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Date: | Sun, 21 Jul 2019 11:30:18 -0600 |
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In the current beekeeping environment in North America, there is a
serious challenge to small scale queen breeders. Under the current
conditions, making any serious progress in shifting gene frequencies is
not for everyone. After varroa, there were vast expanses with few
managed colonies and possibly with emerging resistant ferals. This was
a great environment in which to start making progress. After CCD made
the news, the big general public concern over the fate of honey bees
turned everybody and their dog into beekeepers. Ironically, all of a
sudden every nook and cranny became habitat for whatever honey bees
people could buy. Now most matings occur with whatever amalgamation of
drones this situation has produced. Only those who can achieve some
geographical isolation, or flood an area with desirable drones (not an
easy feat), or do instrumental insemination have a chance of changing
frequencies. I would be very cautious investing a lot of effort into
small scale breeding unless one had done the homework to guarantee some
level of success. Also, for buyers, anyone can advertise whatever they
want, and pretty much get away with it.
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