I've seen a lot of hives burnt, and beekeepers brought to tears watching their lives go up in smoke. Yes they get some compensation but nothing near the value of what it's worth. I've studied hives that live with AFB, hives that fall over to it quickly, hives that never seem to get it. My hives are side by side on pallets one hive gets it one doesn't. ? Good years I get down to 2% of hives with it bad years have been up to 15% currently less than 5% My past two years ive replaced all my queen's with hygienic behavior etc. I've tried radiation and my last lot I found not to be cleaned after I got it back. Upon following this up I found that the cobalt was replaced after my boxes were put through (bad luck for me). It was gear that I new was dirty and I assumed it to be clean upon its return so out the gear went, only to infect more hives. The packing, wrapping, delivery, pick up, unraveling, etc make the radiation non viable. Bleach treatment of equipment has worked for me, although again time consuming. I've even bleach dipped frames and returned them to hives with wax etc all intact as an experiment, with great results. Yes I'm aware of the residual affects of the sodium hyper chloride. The problem with any of these treatments, bleach dip, freezing, scorching, eucalyptus/tea tree spray etc is that you don't know you've killed the bacteria, not for sure so the equipment goes back out in the apiary. Good luck. So I do several. Say this month when I'm cleaning old frames they will get bleach dip then go into the sun to remove the bleach, then into the freezer for 2 days. Some equipment will also get steam treatment when I've got the boiler going. All tome consuming and all with unknown end result.
I don't believe burning witches (I mean hives) has gotten us anywhere. Other than to push the problem under ground. And I'm all for people trying other options. Yantabulla your right that wombat2 techniques are not legal and it's still a hive of infected bees, and in time disease will rear its ugly head again.
Next to nosema ceranea AFB is our greatest challenge here in Australia and with little funding it's up to the individual to try to find an answer.
Anyway will be interested in any comments.