Scot said:
I am copying this because I think its an interesting point of view and I am
interested in how many of you will respond to this perspective.

Very missinformed position. The most missinformed position I have seen
penned on the subject.

Almost like the person just learned  the Russian bee is headed for
California. The Russian hybrid was in California this year in record
numbers.

I would guess over 200,000 hives in California this year were headed by
Russian hybrid queens but only a guess based on the several large beekeepers
which run Russians and pollinate almonds.

The poster said:
The Russian dilemma.

The missinformed dilemma. Each is entitled to his/her own opinion which is
the way a free society works but when the opinion is based on simply not
taking the time to explore the issue  before posting the people which do
understand the issue will laugh. Even at times like myself now just let the
post slip by.

I did chuckle when the poster hammered Tom Rinderer over the "Yugo" bee! The
"Yugo" bee is certainly not the varroa tolerant bee the Russian is but
without the failure of the "Yugo" Tom might not have kept up the hunt for
the varroa tolerant bee.

If you analize the fear of the poster about the disaster in California from
the Russian bee you have to ask yourself has the  introduction of the "Yugo"
bee into California years ago caused a similar disaster?

Nope!

The road to success in most endeavors is paved with failures!

Every once in awhile after a beekeeping talk I see a person waiting quietly
to talk with me. Letting the others go first. Then He/she shares a different
opinion than mine. If only a difference of opinion not a big deal but if the
persons veiwpoint comes from not understanding the issue I will take the
neccessary time to sit down and explain the issue. Most people when they see
the whole picture they understand.

The Russian import was at first looked on by myself as maybe a waste of time
and money. The "Yugo" import did not help build my confidence in the
project. Still I can not see how a beekeeper could not understand the
reasons why we did the import.

Australian import:
In the May issue of the American Bee Journal (2005) you will find part two
of the my Australian import story. I honestly believe when beekeepers read
about the way imports are done in and out of Australia and the possibility
of importing through the Australian queen breeders queens from all over the
world ( Yes its true!) you will understand why the lone beekeeper (wishes to
remain unknown)  sent his lawyer to Washington to get the import done.

Sincerely,
Bob Harrison

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