>Randy mentioned that beekeepers hit with CCD two years in a row could be put out of business. And once out of business they can become Wal-Mart "greeters" or perhaps get jobs pushing carts. if all you know is beekeeping then what other industry needs those trained to keep bees? On your job application: 1. can raise queens 2. can make splits. 3. can move bees. 4.repair bee hives. 5. can assemble bee equipment, 6. knows how to extract honey from comb. 7. knows how to make comb honey. 8. pour beeswax. 10.etc. Commercial beekeepers are on the endangered species list and have been since WW2. Not a penny for beekeepers to rebuild outfits with (even in the way of loans with interest). >Jeff said: "no clear picture" has emerged about what¹s causing CCD. With 2 and a half million hives in the U.S. there will never be a clear picture. Maybe Jeff needs to contact J.--------. as he is positive he knows what is causing CCD. a Pathogen. I still hear that some hives do not have problems with nosema ceranae. Certainly not from what I have seen! N. ceranae soon infects the whole yard with dwindling hives and many crashing. solution. use fumidil drench as per label if bees will not take feed. Repeat as needed and in cases of high nosema ceranae spore counts the bees may not thrive until comb is cleared of spores. We see hive populations many times dropping fast when corn starts to tassel. However usually only when the bees are surrounded by huge corn acreage with little other pollen sources. one solution: quit letting corn growers use pesticide treated seed year after year in the same field. Beekeepers in Florida reported huge problems with bees in orange groves and tell me the illegal use of temik is responsible. They say growers are able to buy temik for other label uses but are using on citrus. solution: ban temik in the U.S. like in the U.K. We know that all comb which has had fluvalinate & coumaphos used needs rotated out of brood nest and replaced. solution: stop selling those products. We know that if you use Miteaway 2 that varroa control fails between 4-5 months of heavy brood rearing ( David Vanderdussen) Solution: commercial migratory Beeks need to treat twice a year. You can not treat before almonds and then treat again in September if using soft treatments. We know that if your equipment is full of nosema ceranae spores you will most likely see nosema ceranae control problems fast when new bees are introduced to the comb. solution: acetic acid. I am only a beekeeper but if I was the representative of the USDA-ARS the above would be my advice to beeks. Use at your own risk and may or may not be the advice of others on BEE-L! bob **************************************************** * General Information About BEE-L is available at: * * http://www.honeybeeworld.com/bee-l/default.htm * ****************************************************