Hello Trevor & All,

> Have there been any reports on how these re-stocked hives are faring?

In the area of restocking hives many CCD effected beekeepers feel the
USDA-ARS & the CCD team have dropped the ball.( personal conversation).  The
CCD people  are simply moving too slow. No definite answer.

Reuse of comb has been the question posed to the CCD researchers for over
six months now!

Diana Cox Foster has said comb needs replaced if CCD is a virus problem but
many other researchers  are not on board with her because IF a virus problem
the problem would be closely related to varroa problems then nothing to
research.

While all the back and forth between researchers is going on the season has
arrived for those beekeepers with CCD losses to decide what route to take.
Restock comb from CCD deadouts OR NOT.

Some have chosen too play safe and not put bees back on comb. Storing
equipment or downsizing at this time seems reasonable to many. Little risk.

 Others ( like Gene Brandi) have decided to gamble. Some are saying "all
in!" (poker term ) and willing to gamble huge sums of money the problem will
not surface again.

 Lightning never strikes twice in the same place right!

All of us which have looked carefully at the CCD problem ( I am on a first
name basis with every beekeeper which has been talked about) believe
dropping packages or nucs into those hives will seem to be the right move in
the short term.

The true test will come in late summer and fall. Then in my
opinion (and of many others) will be when we see the problem raise its ugly
head *if* comb is a problem.

 Without confirmation of the exact source of the CCD problem then
restocking IS a gamble. How could it not be?


I have had many private talks with those effected with the CCD problem
seeking advice. My advice given ( and now to the BEE-L list) is too treat
restocking those hives as a gamble.

If you can afford another fall of losses then restock all. If you can only
afford to restock fifty percent then only restock fifty percent. A fast
rebuild might not be the best move. Consider all options.

 Maybe rebuild over a couple years back to former hive numbers.
Several are only able to get money for restocking by taking a second
mortgage on farms or by borrowing. Risky business if all those package bees
crash in late summer.

 Many have not bought package bees for  decades and have always been able to
rebuild from hives left but not this
time.

 Ask  fellow beekeepers so far unaffected for help covering pollination
contracts too reduce the gamble. Restock only the number of hives needed
until a better handle is had on the problem.

Most will step in to help and not steal contracts. Was done this year in
almonds! Let others help!

Those with CCD problems were hoping for better information on the problem by
now. Not coming they have realized the final solution will have to be
figured out by the  commercial beekeepers themselves. I have seen a pulling
together of the commercial beekeeper group like I have never seen before.

 None of us want to be the "last beekeeper standing" so we have been helping
each other.

Queen producers have increased production and provided
earlier delivery dates to those effected. California, Texas and Florida
commercial beekeepers ( not effected) have sent bees to their fellow
beekeepers ( with die off issues)  to cover pollination contracts.

In my opinion the size of the problem is a bit overblown but what will this
fall bring?

 Regardless of the size of the problem I believe this years hive
loss is a serious problem and welcome all those trying to find the answer.

I have had to bite my lip on several internet lists when many have painted
all commercial beekeepers with the same brush but we have broad shoulders so
bring it on. The truth is very few people actually know very much about the
many ways commercial beekeepers keep bees.

On a final note:
So far the CCD problem has for some unknown reason not been found in the
queen and package industry *like it has been found* in the commercial
migratory section which has been industry saving.

If next year the problem  moves into the queen & package industry then many
will not be able to restock and the problem will become more serious and
INDUSTRY threatening.

As I write the post I will have to say the die off is real. True size
unknown. Symptoms are unusual and no definite answer for the problem has
surfaced. Several hypothesis exist and none have an easy solution .

Sincerely,
Bob Harrison






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