From: "deelusbybeekeeper" <deelusbybeekeeper@excelonline.com>
Date: Thu, 6 Sep 2001 08:27:14 -0700
To: <BiologicalBeekeeping@yahoogroups.com>
Subject: Breaking Dependency. Good Luck?

Hi All

Got my new Bee Culture for Sep 2001 and on pages 21-23 Dr James E. Tew wrote
an article for Integrated Pest Management of Varroa Mites that is causing
our phone to ring with inqueries so I thought I'd best mention it here...the
subject matter....that is!

The article deals with IPM now the way to go with keeping of bees and
chemical treatments to be eliminated and the last sentence in the article
says " As soon as you can, work on breaking your chemical dependency. Good
luck. You're going to need it."

It seems there are no more chemicals. All shots have been fired now and
beekeepers are left with IPM and getting their bees off the various dopes
they have been using on their own initiative.

Now I am not going to say I think the industry has been left hanging after
getting addicted and never should have started down the dope route anyway
(dispite the fact the petro-chemical industry gave free grants for chemical
experimentation that was quickly slurped up!).

But now I feel it is all the more important we work together to help each
other get our industry off the addiction placed upon us and in many cases
forced by mandatory controls to dope infested bees with chemicals rather
than give the beekeeper the choice of biological.

Now one last thing I am going to say. In the beginning of the biological (by
the way which under the FIFRA code is mandatory to giving to beekeepers for
using and being allowed to use if they just ask for it and demand it of
their states and fed government) there was no soft chemical treatments
allowed. IN about 1996 federal law changed to placate after much battle and
it became one of the allowed IPM treatments but many really into biological
management from the beginning do not recognize this method as in the long
run essential oils and acids are not natural and are still a crutch until
you can work without them. Besides in the long haul your bees will still die
and not perform as well.

Jest of matter now after reading the article. If this is true what is being
written and you are left to get off of dope addiction with your bees on your
own, and your still got contaminated combs with residues so to produce clean
honey you got to change combs anyway (compounded problem) then to get the
residues and break addiction it seems the federal government and states etc
have now set everyone up for a massive comb/foundation changeover. If this
then being true.....

I would suggest 4.9mm and hit it and then use it to get everything under
control and then for price of doing it ask "Now what do we owe you in
return?" to our ??????? you know who.

Am I being too hard for feeling this way? How can they leave the industry
hanging and say you're on your own now?

Going to try to see if the article is posted anyplace on the internet for
all to pull down and read.

Comments! How do others on the list perceive the change of industry
direction with this article knowing Dr Tew's position as federal teacher for
industry....

Regards:
Dee A. Lusby
Ph/Fax: 1-520-748-0542
Email: deelusbybeekeeper@excelonline.com