Natural Beekeeping: How Welsh Mountain Apiaries Combats Mite Threats

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October 20, 2023

Hey there, fellow nature lovers! Back in May, something pretty exciting happened at Miller's Bio Farm – we welcomed bees into our big family. And boy, have they been a game-changer! Our mission has always been about getting you the real deal – pure, natural goodies that Mother Nature herself would be proud of. Now, if you've had a chance to try OUR RAW HONEY (and we sure hope you have), you've tasted the magic our little buzzing friends have been up to. But, like with everything in nature, there are challenges to face – like pesky mites.

Let's take a closer look at what these remarkable creatures face and how Welsh Mountain Apiaries ensure their well-being, especially against the looming threat of mites.

What Mites Are & Why They're Bad for Bees

Mites are tiny arthropods, many species of which consider the honey bee their ideal host. These microscopic parasites feed on the bees and their larvae, weakening the colony and making it susceptible to a host of other diseases.

Mites, particularly the Varroa destructor, are a natural part of the ecosystem in bee colonies. In small numbers, they coexist with bees without causing substantial harm. However, their rapid multiplication can lead to detrimental effects on the health and well-being of the hive.

When mite populations explode, they latch onto bees as external parasites, feeding on their bodily fluids and weakening them in the process. This parasitic behavior not only directly affects the vitality of individual bees but also introduces various viruses and pathogens, which can further degrade the health of the colony. Infected bees may exhibit deformed wings, shortened lifespans, and a weakened immune system.

One of the most devastating outcomes of an unchecked mite infestation is colony collapse disorder (CCD). In CCD, a majority of worker bees mysteriously desert the hive, leaving the queen, immature bees, and a few nurse bees behind. Without the worker bees, the colony cannot function — they play critical roles in foraging, feeding the young, and maintaining the hive. As a result, the hive weakens progressively and inevitably meets its demise.

It's important to understand that mites don't just threaten the individual colony they infest. As bees from different hives interact and forage in the same areas, mites can transfer between them, posing a risk to the broader bee population in an area. Therefore, controlling mite populations is not just about preserving individual hives but also about ensuring the health and sustainability of the wider bee community.

While bees have some defensive behaviors, like grooming each other to remove mites, these actions often aren't enough when faced with a significant infestation. This is where beekeepers come in to assist, employing various techniques and products to keep mite populations in check.

How Mites Are Handled Conventionally

Many conventional beekeepers use synthetic chemicals such as amitraz, coumaphos, or fluvalinate to treat mite infestations. These treatments can be effective but come with a price. Synthetic miticides have been questioned for their potential long-term effects on both the bees and the honey they produce. Some studies suggest that these chemicals can accumulate in wax and honey, leading to potential health risks for consumers and the possibility of developing resistance in mites. Some of the potential health risks associated with the chemicals are:

Amitraz:
- Bees: Can change bee behavior and hinder colony growth.
- Humans: May cause dizziness, headaches, and nausea. The long-term effects of honey consumption is not fully known.
Coumaphos:
- Bees: Can harm drone bees' survival and the queen's reproductive capabilities.
- Humans: Can lead to symptoms like nausea and dizziness. Prolonged exposure might have neurological effects.
Fluvalinate:
- Bees: Generally safer, but misuse can be harmful.
- Humans: Symptoms of exposure include tingling and numbness. Chronic exposure has shown liver issues in rodent studies.

It’s also important to note:

Chemical accumulation in bee wax can create a toxic environment for bees.
Over reliance can lead to mites developing resistance, prompting the use of stronger chemicals.

We really need to push for better ways to handle those mites! It's all about keeping bees happy and honey pure.

How Our Natural Beekeeper Handles Mites

So, what does our beekeeper do for mite control? Welsh Mountain Apiaries tackles this challenge in a way that's harmonious with nature. They use Mite Away Quick Strips (MAQS), a product that controls mites without disrupting the natural integrity of the hives or the honey. MAQS's active ingredient is formic acid, an organic acid already naturally present in honey.

Formic acid was first discovered in 1671 by the English naturalist John Ray. This same acid is what gives that sting when you get bitten by ants and some bees. Fast forward to today, and formic acid is mainly made in big factories by reacting carbon monoxide with water, all under some intense heat and pressure.

When applied, the formic acid vapor spreads throughout the hive, reaching and eliminating mites where they breed while leaving the bees unharmed. As an organic acid, it doesn't accumulate in the wax or honey, and mites can't develop resistance to it. This ensures that the honey remains pure, natural, and safe for our customers, just as nature intended.

Our Commitment to Natural Food

At the heart of Miller's Bio Farm lies a deep-rooted commitment to maintaining the delicate balance of nature. From the lush fields where our cows munch away, to the busy world of our bees, we’re all about working hand-in-hand with nature. Partnering up with Welsh Mountain Apiaries just shows our commitment, ensuring that every drop of OUR RAW HONEY is a testament to our dedication to natural, sustainable, and ethical practices. A big thanks to all our loyal customers! Picking Miller's means you're with us on this natural journey.

Any questions about our honey? Contact Us.

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References:

Parasitic mites of honey bees: life history, implications, and impact

Subchronic exposure of honeybees to sublethal doses of pesticides: effects on behavior

Effects of fluvalinate and coumaphos on queen honey bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae) in two commercial queen rearing operations

High Levels of Miticides and Agrochemicals in North American Apiaries: Implications for Honey Bee Health | PLOS ONE

Formic acid - New World Encyclopedia

From farm to fork: Understanding the value of sustainable pork

Raising Pork the Old-Fashioned Way: Miller's Bio Farm's Commitment to Quality At Miller's Bio Farm, we're not trying to reinvent the wheel, we're bringing back the farming practices that sustained communities for generations. As an Amish farm, we understand that good stewardship of the land and animals isn't just about business; it's about honoring creation and providing wholesome food for families. When you buy pork from us, you're getting more than just meat. You're getting the result of careful, intentional farming that puts the well-being of our animals, our land, and your family first. Let's be honest: most grocery store pork comes wrapped in pretty words like "natural" and "humanely raised," but these labels often don't mean much. It's easy to put nice words on a package, much harder to actually do the work of raising animals properly. We'd like to show you how we do things differently here at Miller's Bio Farm. What Makes Our Pork Different Good pork starts with good practices. For us, that means healthy soil, happy animals, responsible harvesting, and thoughtful management of everything that happens on our farm. Here's what that looks like in practice: Pasture-Raised the Way Nature Intended Pigs aren't meant to spend their lives standing on concrete in windowless buildings. They're curious, intelligent animals that need fresh air, sunshine, and room to express their natural behaviors, rooting in the dirt, foraging for food, and socializing with other pigs. On our farm, hogs live outdoors on pasture in the woods where they can do exactly that. We move them regularly to fresh ground, which keeps them healthy and gives the land time to rest and regenerate. This practice, sometimes called rotational grazing is farming wisdom that's been passed down for centuries. When pigs root and forage on fresh pasture, they're naturally fertilizing the soil and helping plants grow back stronger. The land becomes more fertile season after season, storing carbon and building topsoil instead of depleting it. No chemical fertilizers needed, just pigs doing what pigs do best. This kind of farming takes more work than confining animals in one place, but it produces better results for everyone involved: healthier pigs, healthier land, and better tasting pork. Raising Animals with Respect Our approach to animal care reflects our values as an Amish farming community. We believe animals deserve to be treated with dignity and respect throughout their lives. Processing with Care When harvest time comes, we work with a small processor who shares our commitment to humane treatment. Our animals are handled calmly and respectfully, with immediate stunning to ensure they feel no distress. This isn't just the right thing to do, it also affects meat quality. Animals that are stressed at slaughter produce tougher, less flavorful meat. Properly handled animals yield tender, delicious pork that you can taste the difference in. Studies also confirm what traditional farmers have long known: animals raised on pasture produce meat with better nutritional profiles, including higher omega-3 fatty acids and more vitamins. Wholesome Feed, No Shortcuts We raise heritage breed pigs, traditional breeds known for their hardiness and flavor. These animals thrive on pasture with supplemental non-GMO grain, and they don't need antibiotics or growth hormones to stay healthy. In industrial pork production, antibiotics are mixed into feed daily to prevent disease in overcrowded conditions. This practice is creating drug-resistant bacteria that threaten public health, a problem we don't contribute to. Our pigs build strong immune systems naturally through good nutrition, clean living conditions, and low-stress environments. It's the way farming worked for centuries before shortcuts became the norm. Caring for God's Creation As stewards of the land, we take seriously our responsibility to leave it better than we found it. That's not just good farming, it's part of our calling. Building Soil, Not Destroying It Industrial agriculture depletes soil through intensive tilling, chemical dependence, and continuous monoculture cropping. This approach might boost short-term production, but it's not sustainable. We farm differently. Our rotational grazing actually improves soil health year after year. As pigs move across pasture, they naturally incorporate organic matter into the ground. Rest periods allow plants to regrow with deeper roots, which prevents erosion and captures carbon from the atmosphere. The result is living, fertile soil teeming with beneficial microorganisms soil that produces nutritious forage without synthetic inputs. Handling Waste Responsibly Large scale pig operations often store waste in enormous lagoons that leak pollutants into water supplies and release harmful gases into the air. These systems create environmental and health problems for surrounding communities. Our approach couldn't be more different. Because our pigs are spread across pasture and woodlands in manageable groups, their manure distributes naturally as valuable fertilizer rather than concentrating into a waste problem. When winter weather requires us to bring pigs into shelter, we bed them deeply with straw or wood shavings. This creates a composting effect that safely breaks down manure without environmental contamination. We also plant diverse pasture species specifically chosen to absorb nutrients and maintain ecological balance. Not all pigs like to go in the open shelter in the winter time and that's perfectly fine with us! The Real Story Behind Your Pork Chop Many people wonder which type of meat is most environmentally friendly. The truth is, it's not so much about whether you're eating pork, beef, or chicken, it's about how that animal was raised. Take beef as an example. You've probably heard that cattle are terrible for the environment. That criticism applies to feedlot operations where thousands of cattle are confined in small spaces and fed grain-heavy diets. But cattle raised properly on well managed pasture actually improve the land and sequester carbon. The animal itself isn't the problem; the farming method is. The same principle applies to pork. Factory farmed pork has serious environmental and ethical problems. Pasture raised pork from a regenerative farm like ours is a completely different product. One challenge specific to pork is that pigs need grain as part of their diet, they can't survive on grass alone like cattle can. This means sustainable pork production requires access to sustainably grown grain, ideally non-GMO corn and soybeans from farmers practicing regenerative agriculture. On our farm, we're committed to sourcing feed from responsible growers who share our values of soil health, biodiversity, and chemical free farming. What You're Really Buying When you purchase pork from Miller's Bio Farm, you're not just buying bacon or pork chops. You're supporting a way of farming that's been proven over generations, one that respects animals, regenerates land, and produces genuinely nutritious food. We're proud to raise pork the right way, even though it's more work. Because at the end of the day, that's what good stewardship looks like. And that's something worth bringing home to your table. Check out our: ✔️Corn & Soy Free ✔️ Vaccine, Drug, GMO-Free ✔️Heritage Breeds ✔️Woodland Raised PORK COLLECTION HERE: https://millersbiofarm.com/sto...