Bob said:
How many beekeepers would be keeping bees in five years if you could not get
a replacement queen or package  over the next five years? Hmmm.

Here in Ontario Canada we have managed to stay in business and even prosper since 1989 when the border was closed to American queens and packages, because of a concern over the possibility of importing Varroa and Tracheal mites. Now the powers that be have decided, (in their infinite wisdom and some arm twisting from some well heeled beekeepers in Alberta), to re-open the border with the assurance that all queens and attendants will be inspected for SHB , AHB, etc. The fact that you are finding these pests in southern and California packages, that make there way to states that border on our province does nothing to calm my fears that we will be seeing all these problems in our vicinity in the next year. It makes me think that maybe those southern packages are part of the problem instead of the solution.
respectfully
John Van Alten

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