> Anyone knows what happens at Strasbourg? The voting was suppose to be 
> today
> 24th.

Lies, damned lies and statistics?

In my view, there is a lobby that is trying to ride on the back of problems 
that are mainly manifested in the USA.  Here in the Midlands of the UK we 
have just had two of the best years ever.  Yes, varroa is a problem that we 
wish that we did not have - but we are coping with it (mainly with thymol 
based products).

Several very poor seasons resulted in heavy losses, but the last two years 
have been very good to us.  In my own case crops based on the previous 
autumn counts have been very good, e.g. in 2009 we had 100lbs per hive and 
in 2010 96lbs per hive (based on around 150 colonies put down for winter) - 
this compares with a 30 year average of 70lbs per hive.

The weather is in fact our biggest problem by far.  In 2008 we had a 
dreadful summer and our average was just 34lbs; 2007 was not much better at 
48lbs, but the improved weather in 2009 and 2010 showed what the bees could 
do given decent conditions.

We do not have CCD (for sure!).  Problems seen in Europe from pesticide 
mishaps, and Nosema ceranae problems in Spain have not yet been seen here. 
Yet there are those wanting to use all these problems to suggest that our 
bees are in trouble.  They are not!  Given reasonable weather they are 
thriving!

In my view, the biggest threat that we face in from imported bees.  The 
English Channel has served us well for a very long time as a barrier against 
diseases that are common on the mainland of Europe, e.g rabies.  Given that 
there is unbroken land all the way from France to China, it seems to me that 
we should do everything possible to stop problems crossing the Channel!

Best wishes

Peter Edwards 

             ***********************************************
The BEE-L mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software.  For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html

Guidelines for posting to BEE-L can be found at:
http://honeybeeworld.com/bee-l/guidelines.htm