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Not going to spend much time participating in this argument. But I'm friends with the son of Bill Dahle who was quoted in the NYT "Mystery Malady" article. Met him several years back at a Marla...

http://www.harbobeeco.com/vsh/

John Harbo who was one of the pioneer researchers of VSH claims that this problem has been solved through selective breeding. In his stock, at least.

Thanks for all the comments. This is all pretty much in line with what I was expecting.
We are still using two semi vans that my dad bought 30+ years ago and they are in sad shape at this point....

I'm considering purchasing used 20' or 40' shipping containers for super storage instead of using semi vans. Anyone else doing this?

Pros:
Ground-level storage
Wind and water tight, sturdy...

Job specialization = efficiency

Put all the sides and ends in stacks and first dry-assemble a few dozen hive bodies, using a slightly modified deep hive body as a fit-up jig to hold the end pieces...

So these guys list it for sale but don't actually have it in stock anymore?

http://store.coppercare.com/products/11-cu-nap-8-cu-as-metal-copper-naphthenate.aspx

Thanks for your report.
Were the hives broodless the first time you trickled?
Was the strength of the first batch the same as the second batch, or weaker?

Thanks, both of those posts make good sense to me. Looking forward to seeing how it works out.

I plan on hitting our bees with OA this winter as it appears that the treatment which has been used that past few years has stopped working. One question I have but which I've never seen addressed,...

Hi Jim
Thinking about trying the oxalic dribble this winter in FL.
What have you found is the most efficient way to apply - the Oliver garden sprayer method at 5 ml per seam of bees?
Ever...

I recently placed an order for 1000 unassembled boxes from Mann Lake, with the special request that no handholds be milled on the short ends of the boxes (we groove the insides for partitions to make...

I've heard that some beekeepers pee in a plastic soda bottle and leave it on its side somewhere in the yard. Supposedly the scent keeps the bears off. Not sure if this is effective, but might as well...

That like a Donkey lift? Does the extra wide wheelbase seem to be much of a problem?

Thanks a lot for the responses. Will update with results after I try out a few different setups.

I'm preparing to set up to dip around 1000 unassembled new boxes. Last time around, I dipped using a 55 gallon drum with electric band heaters, following recommendations to use a dipping temperature...

All 7 5/8" for brood chambers and honey supers, double 7 5/8" for brood chamber
dad uses story and a halves but recommended he'd go all 7 5/8" if starting all over again
so far I like it a lot.

Just got back from Florida making about 650 packages using the "second video" method with the same crew of people. Easily made 400 the first day of shaking, including setup time and moving between...

Many people use cleated boxes on pallets. On a 4-way pallet they fit fine if the cleats are on the narrow end of the box. If you're using a 6-stack pallet to store empty boxes or for stacking honey...

Kirk Jones of "Sleeping Bear Farms" does, check your August 2009 ABJ for an article about them.

Looks like you hit the nail directly on the head with that one, Mr. Slave...

"Corn Seed Treatment As Lethal As It Gets For Honey Bees All Season Long, And Long After The Season Is Gone."...

I suppose this is pretty relevant to the discussion:

"Q&A for RNAi in Varroa press release"
https://secure.fera.defra.gov.uk/beebase/downloadNews.cfm?id=92

Different strokes. I'm aware of a couple large producers in FL who also do it this way but obviously there are other things that work. Post a video, I'd love to see it. You could probably use it to...

Lol I will inform dad of your work policies in case he ever needs a job. So is a smoke up box a super with wooden slats for bees to cluster on? And I'm picturing a screened top? Or am I missing...

If by smoke up box you mean an empty super, that's what we use. Smoke them up through an excluder into an empty super on top with a screened lid. I think the video shows it. If there is a faster way...

Clearly you haven't been making packages profitably with this method as my father (in above video) has been for 35 years. Beeslave and I have spent plenty of time working with dad making packages...