Lack of Material to breed from?
The local bee improvement group of which I am chief grafter, apidea-sitter post mating station and nearest to a biologist we can muster, has done two grafting and isolated mating forays this year and we wait to see what comes out of winter. The plan is a ten line, three group closed mating project with calm and productive Amm (or their modern equivalent). We are going to be short of stock so will add to the gene pool next season while getting the logistics and skillsets in place before the real off in 2013.
Lack of bees to support the work?
No problem. That's where forming a keen group helps.
Lack of knowledge?
I am currently writing a "Better Drones" booklet, others are doing other vital bits including design work for essential equipment and user-friendly databases.
Lack of support?
Our three day II course was part-funded by the BKA as is the equipment and we have further II training in line for next year. For support the group have each other and the arguments and disagreements have been almost non-existent....in fact clipping of project queens has been the only one I can recall to date.
In the meantime I will graft and select from the best of my own stock to get a better uniformity for honey colonies here next season.