Hi Dave,

Yes use hygienic bees! I'm going with NWC use whatever race you want.  Just
remember hygienic lines have to be maintained and may be allot of work(what
isn't?).  Answer to question #1:  Why replace frames?  Only replace frames
when you need to such as disease, to much drone comb, ect. Don't through
your money out if these frames are still good.  Question #2:  The point of
using hygienic bees is so they will remove diseases, right?  Therefore
treatment could be discontinued.  BUT!!!, keep tight reigns on your hygienic
stock.  Question #3:You will have to inspect often if you pursue this route.
I would compromise and dust with TM every other year or third year.  Humans
make mistakes so if you missed a hive with a miniscule amount of disease it
would help keep it in check until you discovered it.

Clayton



----- Original Message -----
From: Dave Hamilton <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, November 28, 2000 6:26 AM
Subject: Re: TM in crisco


> People have gotten pretty far a field from the original discussion of
> whether it was a good practice to us hygienic bees and to:
>
> 1) replace 2 old combs per hive body each year with new frames and
> foundation
> 2) not routinely treat with TM until you find AFB
> 3) inspect often for AFB
>