Mundane bee decline article

Like many things, there's a thread of truth in most every article.

As a whole the tone reminds me of the hype associated with the Anthropogenic Global Warming farce we've had shoveled at us for the last couple of years.

Are there losses? Sure but they vary wildly.

An older gentleman I know lost all of his bees this year, I had ~20% losses.

He's using Italian Pkgs, no SBB, treats spring/fall with chems basically keeping bees as if its the 1970's

I use Carni's and Russian Hybrids better suited for New England winters. Don't treat unless there's a real problem and then only use softer chems, use SBB's etc etc.

Sorry, but I think the article is way off base, Funding for Bee Research is just the next over hyped source of bloated government funding for research and increased spending (and taxes)

Stuff happens, thats Agriculture.

peterloringborst said:

Just like life. For some folks it works out and for some it doesn't. Don't expect me to pay for other people's problems. If they would've done what I did they never would've had those problems, so that makes it their fault, right?

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Fault is not relevent.

Responsibility on the other hand is.

If you kept bees for decades and each year experienced 50-100% losses wouldn't you have the good sense to look at what you're doing wrong?

peterloringborst said:

On the other hand, if there is a contagious virus that is wending its way through the bee population, my hives may get it too, and I sure hope somebody will help me then, cause I don't really understand viruses that good, and what to do about them.

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Lets just say the example I provided failed to include the fact that my colonies are within 100 yrds of the other persons.

I guess I should clarify more....in the yard in close proximity to the old timer he experienced 100% loss and I had 0% loss. Not bragging just pointing out that year after year he does the same things and loses most all of his bees.

Many have described the definition of insanity as doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.

Some expensive government funded research project isn't going to change that.

Anyone with enough brain cells to form a synapse isn't going to ensure that their colonies are all from a single genetic strain....you diversify...that way of something DOES come along you have a greater chance of surviving.

Monoculture is a recipe for epic fail and begging some government funded program staffed by undergrads that know jack about the subject isn't going to help anyone one iota.