The comments on inspection at the NH and Maine borders is a straw man. It
does not happen. Inspections are in the field and are for the benefit of
the grower who is paying for strong hives not mite infested or suffering
from AFB and other problems.

There were some states that reacted with quarantines against tracheal and
varroa, but if you looked a little deeper, it had nothing to do with the
mite but everything to do with economics as a good way to help local
pollinators against migratory beekeepers. Canada, and especially New
Brunswick is an excellent example of just that. And I think one of the
Carolinas did the same thing.

So it was not the local bee inspector who was the bad guy but local,
commercial beekeepers who were protecting their businesses.

The inspection program set up by several states is to allow free movement
of bees between states without giving in to the fear of AHB, AFB, Varroa,
and Tracheal mites. Were it not for the present system, there would be
inspections at the borders as each state did its own thing to *protect* its
local beekeepers. And it was the Bee Inspectors who spearheaded the program
to assist the free movement of bees but with controls. It is mostly an
honor program since only a small fraction of all the hives can be
inspected. But, so far, the migratory beekeepers have lived up to complying
with the program, since it is to their benefit as much as it is to the
grower.

The comments directed against the Bee inspectors are wrong and really
should be directed against projectionist beekeepers who used tracheal
mites, and then Varroa, as an excuse to close the borders and keep out the
competition.

Bill Truesdell
Bath, ME