The Empire State Honey Producers held their fall meeting at Saratoga Springs
this past Friday and Saturday.  One of the featured speakers was Dr.
Nicholas Calderone from Cornell University, who presented the results of
studies they have been doing on screened bottom boards.  When compared to
"regular" bottom boards their studies indicated screened/open bottom boards
showed negligible differences in 3 areas: fall cluster size, honey
production, and VARROA CONTROL!  When asked if screened/open bottom boards
had an impact on over wintering due to improved ventilation, Nick responded
that their studies did not look at that aspect of screened/open bottom
boards.

So, good idea or bad?  Can't say.  It depends on your expectations of the
screened bottom boards.  If you're expecting the screened bottom boards to
be the solution to Varroa problems, Cornell's studies say not.  Repeating,
Cornell's studey says open or closed bottom boards make no never mind in all
areas they examined.

Aaron Morris - thinking back to the drawing board.