The NBA is to undertake consultation with beekeepers throughout New Zealand during May as part of the process required for a Commodity Levy, to fund industry good activities, and a levy under the Biosecurity Act.

The proposals for consideration include establishing a Pest Management Levy so that all beekeepers contribute to the control of American Foulbrood Disease. At present only those who have more that ten hives, or three apiary sites are required to contribute to the pest management.

The proposals also consider the setting of a new Commodity Levy for those who have more that ten hives, or three apiary sites, as at present. However it is planned that the process under the new Levy Order will be simplified from the current process. At present all beekeepers are invoiced for the Levy and those not meeting the threshold are required to return a statutory declaration. Under the new process only those beekeepers over the threshold would be invoiced, which will simplify the administration of the process.

The Commodity Levy will be used for industry good activity including industry research and development, quality, industry leadership, representation, environment and lead by the NBA.

The Pest Management Levy does not require a vote, but the NBA must consult with members and present the results of the consultation to the Minister, along with details of the proposal.

Consultation with beekeepers in the Wellington region will take place on Monday the 13th May (in conjunction with the regular meeting of the Wellington Beekeepers Association). An information pack containing details of the proposed levies is to be mailed to all beekeepers.

Federated Farmers facilitators and NBA Representatives will arrive at a little before 7.30 and their talk will be approximately 1 hour on the Biosecurity Levy. At the beginning of the meeting, we will quickly cover the club administration as per the normal meeting format then hand over to them for their presentation.

We will then present the honey competition awards and after a cup of tea anybody interested can then talk about the commodity levy - 10 plus hives.

Our branch is suggesting a rule change to reduce work loads but a management advisor has suggested that this will not solve the problems with the association. I think the comm levy is dead and we will have to construct a voluntary association with commercial and associates members.

Don't forget that the annual honey competition will be the focus of this month's meeting. Bring your prepared sample along in a standard jar and challenge the club's best!

Information about the date of the promised seminar is not yet available. However, each registered beekeeper should shortly receive a letter providing details of the seminars in the local area. There are two day seminars for commercial beekeepers, and a 3-4 hour session for hobbyists. The seminar will be based on the Control of Varroa handbook distributed to all beekeepers last year. You will be expected to bring the book with you to the seminar to assist with the programme.

The club's annual mead competition will be in June, so members should be planning now on making mead. There are recipes in this edition of the newsletter. Further recipes and instructions from previous newsletters are available on the club website.