>
> >Climate is a big factor up here.  Many have tried such techniques, and
> do well one year, but get KOed the next.


Climate is also something of a factor where Mike is in Vermont!

One thought on this is that making up nucs with queen cells gives both a
break in the brood (and thus parasite transmission) cycle.  A freshly
published paper by the Higes group suggests that induced requeening
strongly suppresses nosema levels afterwards.  It has a similar effect upon
varroa levels (pers obs), and likely an effect upon virus levels.

In any case, I put a lot of faith in what has been demonstrated to work in
the field for a period of at least several seasons.  Mike, how long have
you been practicing this method?
-- 
Randy Oliver
Grass Valley, CA
www.ScientificBeekeeping.com

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