THE Varroa mite incursion (search on the internet for more info) in bees is a prime example of what an FMD notification will do to our livestock industry. The government has activated its plan and beekeepers are already having hives destroyed in the Newcastle area. In turn the Newcastle population are being asked to notify any feral swarms they are aware of. Treating bees as small livestock you can very quickly see the complexity of controlling an exotic outbreak with the potential to destroy an industry. A bee standstill is in place right on the time when hives are transferred to…
