Dr. Shiminuki was back then like Dr. Jeff Pettis is today. 

Shim was the USDA-ARS leader and needed to be on board with a project 
of the scope of the import in order to happen. Dr. Rinderer (Baton Rouge bee lab)
ran the project.

I remember when only a plan talked about and Shim 
explaining the plan.

commercial beekeepers were not excited as would take years to see results.

Taking researchers away from current problems upset a few 
beekeepers. 


Valid thinking plus the Ugo bee import had failed to live up to expectations


Soon beekeepers realized the Russian bee needed to be as pure as possible .

For serious Russian breeders like Charlie H. The Russian bee 
lived up to expectations. 

To most commercial beekeepers if you plan to control
varroa in your hives keeping a pure line of Russian bee is more work than interested in.

For a commercial beekeeper finding queens in a hurry 
Is like finding a part for a car or truck.

You go down the phone list of possible suppliers until
the queens or part is located.

Race of bees not as important as finding queens.

bob

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