Thanks to Bob Harrison for briefing everyone on ID tags. We are working with Joe Traynor in California. Joe offered the older version, "pit" tag as a first step in equipment Identification and Recovery. We (Bee Alert Technology, Inc.) are working with one of the new generation tag developers to offer nanoblock tags that can be embedded into equipment, and are talking to some of the large equipment vendors. Wade Anderson, Pres., MT Beekeepers, lost a lot of hives last year. We are organizing a group of beekeepers who want to start using these tags, both for equipment I.D. and recovery and for inventory (say barrels of honey). To keep costs down, Wade is looking for partners to buy a batch of chips. Bottom line, to get the prices that Wal Mart will see, we need a large order. The smaller the order, the higher the cost. Currently, batches of 1000 cost between 75 cents to 1 dollar. 10,000 drops below 75. 100 million would go for 20-30 cents. Currently, the readers are a bit pricey, but that will come down fast. In the short term, we're planning on loaning/renting a reader; but expect the reader price to be under $500 within the year, with the chip price eventually ending up at 5 cents or less -- but that's a couple of years out. The tags that we can provide through Wade -- we're not going to make any money on the initial tags -- the industry needs them now and can ill afford any pump up of the price -- which is why a beekeeper is looking for others to join in a group order. Eventually, we hope to provide services for hive I.D., tracking, recovery, and even management. The tags that we can supply are readable at 8-20 ft, can be embedded in wood and plastic OR can be glued or stapled to a surface (say inside the box below the top bars for retrofitting equipment -- not perfect, but fast, and you'd have to pull out the frames to get at it and remove it). So, if you're interested in a cooperative effort to get this going, contact me or Wade. Jerry :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: -- Visit www.honeybeeworld.com/BEE-L for rules, FAQ and other info --- ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::