>>He's using the liquid nitrogen test. This isn't available to most 
>>beekeepers.

Actually, liquid nitrogen can be carried around in a normal thermos.  Just 
don't stopper it tightly.  This has been much discussed here.

> I have had a fair amount of experience with this test and I can tell you 
> that I would not base evaluation on it alone (nor pins, etc.).

This is a *surrogate* test for some hygienic aspects of disease and maybe 
pest resistance and does not detect other behaviours or traits that can 
prevent disease, but it is good if used correctly -- as a comparison between 
colonies at the same place and time -- with a mind to its limitations.

> You will make more honey in the long run with bees that survive. Even if 
> you needed 2 or 3 times as many colonies to make the same amount of honey, 
> it could be balanced by the savings from far lower chemical inputs, cost 
> of requeening, restocking, etc.

I know this is a joke that is wearing out fast, but you won't need "2 or 3 
times as many colonies to make the same amount of honey" with "bees that 
survive". :) 

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