On Mon, 9 Apr 2007 16:24:51 -0400, Bill Truesdell <[log in to unmask]> wrote: >Same thing has been bothering me. The team should know the number of >colonies that collapsed from the data they have collected. From that >they have the number that were probably mites or other causes; the >number that show CCD symptoms; and the number that do not fit anything, >if there are such colonies. When I worked in an R&D lab for 3M company I routinely saw different goals of the different participants. We had the science which backed up our product development, we also had the version of our Science presented by the lab Politicians to upper mgnt in order to maintain funding of our lab. Sometimes the spread in the story was straining relationships within the lab. I see a similarity here, I would not expect the CCD "team" to be releasing the statistics before the federal funding picture is more clear, then there is that sticky question of maintaining that funding or providing reports to the "funders" So just as in the corporate lab some of the Scientist are also required to wear the Politician hat to interact with the funders. These Bee Politicians also include the ABF and AHPA who have a real vested interest in the outcomes of the funding (kinda like the Marketing Dept at a big company) . If "related" losses need to be shifted to the CCD column, whatever, if it helps massage the funding story. We also have the Science which is work in progress and also includes related work from around the world. Those removed from the "Politics" would be most free to pursue the Science they wish and give pure data to the rest of the bee world to interpret free of the Politics and personal goals. Finally we have the Keepers on the ground who are either dealing with CCD or wondering what the heck is going on and why all the fuss...at least we have one good measure of the industry and its hard for any of the players in all of this to mess with the reality of package and queen availability and the price of almond pollination. The market determines these factors and does not care who is saying what, its pure supply and demand oriented although the rumor mill can temporarily affect the markets during times when little supply data is available (late fall & winter). To all the beekeepers worried about CCD, I would say use these measures to "filter" the wide range of reports you hear from the pelthora of sources. I forgot to mention the media, thats something we did not have in our R&D lab to contend with. In this circumstance the media is collecting Missing Bee information form all 3 of the players, the Bee Policitians, The Keepers and The Scientists. Sometimes their choice of sources biases the story in one way or the other, sometimes one of the players gets his/her message out in print/video. Sometimes a fringe player is interviewed and we get stories of bees becoming extinct from GMO's or EMF signals. As the downward trend in the supply of bees dwindles, I predict a new more visible world for the Bees, The Science, The Bee Politicians and The Keepers. The spread in "reality" (# of missing bees) may vary over time, bee sure and use the market filters to help make sense of the information and guide you in your beekeeping. ****************************************************** * Full guidelines for BEE-L posting are at: * * http://www.honeybeeworld.com/bee-l/guidelines.htm * ******************************************************