The replacement of the field laboratory at the NCSU Lake Wheeler research facility has been a major priority for the North Carolina State Beekeepers for several years.
Rep. Chuck McGrady has introduced House Bill 334 which will provide funding for a new NCSU Field Honey Bee Laboratory.
You may read the text of the bill along with other official information at https://www.ncleg.gov/BillLookup/2019/h334.
Dr. David Tarpy has done outstanding work during the past decade as the leading apicultural scientist at NCSU, despite the limitation of inadequate facilities at the field lab. The uninsulated building is a post WWII residence which does not meet current building code standards. The roof sags and often leaks. Work space is inefficiently designed and not sufficient for the tasks at hand.
You can help advance this important effort by doing two things.
- First, call your local General Assembly Representative and Senator to tell them of the urgency of this need and your support.
- Second, Wednesday, March 20 is Ag Day at the North Carolina General Assembly. If you can do so, we ask that you come to the General Assembly to participate in this event and meet your Representative and Senator and make the case for this bill face to face.
With annual honey bee losses averaging 40 percent over the past few years –they were 50 percent last year– it is time to address this need. Vital research is needed to identify solutions to these excessive honey bee losses. NCSU has a great research program under the leadership of Dr. Tarpy and his staff. It can be better with a better facility.
We ask for your support.
Paul Newbold, President NCSBA