ABF Queen Breeders Group
Soliciting Research Proposals
The American Beekeeping Federationıs Package Bee and Queen Breeders Special Interest Group (SIG) is soliciting grant proposals for research projects related to queen bees.
At the 1997 ABF Convention in Norfolk, the SIG members decided to establish a research fund to accept voluntary contributions from bee breeders to help solve research problems that are of immediate concern to the beekeeping industry. At the recent ABF Convention in Colorado Springs, the SIG collected a substantial amount from a few generous firms and individuals.
Current contributors to the research fund include Kona Queen Hawaii, Glenn Apiaries, Heitkamıs Honey Bees, Strachan Apiaries, Presley Apiaries, and B. Weaver Apiaries. Other members of the SIG have pledged their support, including Walker Apiaries, R. Weaver Apiaries, and Wootenıs Golden Queens. The research fund committee asks that beekeepers support these breeders who are putting a portion of their revenues to work for the industry, or, alternatively, to encourage their breeder to contribute to the research fund.
The research fund committee developed a list of research priorities and, with the help of some of the bee scientists present at the meeting, formulated a list of target topics and guidelines for requesting research grants.
TARGET TOPICS
1. Development of honey bee stocks resistant to varroa.
2. Causes of early queen failure and supersedure (or lack of supersedure) in queens sold individually, or in packages and nucs.
3. Test/monitor commercial queen stocks for diseases and mites, and the effect of diseases and mite infestations on queen longevity and fecundity.
4. Effects of acaracides during treatment, or through residue accumulation in wax on:
a. Behavior of drones
b. Production of semen
c. Viability of semen
d. Behavior of queens
e. Fecundity of queens
f. Viability of embryos and/or brood
5. Effect of queen cell contamination, chemical composition, or residue accumulation in wax on queen health and performance.
All research proposals should be limited to ten pages, including:
1. Objective of the research.
2. Enough protocol for the reviewer to determine the feasibility of the approach.
3. An itemized list of the costs of the research.
4. The anticipated benefit to the industry at the completion of the study.
5. Each proposal should be limited to $10,000 or less.
6. No indirect or overhead costs may be included in the budget or deducted from the amount awarded.
Please send your proposals to: Daniel Weaver, c/o B. Weaver Apiaries, Inc., R.R. 1, Box 256, Navasota, TX 77868, Fax 409-825-7351.
Proposals must be received by April 1, 1998 for duplicating and dissemination to the Research Committee members. The committee will review the proposals in consultation with a panel of disinterested research scientists and make funding decisions by July 1, 1998.
Posted by:
Troy Fore
Executive Director
American Beekeeping Federation
P.O. Box 1038
Jesup, GA 31598
Ph. 912-427-4233
Fax 912-427-8447
E-Mail: [log in to unmask]
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