On Tue, 21 Feb 2006 Bob Harrison wrote:
"Growers want to open the border to Mexican hives... to save the almond 
business. Can you match $25 a hive almond pollination fees?
We have been able to hold the border closed using AHB as the reason. The
reason is fast disappearing." 

Bob, yes the Mexican scenario could work and it would work the same way as 
the Australian scenario; that is one-way tickets only.  The Mexican’s 
don’t want the small hive beetle; California has lots of them and they 
will have lots more as time goes by. The ironic part here is that 
California has been shipping and reshipping Africanized bee all across the 
USA for several years now and although there are officially no small hive 
beetles in California, (please see: 
http://ceris.purdue.edu/napis/pests/shb/imap/shball.html) the word on the 
street is that they are indeed there! But that as you know does not matter 
at the State border as loads have been turned around for even one dead 
beetle. That’s another factor to consider for the 2007 California Almond 
Pollination Season; the 2006 is close to being over; it will be months 
before all the dust settles on this one! I really look forward to reading 
your article in the April ABJ. Thanks for sharing and keeping the List 
informed.

Chuck Norton 

Norton's Nut & Honey Farm
330 Irvin Street
Reidsville, NC 27320

Tel: 336 342 4490

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