Chris wrote: "His experience is that there is increased
productivity, however his experience is confined to apiaries where EFB is
present which, he says, always reduces productivity even if the EFB isn't
visible."

Warré describes his 'pioneering method' of 'transvasement' in which at the
start of the swarm season in good weather with plenty of bees and forage
present the entire colony is decanted into new boxes with starter strips.
He reports that excellent harvests are obtained as the bees are no
longerheld back by brood, at least initially. The brood is either dispersed
or destroyed and the honey/wax harvested.

This seems to me to be a risky business with UK weather. It could turn
nasty for a couple of weeks and you could end up feeding the swarm. There
would of course be much more justification for doing it if EFB is present.

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David Heaf North-West Wales, UK
Warré & 'National' hives at 30 m over mean sea level
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