"It appears that the number of bee families in the area is successively plummeting. There are many reasons for this situation. It can stem from bee diseases, varroa destructor in particular, but also from an incompetent usage of plant protection products", said Mieczyslaw Kielbasa, the vice-prefect of Nowy Sacz District.

Such poor honey harvests result from the increasing amount of wastelands as they are no longer the forage source for bees. What's more, there has been almost no honeydew for this year's honey production. Additionally, there has been very little flower pollen due to excessive process of cutting down tress, linden especially.

Apart form the councillors, the visitors included Narcyz Kedziora, the manager of Carpathian Beekeeping Association, Jan Opilo, the president of the Forestry and Environment Protection Department in Nowy Sacz District, Emilia and Jacek Nowak form the Beekeeping Farm "Barc".

Ewa Gondek, the chairperson of the Environment Protection Inspectorate in Nowy Sacz, presented the state of local environment for the year 2011. While Anna and Janusz Kasztelewicz showed the guests around their Beekeeping Farm.

The visitors saw the laboratory, the warehouse and the production plant equipped with modern technology. They also found out more about the modus operandi of the Beekeeping Farm. Simultaneously, they discussed the topic of bee diseases, treatment options and problems relating to cutting down trees and grass burning.

"The conclusions will be presented at the next meeting. However, we would like to already suggest the initiative of compiling brochures about application of plant protection products, as well as, organizing special trainings for farmers", states Mr Kielbasa and adds "We should think of more means to stop the dwindling number of bees and to promote beekeeping development". 

From: sądeczanin.info