> I thought the Australians were importing semen from resistant bees in 
> Italy to incorporate into their stock as varroa arrival in Australia is 
> just a matter of time.  I believe Bob Harrison wrote about that.

I did although not semen but queens through their strict import system ( 
described in several articles).

The main purpose for the original import has not changed. Package bees were 
needed by beeks doing almond pollination. Hawaii producers declined to 
expand and sell and told us to move forward as they were not interested. 
Closing the border really only effects those beeks which are some of the 
largest beeks in the U.S.

Those beeks which do not need the bees and never will have always been those 
saying to close the border. Fortunately APHIS has always said to those 
people to provide proof the import bees are a problem and APHIS will 
consider their position.

Reality always trumps fear! Beekeeping in the U.S. for commercial beeks is a 
multibillion dollar industry and supports many agriculture enterprises 
needing bees.

Bell Hill Honey protected its almond contract with the first import and the 
almond growers paid for those packages. Like it or not its the truth. Those 
bees brought top dollar in almonds.  Those were the only Australian package 
bees we have used as the need only arrived once for us. Excellent bees.

We have however used Australian queens ( along with U.S. and Hawaii sources) 
ever year since the import. One year we desperately needed 500 queens and 
Australia was our ONLY source. We called all U.S. producers and came up 
empty. All 500 arrived alive!

I have now in my yards bees which came from varroa tolerant queens from 
Italy  sent in via Australia. Buckfast queens from the Abby via Australia. 
Queens from stock Dann Purvis inseminated in Australia.
My need for Australian package bees and queens are not needed right now but 
certainly a source I would like to use if I was to need in the future.

Some of the biggest fear mongers as to the import forget the tens of 
thousands of ocean shipping containers which arrive all the time from areas 
of cerana. A far more likely source of problems.

I read both the new books on CCD. One better than the other but in the end 
both said small cell comb was the answer to all our problems. Kirk Webster , 
Dennis Murell and the Lusbys were spoke about.
I admire these people but realize those authors are certainly not seeing the 
big picture.

In the U.S. we have all the right to our opinion. Unlike most on the list 
except for maybe Allen Dick I have first hand knowledge of the Australian 
bees. The varroa tolerant Italian bees (via Australia) are very varroa 
tolerant and very prolific. The Buckfast line (leather colored) are 
excellent bees but not as prolific or in some cases as winter hardy.

To sum op the opponents of the import will present their case to Aphis and 
those in favor will present theirs.
Aphis will decide.

Unfounded fear will not stop the import. Higher numbers of those not wanting 
and needing those bees did not stop the import last time they tried.


I could live without the import but have made money and saved almond 
contracts with those bees and have welcomed the long past due genetics 
brought in

I have yards of Russian/Russian bees ( even 2008 queens) but those hives 
will not grade into almonds or apples in spring. A nice hobby and sideline 
bee but not what I like to see in a commercial bee.
bob

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