GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1991

H	1 

HOUSE BILL 1174*

Short Title:  Apiculture Support/NCSU & NCDA.	(Public)
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Sponsors: Representatives Albertson, Mavretic; Abernethy, Barbee, Bowen, Bowie, Bowman, Brown, Chapin, Colton, N.J. Crawford, Creech, DeVane, Grady, Greenwood, Hightower, Jack Hunt, Judy Hunt, R. Hunter, James, Lilley, Loflin, Lutz, McLaughlin, McLawhorn, Mercer, Nesbitt, Nye, Privette, Ramsey, Russell, Thompson, and Wainwright. 
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Referred to:  Appropriations.
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May 8, 1991

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO PROVIDE INCREASED APICULTURAL SUPPORT AT NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY AND INCREASED APICULTURAL INSPECTION SERVICES AT THE NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.
Whereas, pollination by honey bees is necessary for many of the commercial fruit and vegetable crops such as apples, blueberries, cucumbers, watermelons and other vine crops grown in North Carolina; and
Whereas, North Carolina beekeepers contribute over $6,000,000 annually to the State's economy through the production of honey and beeswax and add an additional $30,000,000 by increasing the value of pollinated crops such as apples, blueberries, cucumbers, watermelons, and other vine crops; and
Whereas, the establishment of two new bee pests (tracheal mites and Varroa mites) have killed up to thirty percent (30%) of the bee colonies on an annual basis in recent years and these losses are expected to continue; and
Whereas, the beekeeping industry in North Carolina is the major barrier to the expected arrival of Africanized (killer bees) in the State; and
Whereas, continuing programs of research at North Carolina State University and expanded inspection and regulation work by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture are needed to support the beekeeping industry; and
Whereas, there is needed an appropriation for these purposes; Now, therefore,
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina the sum of $41,975 for the 1991-92 fiscal year and the sum of $37,475 for the 1992-93 fiscal year for the purpose of providing funding for apicultural research in the Department of Entomology at North Carolina State University to deal with the problems of tracheal mites, Varroa mites, and the arrival of Africanized bees that affect the State's beekeeping industry.
Sec. 2.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Agriculture the sum of $101,515 for the 1991-92 fiscal year and the sum of $83,015 for the 1992-93 fiscal year for the purpose of providing increased inspection and regulatory services by the Division of Plant Industry to deal with the problems of tracheal mites, Varroa mites, and the arrival of Africanized bees that affect the State's beekeeping industry.
Sec. 3.  This act becomes effective July 1, 1991.