BISMARCK – Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring has awarded grants totaling $109,300.67 for five projects relating to honey bees. Four of the projects will focus on researching honey bee health issues and one project will concentrate on the education, outreach and promotion of honey bees.
“The goal of the honey bee research grants is to find practical solutions to honey bee health issues such as bee diseases and parasites,” said Goehring. “In addition, the promotion grants will help increase our knowledge and educate others about these small but important pollinators.”
The recipients of the grants are as follows.
Research:
- University of Minnesota– $24,541 to develop a transfer team program for the commercial beekeeping industry.
- Project Apis m.– $22,000 to work on varroa mite control and develop carriers for natural miticides.
- University of Minnesota– $18,316 to research bee breeding and management.
- University of Minnesota– $17,729 to evaluate the potential benefits of native prairie flowers for honey bees.
Promotion:
- North Dakota Beekeeper’s Association– $26,714.67 for promotion, outreach and education of honey bees.
Funding for the honey bee research grants was appropriated by the 2015 North Dakota Legislature and through honey assessments. Funding for the honey bee promotion grants comes from honey assessments.
More information about the grant program is available at nd.gov/ndda/program/apiary-program-honey-bees.
