Allen Dick wrote:
>
> > If there are no right or wrong answers then why bother?
> > Take careful measurements for the experiment? Why bother?
> > You will not get a "right" answer.
>
> I think you purposely missed my point and set up a straw man in order to keep
> this going. You know I'm *not* saying that there are no truths, I am just saying
> that a fascist one-size-fits-all approach won't cut it any more.  People are
> better informed these days and know their rights.

Wow. I go away for a while and now New Zealand has become a Fascist state.
Gotta keep better informed.

The threads on this subject were interesting and, for a while informative,
even though they did go far from the original question.
What has not been discussed is the mechanism that continues the spread of
AFB. I know that it can come from contaminated honey. So how does it get in
the honey in the first place? And are there other ways for the bees to
contract it?

My guess is the honey is the source from nectar placed in contaminated
cells. Every mechanical control is directed toward removing the source,
which are the contaminated frames, either by burning, scorching and new
foundation, or other forms of disinfecting.

If my guess is correct, it gets me back to my original premise. That those
who use TM and remove infected frames are burning by other means. They
eventually arrive at the same state as those who burn. They have removed
the source of the infection.

Those who use TM and do not remove contaminated frames might be masking the
problem and, if my guess is correct, could have AFB if the TM treatment is
ended. There are a lot of variables here which could explain why it
sometimes happens and sometimes does not, such as the gradual covering of
the spores with each generation of bees. Or the cells are not used for
honey storage for an extended period. Or residual effects of TM.

And I apologize for saying in my eariler post that there are bad
beekeepers. There are only some beekeepers who are not good, but mean well.

What have you people been drinking during the time I was away? Fights on
religion, name calling, wow, just like the good old days before moderation.

I feel like starting a thread on FGMO. Entropy of the Universe is still
fairly low and we should all do are part to increase it.

Bill Truesdell
Bath, ME