I am pleased to see the level of reason brought to this discussion by Jim
Fischer and others.  I agree with their thoughts that elimination of AFB is
not desirable (even if possible), and that burning at the slightest sign of
infection is an ignorant response.  (The fact that it is legally required
does not mean it is an appropriate approach.)

Someone made the point that we need some level of AFB infection as it is
extremely unlikely that it will ever be eliminated worldwide and we need the
constant pressure on honeybee genetics to keep some level of resistance.  I
could not agree more.  In fact, if NZ ever accomplishes their goal of
elimination of AFB I believe it should make their queens considerably less
attractive in the export markets.  A related situation is the fact that
while Tracheal Mites have never been found in Hawaii, queen breeders there
import semen from Tracheal Mite resistant stock so that they can continue to
sell queens to the mainland US.  Good practice!

Think about it...those of European, Asian and African decent used to have
good resistance to what we call German Measles.  For lots of good reasons a
vaccine was developed, but the vaccine is short-lived.  Today it is widely
recognized that an outbreak will be a public health disaster, as German
Measles resistance has been lost and most of the world's population is
highly susceptable...and German Measles can kill!  Same with Smallpox.

I wasn't around (as a beekeeper), but my understanding of the reason AFB was
such a disaster in the 1940's and 1950's is that the genetic stock in the US
had little to no resistance due to a lack of prior exposure.  (I understand
no one knows where the disease came from, but it was unknown until the late
1800's.)

I have personally seen commercial, migratory beekeeping operations with
brood nests full of AFB scale.  Yet these operations regularly pass
inspections needed to migrate.  The justification is that there is "no
active AFB, and if we kept out all hives with scale we would close the
migratory operations."  Not said is that if the inspectors adopted such an
approach, the inspectors in the states from which the bees were coming would
retaliate in kind...and the mess would be unbelievable.  (The reason there
is no active AFB is the prophylactic use of Terra.)

Some beekeepers that I highly respect will strongly disagree with me, but I
am inclined to think that inspection programs with inspectors paid by a
government should be a thing of the past.  Among the many reasons for my
views are:
1. I don't believe that AFB any longer is an organism that may destroy
beekeeping in the US.
2. I think the "average" beekeeper, whether commercial, hobbyist or
sideliner, is far more educated and knowledgeable than her counterpart in
the early part of this century.  She is capable and will follow good
beekeeping practices that are appropriately communicated.
3. We have means of communication among beekeepers and researchers that were
largely not available early in this century.

The resistance to Terra, will change beekeeping in significant ways.
Probably all of them good.  However, we need some AFB infection rate for our
genetic stocks and IMHO we do not need inspectors to tell us we have
infections!  As taxpayers, our money can be better spent elsewhere...and
perhaps via our own decisions rather than at government direction.



Lloyd
Mailto:[log in to unmask]
Lloyd Spear Owner, Ross Rounds, Inc.  The finest in comb honey production.
Visit our web site at http://www.rossrounds.com.