Hello Ted & All,
The attempt to bring in new genetics into Australia actually brought enough
attention to the need for outside genetics to bring about the present
system.

 Maybe the recent U.S. queen breeder situation will do the same for us.

When done properly bringing in outside genetics can move programs along
quickly.

Hopefully now that Aphis sees that U.S. queen breeders need a similar system
then perhaps we will finally get an import system similar to Australia.
Unchecked bringing in of queens is common in many beekeeping areas of the
world. Similar to the way it was in Brother Adams time.

At meetings beekeepers are surprised to learn of the worlds beekeeping.
Spain has a higher number of hives than the U.S.. Is years ahead of us as
far as N. ceranae is concerned. Italy has been working on a varroa tolerant
bee before we ever saw the first varroa in the U.S.

The research in the U.K. is far ahead of us on virus research. This might
change in the future but you can spend days ( maybe weeks) looking at
published research on virus from the U.K.

Many say that if the AHPA & ABF combined beekeepers would get a higher
number of its projects done.  Surely  true.

I say if all the worlds researchers worked closer together it would be
easier to solve beekeepings problems.

Dave Mendes ( next ABF president) said it best when talking about CCD.
Beekeepers seem to feel like they are in an AA meeting when asked about CCD.
Afraid to say they have got a problem.
Dave then said:
"I have a problem"
His losses are in the 50% range even with a huge amount of splitting.
Numbers seem to increase with each new season. Harder and harder to keep
healthy bees.

 Canada says they have no CCD problems but every Canada beekeeper I speak
with says over the last few years their losses have been climbing.

Call it CCD or simply winter loss they have a problem

Canada has a problem!

Around the world bees are dying in larger numbers. Empty hives or bees with
a small circle of bees and a queen.

I will (as in an AA meeting )say:

THE WORLDS BEEKEEPERS HAVE GOT A PROBLEM.

In China areas have had huge losses with CCD like symptoms.

China is starting to see a problem.

bob

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