Getting beekeepers to practise better.

Introducing beekeepers to a reduced use of varroa treatment is the purpose of our project "Better Beekeeping Practise". The policy of the EU is to reduce the use of pesticides dramatically in agriculture. Beekeeping does not hold a unique position; not to take part in these efforts. However; beekeepers are not well prepared for change. In order to engage beekeepers; we meet them in local organisations during winter; and in summer we visit school apiaries in order to introduce better practise. Many are still mainly applying the calendar in their varroa strategy. To actually follow the guidelines of any approved medicine; and examine the colony before applying treatment; is bewildering. Many ask; “why?” This stubbornness is a major hinderance to ever achieving the goals of sustainable beekeeping. Beekeepers who treat all colonies equally; regardless of varroa infestation levels; will never notice; those colonies that have lower increase in mite populations. Hence these beekeepers are unable to breed from these better bees. This is frustrating; since beekeepers keep experiencing episodes of high losses; due to misguided learnings; like "better be safe than sorry"; or "if a little helps a bit; then more helps a lot". Clearly, we need to reform teaching at the beginners’ level and take old practises out of the existing handbooks.