Hello All,

There are people high in beekeeping and research which do believe the
neonicotinoid ban in France improved bee health. When the documentary "The
Vanishing Bees" is released you will here from these beekeepers and
researchers.

That said *if* the neonicotinoids have no role in bee problems then what IS
killing the bees?

Winter as is put forth in the U.K. or in Canada?

Really?

I do not buy the winter BS. Never did. A properly prepared hive can take the
most severe winter in either place.

Is PPB the problem?

I always hear the problem is varroa controls are failing.

Really?

I would rather say many beekeepers are failing to control varroa! Formic and 
thymol
work if applied correctly and at the right time. Hell even sugar dusting
will work if done often enough.

The news media might buy the BS but most of the professional beeks do not!

As my friend George Imirie  always said there are beekeepers and bee havers.
Bee Havers ( most commercial beeks call these commercial people "box
movers") are even in the commercial circles. Mostly people which think they
are going to get rich in the commercial beekeeping when the price of honey
climbs to record levels ( right now) and almond pollination fees are high
( right now). Jump in without even the basic education on honey bee
husbandry. I had two of these people approach me this week.
Both buying equipment and putting together as fast as they can.

Many new wanna bee commercial beeks are surprised to find there is not a
single book on how to be a successful commercial beekeeper. Almost all
*successful* outfits can be traced back to several generations of
beekeepers.  Trial & error and learning from past mistakes over decades.

Allen Dick website has the most information on the subject on the web (
although now a bit dated). A website I picked up many pointers from. I have
shared enough secrets a novice could be successful *if* he/she went back and
read the thousands of post I have done ( Last time I checked I think over
7000).

The number of commercial beekeeper continue to dwindle each year. I predict
in 20 years *if* commercial beekeeping is still around in the U.S. most
commercial beekeepers will be Hispanic.

The Hispanic people  are the people willing to do the jobs feeding
America today's generation of Americans seem unwilling to do. Such as 
picking
and growing our vegetables and fruit. A higher number moving into commercial 
beekeeping each year.

An inconvenient truth in America:

If we stop the Hispanics from coming in looking for a better life then who 
are we going to get to do the everyday work our kids refuse to do?

In beekeeping my path has crossed many Hispanic workers paths. Hard working 
people only wanting to make a life doing the jobs the current generation 
refuses to do!

If the middle class continues to disappear many people will end up working 
jobs they never thought they would to provide a family income. Plenty of 
work in the fields but the best jobs are going overseas.

rent of rant.


bob

             ***********************************************
The BEE-L mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned 
LISTSERV(R) list management software.  For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html