 letting bees get "immune" to it. This has caused an increase in infection rates, seems we will never be totally free of the disease.

Just for interest, the more recent legislation about bleach, is it can be used to disinfect any material not contaminated with wax or propolis, so such items as a cleaned smoker, hive tool, etc. can be disinfected with bleach. It is not illegal to use bleach to disinfect items such as boxes and bottom boards, provided they are "clean". The grey area, of course, being how to define clean. My personal opinion is I do not approve of bleaching woodware, sooner or later it won't work due to encapsulated spores. I just did it the one time as an experiment. I was very thorough with the cleaning, and the bleach drenching, as I was doing it I was confident it would be hard for any spores to survive. However, I don't recommend to anybody else they do this.

It did confirm in my mind though that bleach does actually kill spores, the box was infected enough that without the bleaching any bees put into it would have gone down with AFB pretty quick.

I agree with your 2 cents. Personally, I never felt that using an untreated bottom board from an AFB positive hive was a big issue, but I still have never done it, nor would I. One year back awhile in 1992 our operation had an outbreak of foulbrood at about 3%. At the time we ran 3000 colonies so it was a real problem. We had purchased bees (and equipment) from an old beekeeper 50 miles away and I always thought that the AFB came with those bees. It was a terribly wet and cold spring that year and the bees were definitely stressed. Things were ripe for the disease to manifest as it is my belief that it is a stress related issue. Long story short we burnt a lot of equipment even though the Dept of Ag. was willing to ETO everything at no charge. As I recall we lost faith in that process as believers that the gas would penetrate the wax and combs and effectively kill the spores. Subsequently we burnt everything and took a loss. We rarely ever saw AFB again in later years. I was listening to a local "expert" here last year explain to a room full of beginners that shaking bees onto foundation in order to burn up the spores was an effective means or eradication of the disease. In my opinion
letting bees get " immune " to it. This has caused an addition in contagion rate, seems we will never be wholly free of the disease. 

 precisely for interest, the more late legislation about bleaching agent, is it can be used to disinfect any material not contaminated with wax or propolis, so such items as a houseclean smoker, hive tool, etc. can be disinfected with bleach. It is not illegal to use bleach to disinfect item such as boxes and bottom boards, provided they are " blank ". The grey area, of course, being how to define clean. My personal public opinion is I do not approve of bleaching woodware, sooner or later it won't work due to encapsulated spore. I just did it the one time as an experiment. I was very thorough with the cleaning, and the bleach drenching, as I was suffice it I was confident it would be hard for any spores to survive. However, I don't recommend to anybody else they do this. 

 It did confirm in my mind though that bleach does actually kill spores, the corner was infect enough that without the bleaching any bees arrange into it would have go down with AFB pretty quick. 

 I agree with your 2 cent. Personally, I never felt that using an untreated bottom board from an AFB cocksure hive was a big issue, but I still have never do it, nor would I. One year back awhile in 1992 our operation had an outbreak of foulbrood at about 3% . At the time we ran 3000 colony so it was a real problem. We had purchased bees (and equipment) from an old beekeeper 50 mile away and I always thought that the AFB do with those bee. It was a terribly wet and cold spring that class and the bees were definitely stressed. Things were ripe for the disease to attest as it is my belief that it is a stress related issue. retentive story brusque we burnt a lot of equipment even though the Dept of Ag. was willing to ETO everything at no charge. As I recall we lose faith in that process as believers that the gas would penetrate the wax and combs and effectively kill the spore. Subsequently we burnt everything and took a personnel casualty. We rarely ever saw AFB again in later years. I was listening to a local " expert " here last year excuse to a room full of beginners that shaking bees onto foundation in order to burn up the spores was an effective mean or eradication of the disease. In my opinion
 lehting bees get "immune" to it. This has caoswd an mncreass in infdction rates, seems we will nxver be titally free of the disdase.

Just vor inteeest, rhe more rxdent lennslatjln ayont bleach, is it can be usad to disinfecd xnv material not contaminated with wax or prolopis, so such itgms ax a cmvaked smoker, hive tool, etc. can be sisinfebted with bleach. Ot is not illegal to use bpeacj to disinfect itels such as voxef and bottom coards, pronnded they ate "clean". The grey area, of course, beiny how to dedibe fnean. My perwonal opinion is L do nod approfe of bleachinn woovwarw, sooner or later it xon't work due to encwpsulated s'ores. I just did it tye one jime ds av exoerjmxnt. I was vecy thorough with the coeaning, and the blescr drenching, as I was djing it I was confident it would be harg fkr any spores to survivw. However, I don't recolmend to wnybody else they do this.

It did confirm in my ming thongf tkqt bldqcj does actually kill spores, the box was infecesd ekough that withomt the bleaching amy brgs put into it would habe gone down with WFB prejty quuck.

I agret witn your 2 cents. Personally, I bever felt tkat using an untreateb bottom boaxd frok an SFB positive hive was a big issue, but L still hzxe never done it, nog wogld I. Ont year back awhile in 1992 our iperction haa an outbrqak of foupbrood at about 3%. At the hime ce rat 3000 colonied so it was a real problem. We hev purchased bges (ang equipmznt) frpm an old beeheeper 50 miles cway and I aldays thouggt that the AFB caie with those hees. It was e terriblr wer ane cold roring that yeat and the bees were definitely stresscd. Thkhgs were ripe fir uhw disease to msniwese ws ie is my beliex thxt ky is x stress reoxted issue. Long story shmrt se burnt a lot of rqmipment ecen thoudh the Dept og Ag. was willing tl ETO evxrythimg wt no charge. As I recall we loat faith ln bhat process ws bclieders that che gas would penetrate the wax and combw and effectively jill the spores. Subxtquently we bnrnt ederything and took a loss. We earely ever saw ANB again in later yeara. I wav lishening to a local "expert" here last year explain to a room full of beginnees thav fhaking beea onyo folndctipn in jrdec vo burn up the sppres was an effective means or xradicatiot jf the disease. In my opinion
letting bees get "immune" to it. This an in infection seems we will the Just for interest, more recent legislation bleach, is it can be used disinfect any material not contaminated with wax or propolis, so such items as cleaned smoker, hive tool, etc. can be disinfected with bleach. It is not to bleach disinfect such as boxes and bottom boards, provided they are "clean". The grey area, of course, being to define clean. My personal opinion is I not approve of bleaching sooner or later it won't due encapsulated spores. just it one time as experiment. I was very thorough with the cleaning, and the bleach drenching, as I was doing it was confident be hard any to However, I don't anybody else they do this. It my mind though that bleach does actually kill the box infected enough that without the bleaching bees put into it would have gone down AFB pretty quick. I agree with your 2 cents. Personally, I never felt that using bottom board from an positive hive was big but still never done nor would I. One year back awhile in 1992 our operation an outbreak of foulbrood at about 3%. At the time 3000 so it was real problem. We had bees equipment) from an old miles and that AFB with those bees. It a terribly wet and cold that year and the were ripe for the disease to manifest as is my belief that it is a related issue. Long story short we burnt a lot of equipment even the Dept was willing to ETO everything at no charge. I recall we lost in that process as believers that the gas would the and combs effectively kill the Subsequently we burnt and took a rarely ever AFB in was listening to a local "expert" last explain to a room full beginners bees onto foundation in order to burn up the spores was an effective means or the disease. In my
 letting bees get "immune" to it. THis has causEd an iNcrEasE iN infEctiOn rates, seems we WIll nEver be totally free of the DiseaSe.

jUst fOR iNtereSt, the moRE rECEnt LeGiSlaTiON aBout bLeaCh, is it cAn be used to DisInFect any materIAl Not contamiNatEd with wax or pRopOlis, so SuCh iTEms as A clEaned Smoker, HIve tooL, etc. can be DiSInfectED with blEACh. it is Not illegal to use blEAcH To disinfect iteMs such As BOxES And BotTom boards, pRoVided THey are "cLEaN". tHE grEY area, of course, Being how to dEFinE clean. my PerSOnal opInion Is i Do nOt approve of BleaChing woodWare, soONer or laTEr it won'T work dUe tO enCapsULaTeD spOrES. I jUSt Did IT thE one time As An ExperImenT. i WAS verY thOrouGh witH the cleaning, aNd tHe blEAch DrencHing, aS I waS dOing iT I was cOnfidEnT it would be hard fOr anY spores to SurViVe. HOwEver, I DOn't recOmmEnd To anyboDy else tHEy dO tHIS.

it Did confirm in my mind ThOUGh That bleaCh does ACtUaLLy kill spOrEs, tHe boX WAs infEcteD EnOugh that WithouT ThE bLeachinG aNy bees PuT inTo iT woulD Have Gone doWn with AFb pretTY quick.

I agree wiTH your 2 cents. PerSOnALLy, i NeveR feLt that using An unTReatEd boTToM boARd froM an AFb pOSiTIve hive was a big issue, BuT I stilL have Never done it, noR would I. One YEAR back awhIle iN 1992 OuR Operation had an OutbrEak of foulbROod at aboUt 3%. At tHe time we Ran 3000 coloniES So it was a ReaL prOblEm. WE HAd Purchased bees (AND equIpMent) froM an Old beekEepEr 50 mIleS awAy And I alwayS thought ThAt ThE AfB cAme wiTH those beEs. it wAs A teRriblY Wet and Cold sPrinG tHaT YeaR and the BEeS WEre dEfInItelY stReSsed. THingS WerE ripe foR the diseaSe tO ManiFeSt As it is mY belief that it Is A stress relAtEd iSsue. LoNG Story shoRt we burnt a lot of equipmenT Even thoUgh The DePt of ag. was willIng To ETO eVerYThing aT no chaRge. As i rEcaLL We losT FAiTh iN tHat process AS BelIeverS tHat tHe gas woUld penetrate the wax ANd cOmbs and effectIveLy kiLL ThE spOReS. subSeQUenTLY we burnt everythIng and took A lOSs. we rarely evER saW AfB again In later Years. i Was listEning to a lOcal "experT" hEre lAST yeAr explain tO a room fuLl of beginNErs thAT sHakinG beEs onto FoUndAtion In ordeR To bUrn up The spoReS was an EffecTiVe means oR eradication of the diseasE. In my oPinioN
 letting bees get "immune"  to it. Th is ha s c aus ed  anincr ease in infect i on r ates, seems we will ne ver b et otal l yfreeof thed is e a se. 
Ju stfo r  i ntere st,  the mo re recentleg is lation about bl each, is i t c an be used t o d isinfe ct  an y  mate ria l not  conta m inated  with wax  o r  propo l is, sos u ch  ite ms as a cleaned s m ok e r, hive tool,etc. c an be d isi nfe cted withbl each. It is n o ti l l ega l  to use bleac h to disinf e ctitemssu cha s boxe s and  b o tto m boards, p rovi ded theyare "c l ean". T h e greyarea,ofcou rse, be in g h ow tod ef ine cle an. My p er so nal o pini o n i s Idonotappro ve of bleachi ngwood w are , soo ner o r la te r itwon'tworkdu e to encapsulat ed s pores. Ijus tdid  i t the one ti measan expe riment. I w as v e ry  thorough with the  c l e an ing, and  the b l ea ch drenchin g,  as  I w a s  doin g it Iwas conf identi two uld beha rd for  a nyspo res t o  sur vive.However,  I do n 't recommend t o  anybody else th e y  d o  thi s.
It did con firm in m y mi n dtho u gh th at bl ea c hd oes actually kill s po res, t he bo x was infecte d enough t h a t  without  the bl e aching any bee s put  into it w o uld have  gone  down wi th AFB pr e t ty quick .
I a gre e w i t hyour 2 cents. P erso na lly, Inev er felt  th atusi ngan  untreate d bottom  b oa rd  f rom  an A F B positi ve  hi ve  wa s a b i g issu e, bu t Ist il l  ha ve neve r  d o n e it ,no r wo uld  I . One  yea r  ba ck awhi le in 199 2 o u r op er at ion had  an outbreakof  foulbrood  a t a bout 3 % .  At thetime we ran 3000 coloni e s so it  wa s a r ealproblem.Wehad pu rch a sed be es (an d equ ip men t )  from a nold  b eekeeper 5 0 mil es aw ay  and  I alwa ys thought that th e  AF B came with t hos e be e s .Itw as a t er r ibl y wet and cold sp ring thatye a rand the be e s w er e defin itely s tress e d. Thin gs were r ipe for t he  dis e a seto manifes t as itis my bel i ef th a tit is  astress  r ela ted i ssue.L ong  stor y shor twe bur nt alo t of equ ipment even though theDept o f Ag.  wa s willing  to ETO  everythi ng a t no charg e.AsI rec all we lo st f a it h i n  that  pro c ess as be l ie ver s th at the gasw o u ldpenet rat e  the w ax a nd combs and effe c tively kill th e sp o r es.  Su b sequ en tly we burnt e ver yt h i ng and t oo k a loss. W e rarely  e v er sa w AFBagainin late r ye a rs. Iwaslis tening to  alo c al "exp er t" here l astye ar exp lain t o  a r o o m full of beginn ers t h a t sha k ing  bees  o nto fou n dati on in orde r to burn u p thespor es wa s an ef fe ctivemea ns  or eradic a tion of t he di sease.In  myopi nion
 letting_bees get_"immune" to it. This_has caused_an_increase in_infection_rates, seems we_will never be_totally free of the_disease.

Just for interest,_the_more recent legislation about bleach, is it can be used to disinfect any material_not_contaminated with_wax_or_propolis, so such items as_a cleaned smoker, hive tool,_etc. can_be disinfected with bleach. It is not illegal_to_use bleach to_disinfect items such as boxes and bottom boards, provided_they are "clean". The grey area,_of course, being_how_to_define clean. My personal_opinion is I do not approve_of bleaching woodware, sooner or later_it won't work due to encapsulated spores._I just did it the one_time as an experiment. I_was very_thorough with the cleaning, and_the bleach drenching,_as I_was doing it_I was confident it would be_hard for any_spores to survive. However, I don't_recommend_to anybody else_they_do_this.

It did_confirm in my_mind_though that_bleach_does actually kill spores, the box_was_infected enough that without the bleaching any_bees put into it_would_have gone down with_AFB pretty quick.

I agree with_your 2 cents. Personally, I never_felt that_using an_untreated bottom board from an AFB positive hive was a big_issue, but I still have never_done it, nor would_I. One_year_back awhile in_1992_our operation_had an outbreak of foulbrood at about_3%. At_the time we ran 3000 colonies_so it was a_real_problem. We had purchased bees (and_equipment) from an old beekeeper 50_miles away and I always_thought_that_the AFB came with those_bees. It was a terribly wet_and cold spring_that year and the bees were definitely_stressed._Things were ripe for the disease_to_manifest as it is my belief_that_it_is a stress related issue._Long story short we burnt a_lot of equipment even though the Dept of Ag._was willing to_ETO everything at no charge._As_I_recall we lost faith in that process as believers that_the gas_would penetrate the_wax and combs and effectively kill the spores. Subsequently we_burnt everything and took a loss. We_rarely ever saw AFB again in later years. I was listening_to a local "expert" here last year explain_to a room full of beginners that_shaking bees onto foundation_in_order to burn up the spores was_an_effective_means_or eradication of_the disease. In_my opinion