Bill Truesdell <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

>There is another route, and people like Joe W. are following it, which is 
to let the bees take care of the
>problem. But how do you do that on a national scale as well as keeping it 
economically viable? 

Hello Bill,

I will say that even for a small operation such as mine,  I did feel a 
monetary hardship while more than 10 or so years of live and let die 
program caused great stress for me in my little operation.  I got real 
good at the dying and losing money part of beekeeping, but the letting 
live and making money part is much more difficult. 

I can afford to goof off with ferals and make stupid mistakes, I can write 
a book on stupid beekeeping mistakes.  But how we can expect those making 
a living on bees to do the same and providing the needed productivity 
would be a great challenge. 

But now the struggle has lessened for me a bit,  years of catching ferals 
to try and keep alive while purposely letting them swarm to the woodlands, 
has now appeared to make turnabout.  I am seeing payoffs coming back to my 
bees in the form of much better breeding.  Breeding that I was quite 
embarrassed about is now in the past 2 or so years, greatly improved.  

I loved what Randy mentioned,,, what did he call it?,,, a “natural 
selection yard” I think?
That IMO, is something every beekeeper can afforded to do.  It should be 
promoted in beekeeping, a small yard, perhaps only a few dozen colonies, 
besides being a great learning tool, it has a potential of promoting bee 
improvement that is of great importance to the welfare of the bees. 

Best Wishes,
Joe

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