"We're In the Bee Protection Business!"

The Ontario Beekeeper's Association's technical transfer scientist, Dr. Medhat Nasr, developed the single application method of applying formic acid on beehives, to control tracheal and varroa mites, in 1996. NOD Apiary Products Ltd.(NOD) was formed by beekeepers in the spring of 1997 to produce the original Mite AwayII™, and currently Mite AwayII™, ready to use formic acid pads.

For the last two years NOD has been working, in conjunction with the OBA’s current technical transfer scientist Alison Skinner, on improving the original Mite AwayII™ pad, so it would work under a broader range of conditions and be truly single application. This led to the development of the second generation of Mite AwayII™, Mite AwayII™.

Since the research was done in Ontario, Canada, the Ontario beekeepers were the most familiar with the product.  For the first two years  Mite AwayII™ was only sold in Ontario.  Now it is used from coast to coast in Canada and next season (fall 2003) we hope to make it available to beekeepers in the United States. Registration applications have gone in to both PMRA in Canada the EPA in the US.

We are setting up our new production facility down the road from our Honey House use in Stirling, Ontario, to just outside of the village of Frankford. We’ll put some pictures on the website when it is done.

OBA Summer Meeting and NOD Apiary Products Ltd. Grand Opening, July 5, 2003.

"We're in the Bee Protection Business" is the motto of NOD Apiary Products Ltd, manufacturers of Mite Away Single Application Formic Acid Pads and Bee Cozy Winter Wraps.NOD Apiary Products Ltd. (NOD) started in 1997 by beekeepers in Ontario concerned about the ticking clock for Apistan7 life expectancy. Years of joint research with the Ontario Beekeepers Association (OBA) Tech Transfer program led to the development of Mite Away Single Application Formic Acid Pad. Two years ago Ontario experienced and documented mite resistance to Apistan7. The owners of NOD had decided the time had come to set up for large scale manufacturing.

In April of 2002 NOD purchased a two acre property with an 8600 square foot building, close to the rural community of Frankford, ON. It has been renovated and equipment custom built for handling formic acid and packaging Mite Away has been installed. It is large enough to serve the entire Canadian beekeeping industry and has the production capability to meet the North American beekeeping industry needs.

The Grand Opening of NOD Apiary Products Ltd. was held at the NOD production facility, Frankford, Ontario on Saturday, July 5, 2003 in conjunction with the Ontario Beekeepers Association Summer Meeting. Over 150 people attended the combined event. During speeches co-founder of NOD Apiary Products Ltd, the late Neil Orr was remembered as a cornerstone of the company and a driving force in the development of the Mite Away formic acid pad. His wife, Eleanor Orr has taken over the presidency of NOD Apiary Products Ltd. and continues to provide the same spirit to the company.

The Federal Minister of Agriculture for Canada, the Honourable Lyle Vanclief , was informed of NOD's efforts, and he was invited to address the July 5th OBA summer meeting. Despite being extremely busy with the Agriculture portfolio, which included dealing with the Mad Cow disease problem, Lyle decided to come and gave an informative speech about the issues his office was dealing with in the beekeeping industry. These issues included border closure and the possibility of opening it to queen importation. It turns out he had helped move bees for pollination in his younger days and has always had a personal interest in the beekeeping industry. He was very supportive of what NOD is doing and personally told NOD CEO David Vander Dussen he sees this formic acid treatment as the future of the beekeeping industry. Other dignitaries on hand who addressed the gathering were Ontario MPP Ernie Parsons, Quinte West Mayor Bob Campney and Quinte West Councillor Robert Lockwood.

This year's summer OBA meeting was focused on the use of formic acid. Dr. Robert Currie of the University of Manitoba was the guest speaker, covering the topics of using formic acid in indoor wintering and current research at the University, much of it being done by Robyn Underwood, an American post-graduate student. David Vander Dussen also gave a presentation on formic acid in the hive environment, explaining the dynamics within the cluster area and the importance of following label directions for use. The Quinte Beekeepers Association, who co-hosted the meeting, had their mobile extraction demonstration unit on display.

For more information on Mite Away and the use of formic acid for control of varroa and tracheal mites check out the NOD website at www.Mite Away.com 

Last Updated May 16, 2008

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