2), including commercials who see no knowledge benefit from going through 
certification

Not many commercial beekeepers would learn from the certification due to the 
level of instruction the certification would contain. Very basic.

Second all that most likely would be required to receive the *certification* 
is to attend the presentation.

We have a Master beekeeper certification near us. All is required is to 
attend the presentation.

Twice now *certified Master beekeepers* have brought equipment for us to put 
bees in. The first time you could smell the foulbrood when the trunk was 
opened. The certified master beekeeper wanted to argue when I exposed what 
was the cause of his hives crashing. All 12!
Frame after frame of sunken perforated cappings which roped when pricked!

The second time a certified master beekeeper called and asked if I would 
look at one of his dead hives. I smelled the foulbrood before he even pulled 
the first frame. He argued was not foulbrood and left. The next day he drove 
in at Bell Hill Honey and asked Glenn. Glenn laughed when he said he wanted 
* a second opinion* and said the same as I did.

The beekeeper said he was told at the class to use terramycin spring and 
fall to prevent AFB and he did the first year. Then he read on the organic 
beekeepers list that keeping bees without antibiotics was best and the bees 
could control AFB . Last I heard he was burning new frames from around 35 
hives and starting over.

Now don't get me wrong I see no problem with his waiting to see AFB and then 
deciding what course of action to take. My problem is with a Master 
beekeepers course which let two graduate without being able to recognize 
AFB.

I have not been asked a question at our local bee meeting in years I had to 
even think about before answering.

However at times I  lose  sleep over beekeeping. I have been pondering a 
complicated bee issue for several days now. At night I still ponder the 
question in my sleep. Waking up in the night thinking about the issue. At 
times I have solved problems in my sleep which is why I always keep a pencil 
and paper by the bed.

Two things which are key to being a successful beekeeper.

1. Think about your bees and attempt to figure out what is going on in the 
bee yard ( Not only think about your bees right before you head to the bee 
yard on your first day to go check the bees)
Planning and timing are important.

2. The sooner you realize that trying to manage your colonies from your easy 
chair thinking you know what is going on the better. Going out and popping 
tops is always best. I never went into a bee yard I did not see a chore 
which needed taken care of. Which is the reason all beekeeping books and 
classes say to check your hives every week to 10 days. Obviously commercial 
beeks with a large number of colonies do not check all hives every week to 
10 days although many have questioned me on the subject with calculator in 
hand .

The biggest unknown in commercial beekeeping is the weather factor. Accurate 
weather seriously is only about three days. Seven at best. I was pricing 
some all terrain tires for my four wheel drive trucks this morning. If you 
dig a post hole in my area the hole fills quickly with water. Going to be a 
nightmare trying to get into and out of fields this spring. My trucks have 
only street tires which were not enough last season and the sub soil 
moisture is greater this year. Once the tread fills with jumbo mud you are 
stuck. All terrain off road tires funnel the mud out the side like a paddle.

bob

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