|
FRANKFORT, Ky. — Kentucky’s growing beekeeping schools will benefit from a $1,000 grant from the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, Commissioner Richie Farmer has announced.
“Beekeeping is a traditional Kentucky industry,” Commissioner Farmer said. “It has taken on added importance in recent years as domesticated bees increasingly are being used to pollinate orchards and other crops. I am pleased to make this investment in this important industry.”
The grant will be matched by $1,000 from the Kentucky State Beekeepers Association. The funding will be used to aid beekeeping schools Feb. 3 in Bowling Green, Feb. 10 in Frankfort, March 3 in Corydon and March 7-10 in Wingo.
More than 500 beekeepers received instruction in Kentucky beekeeping schools in 2005. The central Kentucky school alone has grown from 130 participants in its initial year in 2004 to 350 in 2006, state apiarist Phil Craft said. He said the other schools have opened in the past three years as a result of the response to the central Kentucky school.
Craft said the number of local beekeeping associations in Kentucky has grown from 16 to 27 in the past seven years.
--30--
Click here to go to the Kentucky State Apiarist's Web site.
|
