??
> I spoke with a number of Texas beekeepers early this year.  They told me
> that (at least in the hill country) you can get by with one open mating of
> European stock, but then the next generation is just too hot.

My direct experience comes from the commercial beekeepers from North & South
Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota and Wisconsin which winter south of interstate
20. (Carthage to Jasper Texas area)

 Glenn Davis (former owner of Bell Hill Honey) is traveling to the area soon
and I will ask Glenn to ask if their situation has changed.

tens of thousands of queens are open mated for splits and nucs. Issues with
*hot* bees very rare. I was in Nebraska last month while hives were being
prepared for shipment to Texas. No problems in the yard of around 900 hives
headed by last years Texas open mated queens. The beekeeper only buys cells
and uses last years drones for mating which should end up with the
generation Randy refers to.

The best queens are a direct carniolan/ Italian cross which seems to
contradict what some on BEE-L seem to think about the cross.

> Would you please tell us your recollection of Steve's recollection?

The story is in the archives and came from an interview given to me by Steve
at a Illinois State Beekeepers meeting. I drove 400 miles for a sit down
face to face with Steve before his death.

I think the post could be pulled up by using myself as the author and the
key words Steve Tabor & Illinois state beekeepers meeting.

Gary Reynolds lives in Concordia, Kansas and we usually see each other
yearly. Gary was Steve Tabors assistant at the time of the Kerr semen
import. Quit shortly after and started Rainbow Honey Farms out of Concordia.
The story Gary tells has never changed since the first time he shared
information with me years before BEE_L was started..

The AHB *hype* killed some valuable AHb research back then in my opinion.



My help is here and we are making pollen patties and feeding bees the next
two days so little internet time.

bob

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