Deknow wrote:

Aside from the fact that AI queens are generally only used for grafting from
(and ditto with the frozen sperm), I don't see anything here that is
misinformation.
* The conclusions are wrong.

Most beekeepers do use purchased queens.
* I know some big ones that raise their own queens

These queens are often shipped across the country arriving stressed and
weak.
* Large numbers are shipped as queen cells, in nucs. They are installed as
cells and mated locally.

Locally bred queens will (over some number of generations) adapt to local
conditions.
*see above

...this is in stark contrast to the "factory" queens that are proven to have
a high supercedure/failure rate.
* A recent study, (Keith Delaplane?) Showed that the queens are OK....it
must be the environment they live in.

So, what's the beef?
* It continues misinformation

Manage naturally occurring regional strains of honeybee..
*This would be ideal. I remember such a time where this could happen. Sadly.
Most of the hives in the country are putting on a lot of miles. Dave H says
12,000 a year. Just where would you choose to call "local?"

Many of  us struggle to keep bees without treatments. Some do it. That's  a
far cry from doing so as a commercial pollinator. They need to keep their
bees alive; if they didn't you would have eaten your last apple a long time
ago.
I take issue with those who sit around the table, head in hands, playing,
"Ain't it awful." (See the book, "Games People Play). It moves nothing
forward.


Dick 

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