To whom it may concern,
As a group of primarily rural beekeepers, we are writing in strong opposition of closing the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (BARC). Besides breaking up functioning working groups, disrupting scientific work, and losing a facility that has grown into its role with the Beltsville Bee Research Laboratory for 90 years, closing BARC will remove an agricultural institution from a populated area. We spend a lot of effort and energy educating urban populations about agriculture, and removing a facility as important as BARC will further remove agriculture from the sight & minds of the area populus. Further, sustaining the beekeeping community is aligned with protecting the country’s food security, since 75% of our food requires pollination from bees.

As an industry, beekeeping has faced significant challenges in recent years – leading to a critical concern about sustainability – and it is the researchers at the Beltsville Bee Research Lab at BARC that have been responsive and helpful as we look for data to lead our management decisions. That essential service is a product of the collective expertise, collaboration, and unique research environment allowed at BARC.

We are in complete support of the continued operation of BARC to continue to serve the scientific & agricultural interests of Americans, at its current location.
Sincerely,
Eastern Colorado Beekeepers