there been some movement away from 8 Box used in hive to hold honey bees 13 Wax that is made into storage the use of glyphosate? 8. Box used in cellshive to hold AgResearch’s lead scientist Trevor James says honey 15 Female bee, not the queen, eggs into is lays made that weed resistance is increasing at rates that 13. Wax thatwho 17 Where bees live exceed expectations. What is weed resistance?storage cells 18 Place where 15. Female bee, not bees theare raised 23 lays Scientific name for bees eggs How is Bloomers method different from previousqueen, who Wax cells where honey is 17. Where24bees live electric weed control? stored 18. Place 26 where bees are Made into honey Why may weeds in pasture be harder to target raised 23. Scientific name for bees compared to crops? 24. Wax cells where honey is Why does James believe that Bloomers machinestored has potential?
Down 1 BROODNEST 2 COLONY 3 POLLEN 4 VEIL 5 DRONE 7 QUEENXCLUDER
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From the ground up - Rebecca Greaves from Young Country takes a closer look at those who have dared to think big, push the limits and give it a go in business. Asking them what the catalyst was to take the plunge and make a change.