> Although most other beekeepers don't test as extensively as I do, if at
> all, my rough impression is that most other hives in the area are about
> like mine this year.

I don't.  I did, now I just monitor.

Breeding aside.  I owe a debt to a local side liner.  He tells me that he 
requeens every August with his own queen cells.  The advantages are many. 
During the break in the brood cycle, Varroa bottoms out.  You go into the 
spring with fresh queens that lay up a storm.  The risk of swarming with 
fresh queens is cut in half, over using a two year old queen.  When you 
raise your own queens, you know what you are getting.

Jim Hock
Wethersfield, CT 

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