What I question is the generality that if we do
> not open thousands of hives a year we do not know what we are doing.

I don't think I said you did not know what you were doing. I did imply I can
tell at a glance *everyday* beekeeping problems and my main helper is 280
pounds 6 foot four and in his late twenties and can also. he does an hour
of aerobics at night and does not break into a sweat in the bee yard. He has
worked along side me since he was a child. I could not physically work many
hives in two hours by myself( nor would I try).

My other help gets the job done but gets twice the work done when I send my
main helper along.

> For my wife and I beekeeping is fun.

for me beekeeping is interesting. not fun. Fishing is fun.

We have the time  to go through the
> hives top to bottom.

For me there is simply not enough hours in the day. Relaxing for me is doing
BEE-L.

My day started at 4 am and only stopped now but still need to get a truck
loaded for tomorrow.

>We have time to try new and different things.

In the seventies a beekeeper wanted me to look at his hives. I noticed some
cannabis sativa growing amongst the hives. he said *I didn't think you would
notice*. He wanted me to try a new and different experience.

We find
> problems at an earlier stage than somebody that works 65 hives in two
> hours.

The only unknown in my bees is queenright which I check continually. The
rest are minor issues and managed.


> Bob there is no way you are going to convince me that you found all of the
> problems in those hives.

What problems am I missing?

In the newspaper daily you see people dying (my
name was not in the paper this morning!) and on another page people being
born.

bees are similar. If you provide room for the new bees and the number dying 
does not get out of hand not complicated.

Trying to save every hive in a commercial operation is a noble cause but is
not doable. We deal in percentages. My winter losses were in the low 20%
range. Not what I would like to see but the *new* normal.

> Generalities are never accurate.  There are exceptions in everything.

True but the road to successful sideline and commercial beekeeping is lined
with beekeepers which tried to run a commercial operation like they did when
they only had a few hives. Not only is such attention to detail not
necessary it wastes precious time needed for important work.

Thanks for your reply Doug and hope this year is your best ever with your
bees!

I resemble your remark about your old boss but many beekeepers would love to
see my beekeeping notes and data.

Moving on:
There are survival commercial beekeepers in the U.S.. A few which have never
seen CCD losses. Researchers for the most part spend all their time with
those seeing problems. Commercial migratory beekeeping is getting
competitive again ( glut of bees in California) and when happens many
commercial beekeepers are slow to share secrets. Hmmm.

Many imply new methods are around for common problems but not willing to
share with *me* as not wanting posted on the net. My bees look the best in
years so care little. Gordy the entomologist for the largest almond grower
said this years bees brought in where the best in years. Still we hear
reports of large losses. Welcome back to the world of *may the best
commercial beekeeper win*. The world H. Bell and I grew up in.

bob

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