Honey production in Kentucky was valued at approximately $1.2 million in 2021 according to the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. However, that data does not even include the thousands of backyard beekeepers with less than 5 hives who also sell honey across the state. Further, the economic value of beekeeping goes far beyond just the sale of honey as bees across the United States provide pollination services valued at $15-20 billion nationwide each year.

While recent improvements in bee breeding have resulted in mite-resistant colonies, a mite called Varroa destructor still causes significant beehive mortality across the state. Varroa mites not only hinder honey bees by feeding on both adults and larvae, but they also cause damage to hives by vectoring diseases. Varroa mites leave open wounds on bees creating pathways for disease transmission and lowering bees' immune response.

Backyard beekeepers who obtain bees and queens from a reputable source, conduct frequent inspections, and properly manage their hives can prevent some bee losses. Chemical application is another option for controlling varroa mites and a new amitraz-based product called Amiflex was released for public purchase in 2023. Amiflex is advertised as the first legal, safe, and ready-to-use “flash” amitraz product for beekeepers providing an easy way to treat hives before, between, or after honey flows without temperature constraints. The only limitation is that applying the miticide requires a private pesticide applicator license.

Usually, when the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service offers private pesticide applicator training at their county offices the classes are geared towards orchardists, grain and forage croppers, and golf course managers, not beekeepers. Nevertheless, the Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension Agent for Bullitt County reformatted the training and invited the Kentucky State Apiarist to offer beekeeper-specific content to the Bullitt County Beekeepers Association in January 2023. 

In preparation for the release of Amiflex later in the year, beekeepers across the county wanted to be ready to be able to collectively purchase and apply the product on infected hives. 26 association members attended the 3-hour training and all 26 left certified as private pesticide applicators. With the assistance of the State Apiarist, Dr. Tammy Horn Potter, they each practiced using the Varroa Management Decision Tool from the Honey Bee Health Coalition to help make informed treatment decisions and conduct more effective integrated pest management in their hives. All 26 beekeepers in attendance also left with more information on the University of Kentucky's resources for apiarists through the Center for Crop Diversification.