>
> >The focus seems to be on numbers,


Yes, that is exactly the question that I am addressing!


> >but I would
> propose as a control, to create a few smaller
> apiaries from these larger apiaries to help rule
> out the management factor.


That is exactly what I've been saying--that when I sell nucs to hobbyists
who keep them in small apiaries, they don't appear to have as much of a
problem with varroa as do those kept in large apiaries.

When we are speaking of going treatment free, my question is whether it
works as well when scaled up to a profitable operation.

Randy Oliver
Grass Valley, CA
www.ScientificBeekeeping.com

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