IMO a leading factor that contributes to mite problems with migratory beekeepers is the fact if 
they are doing almonds and brooding up their bees in winter they never get much of a break in 
the brood rearing and consequently have large mites loads in spring. 

Russian bees have survived for over 150 yrs with varroa mite - but they also had a long break in 
brood rearing in their native lands.

Mite resistant genetics work for many northern  beekeepers, not just hobbyists but within a limited 
set of circumstances. 

Its not rocket science to get ahead of the mite problem by using resistant genetics, giving the 
bees a break in brood rearing and only using soft treatments in fall or no treatments at all.  

The silver bullet will never be found IMO and over doping of bees will probably continue. We have 
solutions but they are not the solutions that fit with the unrealistic parameters of sending bees to 
almonds from afar. 

Massive losses by out of state beekeepers is part of the cost of doing almonds from afar. 
Meanwhile the industry has succesfully externalized the issue by hiding under the mystery of CCD 
and Imid. 

Between the pressure to do almonds and the contamination of brood comb you can find 
sustainable answers to the honeybee problems. But again not the answer some folks want to hear. 

Like all of nature, honeybees have limitations. 

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