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Florida dept of apiary inspection had the reputation of setting the stanard of quality years back. Now almost all inspectors have little or no beekeeping experience. I dont know of any that have ever had more than a handful of hives for a few years other than a few oldtimers still there. My inspector while a really nice person and doing the best she can has never had and doesnt have bees. The problem seems to be low pay and inability to attract knowledgable beeks. They seem to think that going thru a short bee school and being certified master beekeeper is good enough. I had to correct one inspector a couple years back that took off the top box and sat it down in 6" tall grass. I explained that you could kill or loose a queen. Later the head guy called and thanked me for helping them! REALLY? I have heard numerous stories from other beeks. Last week I had a yard of over 100 hives quaranteened for american foyl brood just as i was preparing to head north. (Would be expensive to head back in 30 days with a semi). After looking at the hive i determined rather easily it was not AFB. I remained under quarantine for a week until lab results came back. It was NOT AFB. Any experienced beek woykd gave known. My inspector did the best she could with her lumited experience. I was a slight case of a virus with just a few cells and great looking brood pattern. This kind of thing can cost a beek thousands of $$ in lost pollination and lost contracts and honey production. Let alone returning to pick up a few hives. We pay for inspection fees and moving permits...it all gets into your pocket after awhile. A beek who dont control and burn AFB is out of business. After talking to several commercial beeks we have decided to seek to end the inspection program in FL. It would be much better to have a few KNOWLEDGABLE BEEKS to have in time when needed. But to waste taxpayer and beeks dollars on unqualified personnel is nuts. We will in the near future begin a petition to end this program as all Ive talked to are very disatisified. Any ideas and input are welcome. Rick Sutton