State Apiary Program for 2004 in Possible Danger

The proposed cut of 9% in the state budget for 2004 may well jeopardize the
state apiary Program. Gus Douglas handled this year's 9% reduction by cutting
programs in order to retain permanent staff. This resulted in beekeepers losing
hive treatments for mites, part-time inspectors and reduction in travel by
George Clutter and Paul Poling our state inspectors.

Both Bob Clarke and Gordon Mead of the WV Beekeepers Association have talked
to Janet Fisher, Commissioner of Agriculture about this situation. No
decisions have been made yet. When asked beekeepers could do she said, " Contact your
legislators. They are the ones who control the Budget."

The President of the Jackson County Beekeepers also requests that all farmers
please contact the legislators about this on behalf of the beekeepers.
Without the bees many crops and trees would not get the best pollination.

Write your elected lawmakers to save our apiary inspectors. Look up there
email address here  <A HREF="http://www.legis.state.wv.us/legishp.html">WV Legislature</A>

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