Bill Truesdell said:

> I am not sure what "clinical infection" means in terms of when they
> destroy a colony.

"Clinical", meaning AFB detected, versus "sub-clinical", meaning not
detected, but still possibly infected.

> I think we are talking apples and oranges when we bring in New Zealand
> as an example since we are not doing much of what they have in effect.

Which is my point.  Any program to deal with diseases or pests must be
coordinated, with all beekeepers making commitments to serve to general
good.

> You can do everything correct as they do it in NZ, and be zapped by a
> fellow beekeeper here in the US.

I have heard this complaint often.  It seems a defeatist outlook, since it
assumes that people will not act in their own best interest, and cooperate
when the advantages of cooperation are made clear.

> We just do not have the program they have there.

Exactly.  We need one if we want to get serious.  I submit that each state
needs to coordinate within its own borders as a start, and the first step would
be to contact beekeepers that are not attending meetings.  The good news is
that making such a list is easy, if the catalog houses and local supply dealers
are willing to cooperate.  It is assumed that it would be very difficult to keep
bees without buying some sort of supplies every so often.