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Russian X Russian Bees
Whether you are a hobbyist, sideliner, or commercial beekeeper, varroa mites are the issue. For us, after 40 plus
years of beekeeping, the varroa mite has changed everything. Modern trucks, forklifts, and extracting equipment
are great; but keeping bees alive and believing in the most important selling point of honey as a pure and natural
product have become almost mutually exclusive. We have always believed that the ultimate answer to the varroa
mite problem is through bee breeding and stock selection, NOT the latest chemical solution that is ultimately
doomed by the mites ability to develop chemical resistantance.
We treated our bees for many years and it was a constant roller coaster ride, great bees one year followed by
losses another. At the urging of a good friend, Kirk Webster, we started using USDA Russian breeder queens in
2004. At the same time the mites we had in our bees had become resistant to both Apistan and Checkmite, the
federally approved formulations of fluvalinate and coumaphos. We diligently requeened as many colonies as
possible, but for the first couple years they were only Russian Hybrids and we used oxalic acid as a Fall treatment
in 2004 and 2005. Since then we believe that our queens are now mating with predominately Russian Drones, and
the mite resistance of these colonies is greatly improved. We gave our bees no treatment in 2006 and have no
plans for treatment in 2007. We have adopted the attitude and method that if the mites kill a colony we did not want
them anyway. At this writing we occasionally see a colony with "Mite Syndrome", but the vast majority look great
while we continue to hear reports of huge losses or heavy treatment by beekeepers using more traditional stocks
of bees.
Russian bees are not perfect, but they are the best thing we have. It is a tragedy that this stock has not been more
widely distributed and utilized by the beekeeping industry. It is a shame that much misinformation has been
published and ignorant opinion expressed by beekeepers who know nothing about Russian Bees. Through
selection I believe these bees have a great future for beekeepers wishing to have thriving hives producing honey
as pure and natural as it's name has always implied. I want to state here that I believe the Russian Bee Program is
the greatest thing to come out of the USDA Bee Research Labs, and my hat is off with great thanks to Dr. Tom
Rinderer for his efforts on the behalf of all beekeepers through this program.
We have always raised our own queen bees for our honey producing hives and have felt over the years that it was
a great part of our success. The last 7 years we have had a severe and ongoing drought in South Dakota that has
dramatically reduced our honey crops. In an effort to diversify our business we are now offering hives of Russian
Bees for sale from our queen and nuc operation at Shepherd, TX..
More information contact Chris Baldwin 605-488-0005.
Whether you are a hobbyist, sideliner, or commercial beekeeper, varroa mites are the issue. For us, after 40 plus
years of beekeeping, the varroa mite has changed everything. Modern trucks, forklifts, and extracting equipment
are great; but keeping bees alive and believing in the most important selling point of honey as a pure and natural
product have become almost mutually exclusive. We have always believed that the ultimate answer to the varroa
mite problem is through bee breeding and stock selection, NOT the latest chemical solution that is ultimately
doomed by the mites ability to develop chemical resistantance.
We treated our bees for many years and it was a constant roller coaster ride, great bees one year followed by
losses another. At the urging of a good friend, Kirk Webster, we started using USDA Russian breeder queens in
2004. At the same time the mites we had in our bees had become resistant to both Apistan and Checkmite, the
federally approved formulations of fluvalinate and coumaphos. We diligently requeened as many colonies as
possible, but for the first couple years they were only Russian Hybrids and we used oxalic acid as a Fall treatment
in 2004 and 2005. Since then we believe that our queens are now mating with predominately Russian Drones, and
the mite resistance of these colonies is greatly improved. We gave our bees no treatment in 2006 and have no
plans for treatment in 2007. We have adopted the attitude and method that if the mites kill a colony we did not want
them anyway. At this writing we occasionally see a colony with "Mite Syndrome", but the vast majority look great
while we continue to hear reports of huge losses or heavy treatment by beekeepers using more traditional stocks
of bees.
Russian bees are not perfect, but they are the best thing we have. It is a tragedy that this stock has not been more
widely distributed and utilized by the beekeeping industry. It is a shame that much misinformation has been
published and ignorant opinion expressed by beekeepers who know nothing about Russian Bees. Through
selection I believe these bees have a great future for beekeepers wishing to have thriving hives producing honey
as pure and natural as it's name has always implied. I want to state here that I believe the Russian Bee Program is
the greatest thing to come out of the USDA Bee Research Labs, and my hat is off with great thanks to Dr. Tom
Rinderer for his efforts on the behalf of all beekeepers through this program.
We have always raised our own queen bees for our honey producing hives and have felt over the years that it was
a great part of our success. The last 7 years we have had a severe and ongoing drought in South Dakota that has
dramatically reduced our honey crops. In an effort to diversify our business we are now offering hives of Russian
Bees for sale from our queen and nuc operation at Shepherd, TX..
More information contact Chris Baldwin 605-488-0005.
 |
If you are interested in bees or
springtime queen cells, please
contact Chris on his cell phone
at 605-488-0005.
springtime queen cells, please
contact Chris on his cell phone
at 605-488-0005.
| Single story nucs for 2010 available May 1, 2010 bottom or pallets (pick up only) Shepherd, TX. ~ $145 Springtime Queen cells ~ $4.00 are available for pickup in Shepherd, TX. *We do not ship cells, queens, packages, or hives.* |
