Hello Ron & All,
Excellent post! I say things the way they are in today's beekeeping world.
Would you rather I candy coat the situation? I don't think so!

>beekeeper has a problem; AFB, mites, fire ants, etc. A bee inspector doing
his/her job identifies the problem and realizes the consequences of moving
these colonies and informs the beekeeper they can't be moved.

The above paints the scenario with a broad brush.
AFB:
The load will not a health permit to leave the state. If found in say
California the problem has to be dealt with before a permit to leave is
issued.
mites:
Not an issue today but hives have been burned and loads stopped for a time
period in past history.
fire ants:
Loads are turned around and not allowed to enter or taken to a holding area
for the load to be cleaned of fire ants.
Fire ants are in California so a moog point but important to the powers that
be!

The problem from the migratory beekeepers point of veiw!

Beekeepers have loss  loads to indecision.

 incompetent  inspectors  do not know (or afraid to amke a decision) what to
do so the load sits.

 They cause loads to sit in the hot sun while samples are sent away!

 The last time the two ants found (Bell Honey Co.) were found three days
later to NOT be fire ants! Two thirds of the bees died and the load was
voluntarily turned around. I would have pulled the nets! The semi driver was
a whimp! After three days why wait! The almond grower was upset and
pollination was lost.
 Pollination & trucking fees were lost by Bell Honey company.
The inspection dept. refused to pay for the loss!

On the bright side the other seventeen semi loads went through!

>are on their merry way,
breaking the law, "grinning" all the way to the bank.

When the powers that be release the load then is the beekeeper really
breaking the law. Driving through the baracades and going *postal* (new word
which will soon be added to the dictionary) on the inspection service would
in my opinion be a violation of the law.

>think a beekeeper should be given carte blanche just because they are doing
pollination.

I don't think they are but common sense is needed many times.

> Last week I came across my first small hive beetle in an outyard.   >Last
year in another very isolated yard, I had my first case
of AFB in 15 years.

Blame the other beekeeper would be the logical thing to do! Course the AFb &
Small hive beetle problem will still be there to deal with!

>Can I attribute this to just coincidence or is something else happening?

AFB can come from a bee getting honey out of a jar in a trash can with
spores. A large problem is usually from robbing out AFB deadouts in the area
of your hives. Look for an unattended apiary. Call your fellow beekeepers
and inform them of the problem so they can be on the lookout.

SHB is spreading as is AHB. In my opinion more so by packages but migratory
movement is helping for sure!

> They have a large commercial pollinator doing all the pollination.

Blame him as he could be the source of both problems. Demand your inspector
take a look .

>same pollinator was selling nucs that were found to have hive beetle.
> using  "sheepdip" for mites because Apistan would
bee too expensive for a commercial operation.

I have talked till I was blue in the face to a few of these guys! I will be
glad when their operation goes under like I know it will! Don't ask these
guys to speak at meetings! Just because they run a bunch of hives does not
mean they are doing things correctly. Preaching Illegal methods at a bee
meeting is stupid. The fine is $10,000 U.S. for what the beekeeper is doing!
One call to the FDA and he is in trouble and he will wish he bought apistan!

<  On second thought it may already

I agree but little can be done!

> Bob Harrison:  This was in no way an attack on you personally,

None taken! You are not afraid to ask the tough questions! I am not afraid
to address the tough answers!

Lurkers are listening and hopefully learning!

Your friend,
Bob Harrison

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