To continue the thread, I agree about using caution on old frames that may harbor AFB, but, I depend on trees for my honey, and being a conservationist at heart I can't see tossing all old frames. Most of my old frames are generated by blow-outs that the wax moths beat me to. Most of these blow-outs can be attributed to queen failure, and I monitor my operation closely for disease and I do not tolerate any AFB symptoms. So I build up a supply of old frames and every couple of years have a big boil-up in the winter followed by a scrape-out and then a refitting of foundation. I just finished rehabbing about 100 deeps worth of old frames and they look good and are on the bees as we speak waiting to be drawn out. I have calculated the cost of reuse versus new and the reuse comes out ahead by about 40 percent, and I feel a lot better about the tree situation. The status report on north central North Carolina is cautious optimism. I had very low overwintering losses and the bees look pretty good considering the cold spring we have had. I have found a few swarm cells and expect the main honey flow to start in 10 days. There is very strong demand for hives for cucumber pollination in these parts, in fact, supply does not meet demand. Bill Lord Louisburg, NC -- WILLIAM G LORD E-Mail : wglord@franklin Internet: [log in to unmask] Phone : 9194963344