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Please note that established beekeepers, as well as new beekeepers, must reside in a tobacco-dependent county within the Southwest Region to be eligible for participation.
Southwest Virginia Tobacco Region: Bland, Buchanan, Carroll, Dickenson, Floyd, Grayson, Lee, Russell, Scott, Smyth, Tazewell, Washington, Wise, and Wythe Beginning beekeepers may make application beginning February 15, 2010 and established beekeepers may make application beginning March 15, 2010; one application per family. Appropriate forms may be obtained from county Agricultural Extension Offices. Extension Agents must review for compliance all application forms forwarded from their offices. All application forms shall be mailed to: SW VA AG AssociationAttn: Charlie Atkins121 Bagley Circle Suite 434Marion, VA 24354 ASSISTANCE FOR ESTABLISHED/BEGINNING BEEKEEPPERS
In an effort to offset recent/recurring losses to area beekeepers, a portion of grant funding will be utilized as cost-share incentives for established beekeepers. Established beekeepers (those with active hives at present) within tobacco-dependent counties are eligible for cost-share assistance that may be utilized toward the purchase of replacement bees and/or colony management costs. Although funding is limited, efforts have been made to equitably distribute available monies based on the USDA 2007 Census—Colony of bees and honey collected by county. To be eligible for participation, established beekeepers must reside within a tobacco-dependent county and must currently have active hives. Eligible established beekeepers may receive cost-share funding on a 50:50 basis, beginning beekeepers on a 75:25 basis (beginners 25%), not to exceed the maximum amount of $550.00 per beekeeper. As part of the application process, established beekeepers are required to complete the “Hive Inventory” questionnaire. This form must complete and submitted with the initial application; without a completed questionnaire, any application will be deemed incomplete and therefore ineligible for cost-share funding.
Cost-share funding will be distributed on a “reimbursement” basis: after approval of the initial application for funding, beekeepers secure necessary items, and present a “paid” receipt dated after application approval. No exceptions to this rule will be granted. Eligible expenditures for established and beginning beekeepers include:
Woodenware
Frames/foundation
Medications (fumagilin, terramycin, etc.)
Food supplements (pollen patties, essential oils, etc)
Queens
Packages/nucs
Protective clothing
Bee keeping equipment
Sucrose/HFCS
APPLICATION FOR BEGINNING AND ESTABLISHED BEEKEEPERS
Date of application: _______________________________ Recv’d:______________ Name: _________________________________________________________________ Address:________________________________________________________________ City:_________________, VA Zip: ________________ Phone: ________________________E-Mail Address:____________________________ Number of hives currently active: ________________________ Primary reason for hive losses from year to year: ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ List each item to be purchased utilizing cost-share funding (reference “Eligible Expenditures”).
Each item should be reasonably specific and should include an estimated cost.
Pkgs/Nucs of replacement bees: ______ (Cost of bees shall not exceed $100.00 each; shipping and handling included in this cost) ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ Total anticipated purchase amount: _________________________________________________ Signature of applicant: ___________________________________________________________ Approval: ___________________________________________________ Date: ___________ Name/Title Receipts received on: ____________________ Payment: $ __________________ Date issued: ______________________
APPLICANT QUESTIONNAIRE
Established Beekeepers
Name: ________________________________________ Date: ___________________
How long have you have been a beekeeper? __________________________________
Are you an active member in an area/local beekeeping association? If so, which one?
________________________________________________________________________
How many hives do you currently own and manage? __________________________
Did you suffer any hive losses in the past two years? If so, please provide the number of hives lost
and what you feel precipitated/caused the losses (e.g., stress, starvation, colony collapse disorder,
predator damage, etc.)
______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ Do you provide pollination services to area agricultural producers? ______________
If so, what is your routine rate per hive? $___________________________________
When making application for reimbursement, the undersigned agrees to: Participate in a beekeeping class or workshop and a mentored relationship with an assigned experienced beekeeper to obtain instruction on honey bee hive management and maintenance. Obtain additional basic hive and safety equipment as required over time to properly manage the hive.
Maintain the honey bee hive equipment and colonies for a minimum of two calendar years from the date honeybees are installed in the equipment.
Comply with all federal, state, and local regulations regarding the transport and maintenance of honey bees and use or sale of bee related materials or products.
Indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Commonwealth of Virginia Tobacco Commission, Extension Agents, DOC members, beekeepers Associations, their collective officers, agents, and employees from any claims, damages and actions of any kind or nature, whether at law or in equity, arising from the equipment and bees provided or the use thereof. No person receiving or using the equipment shall be deemed an agent or employee of the afore mentioned parties. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed an expressed or implied waiver of the sovereign immunity of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Print Name: ______________________________ Signature: _____________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ Phone (s): _____________________________ E-mail address __________________________ Assigned Mentor: _________________________________ Phone: _______________________ Name of Beginning Beekeeper course completed: _____________________________________ Course date and location: _________________________________________________________ Course instructor: _______________________________________________________________ Hives Received: ________________________ Bees Received: __________________________ Date hives received: ______________________
Date bees received: _______________________

Source: http://www.mountainempirebeekeepers.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/TIC-Grant-Forms.pdf