>> All that can be said for now is that many mundane things have been 
>>  >>eliminated<< as possible causes of CCD.  The symptoms of CCD are very 
>> unique.
>
> Maybe but all DEADOUTS are being labeled CCD! I listened to the hearing of 
> 3-29-007 on CNN.

Anybody who relies on CNN is going to have a distorted idea of what is 
happening in the world, and this issue is sufficiently subtle that many are 
getting it very wrong.

When we hear from Jerry, we are getting it from the horse's mouth.  The rest 
IMO comes mostly from the other end.

> Many common problems have been found. <etc.>

By definition, they are not CCD.  Forget them.

> How many CCD hives are there?

There is the question, and we have not been told, probably because nobody 
knows -- yet.  Obviously not all the losses are CCD, but many are trying to 
horn in and exploit the publicity and the sympathy.  The story has been 
somewhat hijacked.  The G&M article was one of the better reports.

> Samples to bee labs has never been the quick answer for the commercial 
> beekeeper. Six weeks is the normal turn around.  Most larger beekepers 
> have got a small lab and do tests.

OK.  So they are not the ones being discussed, obviously.

> Jim seems to think beekeepers are for the most part too stupid to train.

I don't think he said that.  Those are your words.

>Sure a few beekeepers may not be able to do tests...

It is obviously *a lot more* than a few, probably a majority, and, of those 
who can, many (most?) simply cannot find the time or maintain consistent 
methods.  Moreover, some tests are simple, fast and easy, and others require 
a bit more time, effort, and skill, so much so that even those who can do 
them tend to either neglect them or delgate the job.

> but does not mean we should not try to educate beekeepers.

Of course not.  Who suggested we shouldn't educate beekeepers?  Nobody.

> I really can not believe there are beekeepers around ( except maybe Jim) 
> which believe that the current die off is because of a single NEW problem 
> and all the other things I spoke of above are not part (if not the big 
> part  ) of the problem.

Let's not get confused.  There are all the normal losses which are being 
exploited due to the publicity and are adding to the confusion, then there 
is CCD, which many smart people seem to think IS new.  (And, I think you are 
putting words into Jim's mouth again).

This reminds the "tens of thousands of hives crashing" thread of a few years 
ago.  Same argument with changed positions?

> I have got many contacts inside the CCD team and especially in each bee 
> lab (as does Marla Spivak). I have got a real clear picture what the team 
> has found and now the team is kind of at a dead end. I have spent many 
> hours on the phone and with emails.  The bottom line today from the CCD 
> team is a *weakened immune system*.

I personally would like to hear the news from the 'team' directly, and not 
oversimplified through a biased interpreter.  As far as I know there has not 
been a final conclusion, and when there is, no offense intended, but I doubt 
you will be selected to deliver the news.

> The recommendation is too work on improving overall health of our bee 
> colonies.

Bob, that is *always* the advice from extension people.  It means nothing, 
and it means everything.  People are putting you off.

> One thing for sure we are never going to be told the CCD problem is not 
> solvable until all funds for research are gone!

When/if the funds are gone, and if a mechanism has not been found, then 
obviously the problem will be much harder to solve. That seems fairly 
obvious to me, and, I assume, others who are following this.  Indeed, that 
is one of the fears.

> Hives out of California are boiling with bees ( personal experience) and 
> reports from Texas are good. California queen & package shipments arrived 
> yesterday in Nebraska and next week in Kansas on time.

OK.  I drove thru California and, I confess, lifted a few lids along the 
way.  There are, indeed, more than a few outfits with few or no bees in some 
or all of their hives.

> Industry crisis?

Takes me back to the "tens of thousands of hives crashing" thread again. 
Anyone bothering to go back and read it at  http://tinyurl.com/2w95dn might 
get a chuckle or two or even LOL. 

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