This is because you need the nei_plugins mod. Unfortunately there is not a version available for the newest NEI. So its a waiting game right now. But recent forge builds have really fixed somethings. Soon we will have a working 1.5.2 mod pack though.
I know that NEI can't work with 1.5.2 right now. Also i'm having some crashes made by A Sufficient Numbers Of Biomesand ExtraBiomes so i deleted them and stick to vanilla MC biomes. Other stuff works pretty good. But t obe extra lucky i'm waiting for Extra Bees. Vanilla Forestry bees are cool but you can't make tons of new species. But when i will be ready for bee breeding in my new 1.5.2 world ExtraBees will be on the market.