Hello Brian & All,


>After keeping bees for a decade I was astounded to find within a days drive
of my home an isolated group of beekeepers who have no varroa/tracheal mites
and no AFB.

You might also be surprised to find I have got some ocean front property to
sell in Missouri.( Don't get upset only kidding but what reaction did you
expect?)


>I wonder what the response would be if I purchased a pallet and offered for
sale the surplus I did not
need?

I would not be interested.

I see nothing wrong with using fresh cappings wax from your own bees. I
certainly would not pay top dollar for "organic" wax for foundation pattern
for the bees make comb.

The organic people you visited (in dead of winter and not looking at their
bees yet I suppose) need to speak with our USDA-ARS researchers. No is
highly suspect.

I am very skeptacle of people with 150 hives of bees and say no mites and no
AFB.

I know you are looking for a "magic bullet" Brian but none exists for mites
and AFB. A % of those hives most likely carry the AFB spores. Maybe only a
small percent.

I also would bet money samples of those bees in August would turn up most
likely both tracheal mites & varroa if the hives have never had any kind of
treatment.

However the fact the hives are thriving ( as told to you) would warrant a
close look at their methods of beekeeping.

Have you looked at their hives and done tests?

Good luck with your project and keep us posted.

Bob


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