Hi Jim

> .. bad weather and lackluster varroa control are the
> main problems.  Neither issue needs more R&D funding.

Exactly.  It worries me that the public concern and the campaigning is partially built on hype.  However it is true that the UK had international-level researchers in bee pathology and that this research has been dismantled, leaving us with practically-orientated researchers at another location but not the underlying knowledge-seeking research.  This leaves us in a weaker position to meet future problems of course.

Give Joanne a (gentle) hug from me.

best wishes

Gavin

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