We are just into mid-May and I know that it is hard for many of us to think about January but that is what we need to be doing.  We need to be preparing our programs to present to the Department of Agriculture and the WV State Legislators.

Attached is our current draft of the West Virginia Best Management Practices.  Please review this with your local associations and get their feed back.

If adopted entry into this program would be strictly voluntary.  Were may help?  In the event of a law suit for damages or nuisance complaints the Department of Agriculture could note that the beekeeper has agreed to follow these programs, and by inspection of the apiary site by the Dept of Ag compliance may be confirmed aiding the beekeeper in his or her defense.

We will also  peruse protective legislation that would protect the beekeeper that has confirmed compliance from legal litigation.

This is the latest draft and has readdressed many of the concerns that we received about the previous drafts.  This one is modeled after the Main Beekeepers Best Management Practices Program which was adopted into law two years ago.

Please review this at your next local association meeting and send the comments and or concerns to the Committee Members as soon as possible, preferably by the WVBA Executive Board Meeting 0n June 7th.

For those who receive the attachment:    Please read the attachment carefully. This is only what 

           we might do to fend off potential lawsuits from those who MAY have been harmed at some

          Time by honey bees. The WVBA is considering whether or not to push for such a step

          regarding  beekeepers in WV. Some changes can possibly be made before signing onto 

          the agreement with other  states.

          The WVBA does need your input regarding possible changes that you would like to see. 

          Please bring  this up in your club meetings, take some notes and pass on your thoughts to 

          us. 

          Any  consensus reached and put in writing would certainly be on a voluntary basis for each 

          beekeeper  to sign or not sign.  

          WVBA will be exploring the possibility of seeking protection from lawsuits (by the WV 

          Legislature) for those who would sign the best management agreement. That 

          certainly is Not a done deal at this time.

 Committee Members

chairman          Gabe Blatt  gabeblatt@prodigy.net

President         Troy Holbrook tjholbrook1@frontiernet.net      

Vice President David’s Rectenwald drectenwald@earthlink.net

                              Tom Kees  beesnbooks70@peoplepc.com