FIELD                 AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES

 

Review of Apiculture unit standards 19883-19893 and 20249-20258

 

Subfield

Domain

Id

Agriculture

Apiculture

19883-19893, 20249-20258

 

The Agriculture Industry Training Organisation (Agriculture ITO) has completed the review of the unit standards listed above.

 

Date new versions published                                                          August 2009

 

Planned review date                                                                           December 2014

 

Summary of review and consultation process

 

The unit standards were reviewed as they had reached their planned review date and changes were required to reflect changes in the industry.

 

During 2008 a review meeting was convened with the apiculture industry committee.  The committee was made up of practising beekeepers from the beekeeping industry, an entymology scientist, and training providers.

 

Follow up from the review meeting included two cycles of email consultation and teleconferences with members of the apiculture industry committee and New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA) personnel, regarding food safety regulations and standards.

 

The review process included the opportunity for wider industry and public comment and feedback via the Agriculture ITO's web-site.  Changes were considered by the apiculture industry committee and incorporated if considered valid.

 

Final versions of the reviewed apiculture unit standards were endorsed by the apiculture industry committee, and signed off by the President of the New Zealand Beekeeper's Association who was involved with all stages of the review.

 

Main changes resulting from the review

 

·        References and contact details in special notes were updated.

·        Standard 19891 has been replaced by standards 25889 and 25890 to reflect the fact not everyone has access to commercial honey extractors and manual honey extraction is still an acceptable way to extract honey.

·        Standard 20252 has been replaced by standards 25891 and 25892 because the industry needs to be aware of the process for rearing queens but not everyone has access to the actual rearing facilities.

·        Standard 19884 was updated with the inclusion of plastic frames in the performance criteria and the special note definition for frames has been deleted.

·        Varroa mite check has been added to standard 19887.

·        Food Safety Programme requirements have been added to standard 20251.

·        Element 3 has been deleted from standard 20255 as evaluating beehives for pollination programmes is no longer required.

·        New standards 25893, 25894, 25895, 25896, 25897, 25898, and 25899 have been written to cover gaps identified during the review process.

 

The unit standards categorised as category C will expire at the end of December 2010.

 

Impact on existing provider accreditations

 

None.

 

Impact on existing qualifications

 

Qualifications that contain the reviewed standards or classifications are tabled below.

 

Affected

The qualification lists a reviewed classification (domain or subfield) in an elective set

The qualification lists a standard that has changes to level or credits

The qualification lists a C or D category standard

Not materially affected

The qualification lists a standard that has a new title

The qualification lists a standard that has a new classification

 

The following Agriculture Industry Training Organisation qualifications are affected by the outcome of this review and will be reviewed in 2009.

 

Qualification title

Classification or standard in the qualification

National Certificate in Apiculture (Level 2) [Ref: 1036]

19887, 19891

National Certificate in Apiculture (Level 3) [Ref: 1069]

20252, 20256

 

Review Categories and changes to classification, title, level, and credits

 

All changes are in bold.

 

Key to review category

 

A

Dates changed, but no other changes are made - the new version of the standard carries the same Id and a new version number

B

Changes made, but the overall outcome remains the same - the new version of the standard carries the same Id and a new version number

C

Major changes that necessitate the registration of a replacement standard with a new Id

D

Standard will expire and not be replaced

 

Subfield         Agriculture

Domain          Apiculture

Id

Title

Level

Credit

Review Category

19883

Demonstrate knowledge of beehive, and beehive frame assembly and repair

2

2

B

19884

Construct and repair beehives, and beehive frames

2

4

B

19885

Open and close a beehive, work in an apiary, and feed a beehive

2

5

B

19886

Demonstrate knowledge of disease in the bee colony

2

3

B

19887

Identify disease in a bee colony, and carry out apiary site management in the presence of disease

Identify disease in a bee colony, and conduct apiary site management in the presence of disease

2

3

 

4

B

19888

Demonstrate knowledge of the New Zealand beekeeping industry, and career and training opportunities

2

2

B

19889

Prepare a beehive for wintering

2

2

B

19890

Requeen a beehive

2

3

B

19891

 

25889

25890

Remove honey from beehives, and assist with extraction of honey and product processing

Remove honey supers from beehives

Assist with the commercial extraction of honey and product processing

3

 

3

3

6

 

3

4

C

19892

Shift beehives

2

3

B

19893

Describe physical characteristics of bees and their behaviour

2

3

B

20249

Manipulate beehives in spring, evaluate queen performance, and requeen beehives

4

7

B

20250

Demonstrate knowledge of endemic and exotic bee diseases, disorders, pests, and conditions

3

6

B

20251

Use and maintain a honey processing plant

4

7

B

20252

25891

25892

Rear queen bees

Describe the process of rearing queen bees

Rear queen bees

4

4

4

9

3

6

C

20253

Plan, manage beehives for, and evaluate, pollination programmes

Plan and manage beehives for pollination programmes

4

9

 

6

B

20254

Demonstrate knowledge of plants and their role in beekeeping

3

6

B

20255

Describe the role of bees in pollination

3

3

B

20256

Describe the production of beehive products

3

6

7

B

20257

Demonstrate knowledge of the varroa mite and its control in the beekeeping industry

3

6

B

20258

Demonstrate knowledge of American foulbrood (AFB) and its control in the beekeeping industry

3

6

B

25893

Describe bee feeding, feeders and types of bee feed

2

2

New

25894

Carry out manual extraction of honey and product processing

3

3

New

25895

Artificially inseminate queen honey bees

5

4

New

25896

Demonstrate knowledge of honey grading, creaming, and packing

3

2

New

25897

Describe risk management programmes (RMPs) and the Code of Practice (COP) for honey houses

4

6

New

25898

Describe the export system and certification requirements for bee producers and bee products

3

3

New

25899

Describe honey bees, beehives, bee stings, bee diseases, and honey harvesting and processing

2

2

New