"The primary purpose of the corporation will be to maintain and improve the genetic lines of Russian honey bees through propagation and selective breeding." 
(Excerpt from Articles of Incorporation) 

There are 17 lines of Russian Queens
divided into 3 groups called Block A,B and C. Our successful breeding program avoids inbreeding while making improvements through selective breeding. Our plan calls for mating queens from Block A to drones from queens of Block B and C, mating queens from Block B to drones from queens of Blocks A and C, and so on.

This breeding plan works at 2 levels. First, it is the plan used by members of the Association to produce queens they will test and select to produce the next generation of test queens. Second, by using the sequential rotation of the 3 blocks to provide breeder queens to make production queens, the Association is providing the customers  with a safeguard from inbreeding.

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Queens from these isolated mating yards will head colonies which will be closely monitored for mite resistance and honey production. They will also be provided to other breeder members to head drone source colonies and for line assessment. 

New York above, Georgia below

Honey supers being marked and pulled from monitored colonies....

....loaded

.....and weighed.

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Survival and overall resilience also influence selection

Wintering in New York

Wintering in Minnesota

Just unwrapped (New York)