Beekeepers
APC Beekeeper Producers’ Committee supports efforts to improve WA varroa mite preparedness and response.
$80,000 one-off funding round to open.
Representing all WA beekeepers, the Committee is committed to efforts to the control of pest and disease in Western Australia.
Considering the ongoing threat of varroa mite incursion, the Committee recently met to review the investment priorities for your fee-for-service monies to ensure the greatest impact in preparedness and response. The Committee had the benefit of hearing directly from DPIRD on current initiatives being led by the Department, and opportunities to supplement those activities.
As a result of this review, the Committee have determined that investing in education & preparation is essential. To this end they have decided to redirect a significant portion of the existing but insufficient Hive Reimbursement Scheme – a biosecurity response initiative currently funded to $115k to more targeted biosecurity activities with greater effectiveness for the industry as a whole,
The Committee recognises that the reimbursement scheme offers limited value to only a small number of beekeepers in the event of hives being destroyed. In the context of the limited funding, the Committee have decided to close the scheme and prioritise activities which would support better preparedness and incursion response for the broader Industry.
As the first step, the Committee are pleased to announce a one-off funding round open from 23 October 2023 to 10 November 2023, with an initial $80,000 pool to be awarded (in part or in full) for projects which will improve industry/beekeeper preparedness for a varroa mite incursion or improve the efficiency or efficacy of incursion response in the future.
The Committee are particularly interested in projects/initiatives which might include:
· Improve surveillance and detection of varroa mite in Western Australia.
· Increase the capability of beekeepers in identifying or responding to varroa mite.
· Increase access to and effective use of alcohol wash.
· Improve beekeeper record keeping and statistical data collection.
· Prepare and deliver effective industry support tools and materials for beekeepers.
· Support capacity for preparedness and response program delivery.
The Committee encourages funding applicants and service providers to maximise value to Fee-for-service payers, and as such, projects which propose co-funding may be favorably viewed.
Paying your FFS
APC Beekeeper Producers' Committee
Biosecurity
Stay Informed
The committee functions and services are funded by West Australian beekeepers through the annual APC Fee for Service (FFS) charge. The Committee has determined a two-tier Fee for Service charge. The charges are:
Service charge per beekeeper per year = $20.00, plus
Service charge per bee hive in production = @ $1.00 per hive
The compulsory Fee-for-service for beekeepers is collected by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development each year. Registered beekeepers receive a FFS Return form in May of each year, with payment due on or before 30 June. In 2023, FFS return forms were issued by the Department electronically for the first time.
If you have not received are having difficulties in accessing the payment portal, please contact the DPIRD Brands office by phone 1300 926 547 or email Brands.Bunbury@dpird.wa.gov.au.
If you are still unable to log in to facilitate payment of your fee, you can download the manual FFS form.
The APC Beekeeper Producers’ Committee was established on 26 August 2003. The agreed focus of the Committee is to provide leadership to beekeepers, ensure governance accountability and identify and implement biosecurity initiatives for the industry on behalf of all beekeepers in Western Australia.
Honey Bee Industry Strategic Plan
In 2022, in collaboration with industry, BICWA and WAAS, the APC Beekeepers Producers’ Committee approved the WA Bee, Honey and Pollination Industry Strategic Plan 2022-27. The Plan outlines the key vision, objectives and strategies for the industry in the coming years.
Want to know how the Strategic Plan was developed? See the detailed reports:
Committee Vision Statement
To promote the interests of all beekeepers in Western Australia by focusing on pest and disease surveillance, communication and research.
Committee Mission Statement
By supporting worthwhile industry initiatives, the APC Beekeeper producers' committee, is committed to securing profitability and sustainability of beekeepers in Western Australia.
The committee represents all Western Australian beekeepers.
Committee Membership
The Committee consists of six members and aims to represent all sections of the industry.
Committee members are appointed for a three year period with terms commencing in June and ending in May of the relevant year. Members may apply for re-election once their period of tenure has expired.
When positions become vacant the Commission calls for applications from beekeepers who might be interested in applying for membership on the committee. This is done by placing advertisements in statewide newspapers, on the APC website and in relevant industry newsletters.
The Commission strives to achieve a balanced and diverse membership on all APC producers' committees. This includes gender diversity, geographic spread, business size and industry experience.
Member | Terms | Email / Phone
Chairperson
Matthew Colvin | 2022 - 2025 | matt@wapurehoney.com |Jessica Brunner | 2022 - 2025 |
David Christensen | 2023 - 2026|
Gary Richards | 2023 - 2026|
Kynan Ridley | 2023 - 2026|
Matt Welch | 2023 - 2026|
Executive Support
Geoff Reid (APC)
Postal address PO Box 7205, Karawara, 6152 | | beekeepers@apcwa.org.auTerms are usually for three years commencing in June, except where appointments need to be of varying length in order that too many terms don’t expire in the same year.
Interested in Joining the Committee?
All registered beekeepers are eligible to become members of the APC Beekeeper producers' committee. Nomination forms can be downloaded here.
Committee members are elected for a three year period with terms commencing in June and ending in May of the relevant year. Members may apply for re-election once their period of tenure has expired. In line with good governance, the Committee strives to achieve a balanced board, with members possessing experience in a range of areas and representing all WA beekeeping activities.
Functions
The Committee is authorised to provide services (b), (c), (d), (h), (l), (la) and (m) as listed under Functions of an APC Producers ‘ Committee.
Functions and Services Provided by the Committee
Funded by beekeepers, the following services are provided by the committee:
Supports enhanced Pest and Disease Surveillance – protects the West Australian Beekeeping industry
Represents and advocates for producers interests on local and national committees and with regulators and policy makers
Supports Beekeeper Training - assists beekeepers to be knowledgeable and skilled in all areas of keeping bees.
Supports research initiatives - ensures the industry is supported by cutting edge research and knowledge about bee health and pest disease prevention, honey quality and properties.
Produces BeeInformed - the WA beekeeping industry newsletter- keeps beekeepers up-to-date on bio-security and other industry related matters.
Pest and Disease Surveillance Initiatives
The committee is committed to preventing the entry, spread and outbreak of exotic and endemic pests and diseases to the beekeeping industry in Western Australia. It is able to provide this service to commercial and non-commercial producers through Section 19a of the Agricultural Produce Commission Act. The committee monitors the biosecurity policies and activities of the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD). Committee members regularly meet with government and industry stakeholders to ensure enhanced pest and disease surveillance programs are in place and contribute to the development of state and national biosecurity regulations, in association with Plant Health Australia (PHA), the Australian Honey Bee Industry Council (AHBC) and DPIRD.
The committee also supports biosecurity training initiatives to ensure beekeepers are knowledgeable and skilled in identifying and managing pests and diseases. In fact, the committee has provided support for accredited bee biosecurity training and funded the delivery of DPIRD’s Beekeeper Emergency Response (Hive Heroes) Training program. This important training upskills beekeepers in relevant surveillance methods and biosecurity emergency response procedures for exotic bee pests. Further information on this will be provided through the BeeInformed magazine.
Section 19a of the Agricultural Produce Commission Act allows for provision of services to non-commercial producers when the Minister, by notice published in the Gazette, has declared a specified pest or disease to be a pest or disease "to which this section applies”. The following designated bee pests and diseases have been prescribed under Section 19a:
Designated pests:
Acarine (Tracheal mite, Acarapis Woodi)
Africanised honey bee
Asian honey bee
Tropilaelaps mite (Tropilaelaps clareae)
Bruala fly
Small hive beetle
Varroasis (Varroa destructor and Varroa jacobsoni)
Designated diseases:
American foul brood
European foul brood
In declaring the above pests and diseases, the Beekeepers Committee is able to provide services to both commercial and non-commercial producers and thus help to ensure the protection of the entire Western Australian beekeeping industry.
Think you might have American Foul Brood or...?
In the event of an incursion of an exotic pest or disease, WA uses the PHA Owner Reimbursement Framework, which can be obtained on the PHA website.
Please note that this framework only applies to pest/disease outbreaks that do not already exist in WA. It does not apply to pests and diseases that have already been experienced in WA, which are described above. If you think you might have an exotic pest or disease, contact DPIRD immediately to prevent an incursion and then contact the committee to determine if you are eligible to apply for reimbursement.
Submit a sample for testing using this form. For more information and costs, check out DPIRD lab services.
Relevant bee biosecurity links
Beekeepers in WA can help DPIRD map the distribution of apiary pests by reporting established bee pests and diseases using the MyPestGuide® Reporter app.
Declared pests that are present throughout WA (such as American foulbrood) must be reported to DPIRD by:
by emailing the DPIRD apiary unit at PBhoney@dpird.wa.gov.au
calling DPIRD’s Pest and Disease Information Service on (08) 9368 3080; or
submitting a report using the MyPestGuide® Reporter app (factsheet for MyPestGuide™ Bee Survey).
If you suspect you have seen an exotic bee or bee pest, immediately call the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline 1800 084 881.
If you need general information about WA bee biosecurity, check out the DPIRD website. They provide regular articles about local conditions and pests and diseases.
In 2016 AHBIC and PHA released the Biosecurity Code of Practice and the National Bee Biosecurity Program.
The Plant Health Australia Bee Aware Program is an excellent resource and provides links to outstanding videos, including the Bee Biosecurity Video Series, Elimination of American Foulbrood, Best management practices for beekeepers, Working safely with honey bees and Surveillance methods for exotic pests.
Responsible Beekeeping training courses, including pest and disease management techniques are regularly provided through the WA Apiarists Society.
The committee developed the Field Diagnosis Guide for WA Beekeepers. This Guide has now been updated by DPIRD..
In 2014, the committee began work on a nominal re-imbursement scheme for beekeepers if bee hives are destroyed in response to a biosecurity incursion. Please note that the scheme will not provide re-imbursement for hives destroyed as a result of routine endemic infections, i.e. pests and disease that are already in WA, such as AFB.
BeeInformed
The BeeInformed magazine is the only magazine dedicated to the entire bee industry in WA. It is produced by the Committee to provide up-to-date biosecurity, education and industry news to all beekeepers and interested parties. BeeInformed is produced three times a year (April, August, December) and is provided free to all APC Fee-for-Service paying beekeepers, link apcwa-beekeepers.mailchimpsites.com.
If you are interested in receiving BeeInformed, subscribe here.
Need to contact the editor or interested in submitting an article or images? Email beeinformed2@gmail.com.
Interested in advertising in BeeInformed?
BeeInformed advertising is inexpensive and your ad will reach all registered beekeepers in Western Australia. Check out the options here
WA Beekeeper Registration (through DPIRD)
In addition to the annual APC FFS charge, WA beekeepers also need to register a hive brand with the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD). As of 2013, registration of hives is for a three year period. Beekeepers are required to re-register their hive brand every third year, on the anniversary date of the first registration. Beekeepers Registration Fees are set by DPIRD at the beginning of each financial year.
Once registered, beekeepers are issued with a licence and brand identification which must be produced on all beekeeping equipment. Beekeepers also receive a certificate of registration in the form of a card (similar to a credit card). The card includes the following details:
Beekeepers trading name
Address
Hive brand
Number of hives registered
Period of registration
Costs of registering can be obtained from the DPIRD website at 'Becoming a beekeeper'. Further enquiries and application forms can be downloaded or obtained from the Brands office on (08) 9780 6100.
Quick Links
Bee Industry Council of WA (BICWA)
The representative body of the WA beekeeping industry.
The WA Apiarists’ Society currently has over 500 members, the majority being hobbyists who meet to learn, share and promote the craft of beekeeping. Formed in 1953, the Society has been guided by a committee of volunteers under whom membership numbers have steadily increased. They are the second oldest Beekeeping Association in Western Australia and proudly say that they have the largest membership not only in WA but in Australia.
The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) assists the bee industry in its commitment to quality assurance and ensuring apiary products are clean, safe and free from chemical contamination. Strong focus on research in honeybee nutrition and queen bee breeding has been pivotal.
BeeAware is a hub of information for beekeepers and growers about honey bee biosecurity and pollination of agricultural and horticultural crops. The site contains an extensive range of information about exotic and established pests and diseases of honey bees, and helps beekeepers to identify and respond to these pest threats. It also contains information about the pollination of crops and how beekeepers and growers can work together to provide and receive best practice pollination services. BeeAware is funded by the Australian honey bee industry, pollinator-reliant plant industries, Plant Health Australia, governments and R&D agencies.
National Bee Pest Surveillance Program Plant Health Australia
The National Bee Pest Surveillance Program is an early warning system to detect new incursions of exotic bee pests and pest bees. The program involves a range of surveillance methods conducted at locations considered to be of most likely entry of bee pests and pest bees throughout Australia.
The Australian Honey Bee Industry Council (AHBIC)
The Australian Honey Bee Industry Council (AHBIC) aims to maximise the efficient use of industry resources and funds to ensure the long term economic viability, security and prosperity of the Australian Honey Bee industry in Australia. They foster, promote, enhance and protect the interests of the Australian Honey Bee Industry and the vitality of its members and represent industry policy at all levels of government, private enterprise and the public.
Statutory levies paid by industry participants, matched dollar for dollar by the Australian Government (up to 0.5 per cent of the industry’s GVP) are provided to the Honey Bee and Pollination RD&E Program to improve the productivity and profitability of the Australian bee keeping industry through the organisation, funding and management of a research, development and extension program that is both stakeholder and market-focused. Horticulture Innovation Australia (HIA) also supports Program research.