>California beekeepers are overpaid in my opinion  if one considers the cost
>and risk involved with bringing bees from far away areas.
>
>  
>
Do we really want to believe that beekeepers are overpaid?  Point your 
arrows at fortune 500 CEO's,  not the primary food producers of the 
world.    These statements only serve to further divide beekeepers or 
farmers for that matter.  All the large successful companies have for 
several decades, been merging.  They realize something that the fiercely 
independent beekeeper/farmer doesn't;  It pays to be united and work 
co-operatively.  If beekeepers/farmers could do the same, they might not 
be a the bottom of the ladder, receiving the least amount of money that 
comes out of agriculture, and there is a lot of money in agriculture.  
If you look at supply managed dairy and poultry in Canada, you will find 
a very prosperous agricultural sector that is not subsidized by 
taxpayers.  The potato growers in the U.S. are  cutting production 
co-operatively to attain a better return on their huge investments.  I 
think these examples need to be followed if we want a more stable 
beekeeping industry.

Gilles

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