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Whether you are a hobbyist, sideliner, or commercial beekeeper, keeping bees alive is the issue. For us, after 40
plus years of beekeeping, 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 is through bee breeding and stock selection, NOT the
latest chemical solution.
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, Champlain Valley Bees and Queens, we started using
USDA Russian Breeder Queens in 2004. Since 2007 we have used no mite treatments of ANY kind. Thru 2008 we
continued to use USDA-ARS Russian Breeder Queens as the mothers for our Queens in our regular hives. From
2009 on the Russian Breeder Queens have no longer been available to the public. They are only available to
members of the Russian Bee-Breeders Association. I am not a Russian Bee Cooperator.
Russian Based Survivor Stock
We now refer to our bees as Russian Based Survivor Stock. The original purpose of the Russian program was
based on these bees ability to withstand varroa mite infestation. We make no claims as to the purity of our Russian
stock. Our bees are all descended from original Russian stock, but along with other positive Russian traits, our
selection of breeder queens from 2009, to the present has been based on a colonies ability to survive and flourish
despite varroa mites, and without any treatments. We consider our entire operation, every hive, as part of our
breeding program. Survive without mite treatments, simple as that. With none of our colonies treated, our Queens
are able to mate with Drones from colonies with these same traits.
Now in 2012 we are shifting our selection process to include maximum honey production (our main business) and
larger Winter clusters to meet the demands for pollination. Queens for breeding purposes have been selected
based on honey production during 2011 and the size of cluster carried through the Winter of 2011/12. These
colonies along with no treatment for mites or nosema. Although the matings of any individual queen are beyond
our control, all breeder queens must be workable without veil or gloves.
The last few years the bee industry has seen problems we never could have imagined. Colony Collapse Disorder,
viruses, Nosema Ceranae. Have we lost bees? Yes we have. But many beekeepers who have given their bees the
"Benefit" of every possible treatment, have lost a lot of bees, too. We feel we have made tremendous progress in
breeding bees that can make it on their own.
One thing I am particularly proud of in our bee operation is that we have never had to bring in outside "bees" to
maintain our colony numbers. Our operation has been a continuous living thing for almost 40 years. Our only bee
purchases have been to bring in Queens of desirable stock for breeding purposes. Our bees have been self
sustaining. Now today with all the many problems facing our bees we continue this tradition. Again, since 2007 we
have given our bees no treatments of any kind for varroa mites, and we have never treated for Nosema.
Unfortunately we can make no guarantees on the survivability of any individual colony; but if you are looking for
bees that have a survivor history, and you want to join in our "grand experiment" give me a buzz. Our bees have
been thoroughly challenged and tested, and they keep on buzzing.
More information contact Chris Baldwin 605-488-0005.
plus years of beekeeping, 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 is through bee breeding and stock selection, NOT the
latest chemical solution.
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, Champlain Valley Bees and Queens, we started using
USDA Russian Breeder Queens in 2004. Since 2007 we have used no mite treatments of ANY kind. Thru 2008 we
continued to use USDA-ARS Russian Breeder Queens as the mothers for our Queens in our regular hives. From
2009 on the Russian Breeder Queens have no longer been available to the public. They are only available to
members of the Russian Bee-Breeders Association. I am not a Russian Bee Cooperator.
Russian Based Survivor Stock
We now refer to our bees as Russian Based Survivor Stock. The original purpose of the Russian program was
based on these bees ability to withstand varroa mite infestation. We make no claims as to the purity of our Russian
stock. Our bees are all descended from original Russian stock, but along with other positive Russian traits, our
selection of breeder queens from 2009, to the present has been based on a colonies ability to survive and flourish
despite varroa mites, and without any treatments. We consider our entire operation, every hive, as part of our
breeding program. Survive without mite treatments, simple as that. With none of our colonies treated, our Queens
are able to mate with Drones from colonies with these same traits.
Now in 2012 we are shifting our selection process to include maximum honey production (our main business) and
larger Winter clusters to meet the demands for pollination. Queens for breeding purposes have been selected
based on honey production during 2011 and the size of cluster carried through the Winter of 2011/12. These
colonies along with no treatment for mites or nosema. Although the matings of any individual queen are beyond
our control, all breeder queens must be workable without veil or gloves.
The last few years the bee industry has seen problems we never could have imagined. Colony Collapse Disorder,
viruses, Nosema Ceranae. Have we lost bees? Yes we have. But many beekeepers who have given their bees the
"Benefit" of every possible treatment, have lost a lot of bees, too. We feel we have made tremendous progress in
breeding bees that can make it on their own.
One thing I am particularly proud of in our bee operation is that we have never had to bring in outside "bees" to
maintain our colony numbers. Our operation has been a continuous living thing for almost 40 years. Our only bee
purchases have been to bring in Queens of desirable stock for breeding purposes. Our bees have been self
sustaining. Now today with all the many problems facing our bees we continue this tradition. Again, since 2007 we
have given our bees no treatments of any kind for varroa mites, and we have never treated for Nosema.
Unfortunately we can make no guarantees on the survivability of any individual colony; but if you are looking for
bees that have a survivor history, and you want to join in our "grand experiment" give me a buzz. Our bees have
been thoroughly challenged and tested, and they keep on buzzing.
More information contact Chris Baldwin 605-488-0005.
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| Absolutely no mite or fumagilin treatments Five frame Nucs...........................$125.00 Single story Nucs.........................$175.00 Proven Breeder Queens..............$500.00 Queen Cells......................................$6.00 Sorry........NO shipping or laying Queens Pick up ONLY at Shepherd, TX. 77371 Available May 1st. , 2013 Contact: Chris Baldwin, Cell# 605-488-0005 |
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