Anyone in the Burrillville area must keep on their toes this coming summer.  AFB has been found in used equipment that was sold to someone in the early fall.  I gave a sample to Jim Lawson who sent it to Beltsville Md bee lab.  It came back positive for AFB.  We are trying to find out where the seller had outyards that may have been abandoned.  We know he had outyards so everyone in Rhode Island should look carefully for and report abandoned hives.  
 
Please, the money you may save can turn out to be very expensive.  I think it would be wise to report sales to Jim Lawson so that he can inspect it before you buy.  A sample should be sent to Beltsville Md anyway.  Again, don't buy used equipment and report those selling used equipment so that it can be inspected.
Ed Lafferty