I know that I have cut into this discussion late and perhaps am bending it
a different direction but....
 
Being a federally supported researcher I might add that due to the
stability of our funding as compared to soft money research efforts, a
federally subsidized program can often cover a research project that soft
money cannot.  We often have the freedom to explore tangental experimental
outcomes that a tighter more focused program cannot, thereby uncovering
important results that some of these two-four year soft grants cannot.
Long term government money can provide basic research that is considered
unfundable within the University environment.
 
It seems that the majority of beekeepers have few hives and do not depend
on bees for their lively hood.  They also seem to be an independent bunch
who do not really want some government (federal state or local) agency
meddling around with an apiary. On the other hand a loud lobbying voice can
force funding though congress if the lobbing pressure is sustained.  A
program of research and education for beekeepers could have the effect of
insuring high quality honey products, providing numerous bees for
pollination of important agricultural crops and reducing the risk of
contamination of food products by non registered chemicals.  Find someone
to call today!!!
 
I know that over the years our research group has undertaken some projects
and quit others due to congressional mandates so I can realize the power of
speaking up to those powers that handle the money disbursement in
government. To get the attention of state and federal funders beekeepers
may just need to squeak just a bit more!-)
 
Mike
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            (  (__{(@)}\__}.//_/__A__/_A___|__A_\___A______A_____A
             \__/{/(_)\_}  )\\ \\---v-----V----v----v-----V-----v---
               (   (__)_)_/  )\ \>  Mike Griggs  [log in to unmask]
 
                \__/     \__/\/\/        Entomologist
 
                   \__,--'HTTP://www.ppru.cornell.edu/biocontrol/griggs.html
 
 
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                   _   __        ___\.~~-.-~|     . -~_
                  / \./  \/\__      { O |  ` .-~.    ;  ~-.__
              __{^\_ _}_   )  }/^\   ~--~/-|_\|   :   : .-~
             /  /\_/^\._}_/  //  /     /   |  \~ - - ~
            (  (__{(@)}\__}.//_/__A__/_A___|__A_\___A______A_____A
             \__/{/(_)\_}  )\\ \\---v-----V----v----v-----V-----v---
               (   (__)_)_/  )\ \>  Mike Griggs  [log in to unmask]
 
                \__/     \__/\/\/        Entomologist
 
                   \__,--'HTTP://www.ppru.cornell.edu/biocontrol/griggs.html