> You make interesting reading Bob .

Thanks Medhat! I might give a different point of view for the next
generation of Canada beekeepers.

Most mentors say :
"Do as I do grasshopper( Kung Fu series)  and then improve on what I have
taught you!"

Being able to move bees south has been a big help to beekeepers in weather
such as yours.

.what happened to CCD and bee stress when
> bees moved all over the map.

Sick bees do not transport well but healthy bees have no problem. After
fifty years of involvement in commercial beekeeping I really believe
trucking bees (using care and healthy bees) is not hard on the bees.

A bee without a honey flow is like a duck out of water. I always smile when
I see bees taken from a cold winter area confined and hoping to simply
survive until spring and pull the nets in the south in an area of bloom. The
bees forget to try and sting but rush to the flowers and loads of pollen are
heading into the hives even while still on the flatbed. By the time the
truck is unloaded and the hives placed the bees are busy flying and setting
up house.

Mexican bees:
I could spell out a few scenarios using Mexican bees but would only upset
many. One I will share I have heard is to simply ship the equipment into
Mexico and then meet your equipment with Mexican bees ready for almonds just
inside the border. Mexican drivers can deliver up to 50 miles inside the
U.S. now I think. The hives would be met and inspected (except in Arizona as
Arizona does not have an inspection service) and then the U.S. beekeeper
would move the bees into almonds. The U.S. beekeeper would never even enter
Mexico.

>Thanks for the call and insights.

Your welcome!

 I am an old broken down commercial beekeeper ( retired I guess mostly) with
serious health issues.

I always think outside the box and almost never do what the others are doing
concerning beekeeping.
A lesson learned from my mentor H. Bell in Florida.

 I like to have a business plan for the next five years. With alternate
plans if the first or second plans need changed. My friends will say they
can call needing a driver and I can be ready to leave in an hour most times
and stay as long as needed. Are others as flexible?

I think for as much time as needed when consulted on a bee problem. the time
for an answer can be from a minute to several days in serious issues
involving serious money.

I was never a major player in commercial beekeeping but many of those guys
have sought my advice.
My name passed from beekeeper to beekeeper.
I have NEVER not tried to advise a beekeeper seeking advice.
I am known for my honesty and not being afraid to tell the person my
opinion. I have really pissed a few beekeepers off with my advice but all
have later thanked me ( at times quite a bit of time has passed) for the
honest advice trying to help solve their beekeeping issues. I have found
many times the commercial beekeepers help & family will not tell the
beekeeper what they are really thinking about his beekeeping decisions.
Takes an outside person to tell the beekeeper.

I have been allowed to sit in on round tables of many of the biggest names
in beekeeping trying to solve beekeeping problems. By doing so I have
learned the way they look at issues and make decisions.

bob

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