As I wrote in my previous letter concerning Den. Dan Coats remarks about honeybee research, I faxed a letter to both my Senators from IN. I am planning on attending a Town Meeting with our freshman Federal Representative John Hostettler. I found out that Rep. Hostettler is on the Agricultural Committee in Washington D.C. Below is a copy of the letter I sent to Sen. Coats. I hope it is not too long. If it is I apoligize. I might add that Sen. Coats fax # is 1-202-228-4137. Send him a letter. We have to be vocal on this one or we could lose our bee research labs. Gordon D. Hayes 916 N. West St. Princeton, IN 47670 Hon. Sen. Daniel Coats 101 N. W. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. Evansville, IN 47708 13 April 1995 Hon. Sen. Coats, It is with deep regret that I read a recent letter to the editor in the April issue of Bee Culture Magazine. As a beekeeper, I am appalled that you would make a comment that federal funding of research in regard to honeybees is a waste of taxpayers money. As a voter, I am appalled that you would make a comment such as you did about a subject that you yourself know little about. It is easy to suggest that funding for honeybee research should be cut. We all "know" that honeybees are dangerous insects that sting people and even attack people. Some people are even allergic to their sting and become sick. A few may even die as a result of being stung by the common honeybee. But far more people die from other less publicized means. I am sorry that I missed your meeting yesterday (12 April 1995) in Princeton, IN. I would have cherished the opportunity to inform you of the problems the United States faces concerning honeybees. But I will take this opportunity to shed some light on the subject for you. First of all, I am not a small backyard beekeeper. I have over 300 colonies/hives of honeybees that I rent out to farmers in neighboring Knox County, IN. I am renting a few colonies in my Gibson County. The primary crops that I rent my bees to pollinate are watermelon and canteloupe. This year, I will rent bees to a farmer to pollinate strawberries and blueberries. To put this in perspective, there are 24 farmers in Gibson County that raise crops that would benefit from honeybee pollination. This brings in an annual gross income of somewhere in the neighborhood of $1,000,000. About 1/5th of the amount you say the Federal Government wasted in honeybee research last year. There are probably twice that many farmers in Knox County that raise crops that benefit from honey bee pollination. The annual value of honeybee pollination in the United States has been estimated at over $1,000,000,000. Without crop pollination, many of the vegetables and fruits grown in the United States would not grow. I think you can understand the ramifications of this statement. Now for the problems that the United States has with honeybees. There are three major problems facing the beekeeping/pollination industry in America today. The first two are mites. Tracheal mites (Acarapis woodi Rennie) and Varroa mites (Varroa jacobsoni Oudmans). Both have caused considerable losses in both wild hives and managed colonies. Most wild hives in my area have been totally wiped out. Causing the local growers to depend upon the beekeeper and his/her managed colonies. At the same time, many beekeepers have suffered losses in great numbers. A few have lost nearly 100% of their hives. Presently there is only one approved treatment for Varroa infestation. And since only one company is licensed to supply this acaricide, they can charge extremely high prices for the treatment. And since it is either use the treatment or buy new bees each year, we use the treatment. The tracheal mite is somewhat easier to control. The third threat to the beekeeping/pollination business in the United States is the threat of Africanized Honey Bees, more commonly known as ""Killer Bees" by the sensationalizing media. They probably won't be a permanent problem in the state of Indiana. At least for now. Our winters are to cold for them. But this is something we will not know without research. So, in closing, I would like to make three suggestions to you. First of all, when you make a statement about the government wasting taxpayers' dollars; read up on the subject first. Secondly, don't take away our federal monies for bee research. $5,000,000 is a drop in the bucket when talking of the federal budget. And thirdly, call me and make an appointment to see how valuable honeybees are to the economy of this great country (or at least my little part of it). P.S. I have extra veils to keep the bees out of your face. Sincerely signed, Gordon D. Hayes