On Thu, 21 Mar 1996, Robert Stevens wrote: > Why can't we have a two pronged approach, let the scientists, what > few are left with funds, do the testing and assaying. But, at the > same time, let the commerical beekeepers and the queen breeders bring > the semen from wherever and get the queens out there. A good start. I think we need a few more prongs to prepare the industry. I'm sure there will be more but heres a start: 1) Genetic education aimed at the average beekeeper. I don't mean average in colony count, but average ability and knowledge. These are the guys we need to support the effort. 2) Research of improved, simple assay techniques for the characteristics involved with varroa resistance. I've heard some of this is being done, it probably needs support. 3) Goverment money is getting scarce. If we really want this to happen, we will have to pay. How do we get this concept across to the industry? Who will organize the effort? Maybe national organizations? Should we look to the grower organizations (almonds, apples, ect.)?How? 4) Reasearch to determine how "precision" the breeding and production matings must be to effectively control varroa, and if that degree of precision is practical. 5) Education of the queen production industry regarding the knowledge and techniques they may need in the future. I,m thinking of things like I.I, isolated mating, and all the other stuff that can lead to reliable disease control though genetics. 6) Maybe the most important- someone or some organization to coordinate all this stuff, I think we need it all. How about some ideas from the industry leaders and scientists out there.