To Whom It May Concern,
On behalf of the Jefferson County Beekeeper Association, representing beekeepers across Jefferson County Colorado, we are writing in strong opposition to the closure of the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (BARC) in Beltsville, MD.
Amid the multitude of challenges we as beekeepers face including, but not limited to, varroa mites and the diseases these parasites vector and spread to honey bees, nutritional challenges, and pesticide exposure, BARC research is working tirelessly to address these issues, and it is committed to working on science based solutions to combat colony losses. Beekeepers from the commercial level to the hobbyist rely on BARC's research to guide management practices and keep our honey bee colonies healthy and thriving. Due to BARC's location in Maryland where there are four distinct seasons, BARC can conduct research in all climates, and this is essential for beekeepers in colder climates like Colorado that experience higher colony losses over the winter months. We as beekeepers and our honey bees face so many challenges and closing or relocating the BARC would only exacerbate the problems. We support fully the continued operation of BARC and respectfully request that the Center continue its research in Maryland. Thank you for taking the time to consider our concerns.
Sincerely,
Jefferson County Beekeeper Association
Jefferson County Colorado