>As far as bees goes it seem the industry went straight to the top of the pyramid which has predicable led to a number of unforeseen problems in regards >to contamination of the hive and the long term health of a bee hive.
Gene is 100% on in reference to AG. In AG there are usually some definable IPM things exactly like he mentioned, increased tillage, field rotations, etc. Definable metrics.
Then look at the statement above, the industry" went straight to the top of the pyramid" I completely disagree with that. The industry currently knows of NO real methods of slowing mites, the only one you "might" be able to cite is Mel Dissolkens methods, and even those are dicey.
We have an industry, that has not been able to even catch up, let alone overuse the chemicals/ methods. We have no provable genetics outside some regional pockets, and no sort of biological control. WE hear of high losses every year from most corners, heck we can't even get many to check for mites yet.
WE have a separate discussion going on thresholds, and it seems we are real close to if you see 1, your already in the soup. That does not indicate to me any sort of ability to throw on something propolacticly.
We here are the leaders of the industry, when we speak or lecture, the people listening want answers, not platitudes. Mike had a solid and legitimate question, and as of yet we have not been able to give him answers. What is IPM in beekeeping? The other answer we throw out all the time is BMP. Many would even use both words in the same sentence. Given the standard axiom, of ask 2 beekeepers a question and get 3 different replies, how does one even define BMP? ( I helped write some state ones and they are standard beekeeping 101)
I spent a lot of time in meetings where the latest buzzwords were thrown out as the "new policy" and after the meetings people were always confused and clueless. Scot Adams made a career making fun of it.
I think we can do better, when I find myself even pondering saying something like that, I ask, just like Mike, "what does that mean?"
Charles
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