Phil Craft - forced to retire.

[indypartridge]

I received an email last night informing me that well-respected Kentucky State Apiarist, Phil Craft, has been pushed into "early retirement". Found this link on the web where Phil provides some details:

http://ces.ca.uky.edu/clay-files/January_2012.pdf

Can any of you Kentucky beeks provide additional info? Looks like the new State Ag Commissioner is eliminating the position of State Apiarist.

[Daniel Y]

I work for the State of Nevada and here his job woudl be known as a "Soft Money" position. Much of our Ag services are soft money. People that hodl those positions are aware that there employment is dependent on funds being approved year to year. Two year periods for our state. Our Ag services here in Washoe county took a big hit this past legislative session with entire programs at the university being shut down. entire 3 story building that are a block long now stand empty. The Ag extension office took a pounding including the entire 4-H program. Some of the 4-H has been restored through private donations but still it took my breath away that the State woudl actually shut down 4-H. That program owns 40 acres of lake shore property at Lake Tahoe. I don't even want to try and figure out what that is worth. A lot big enough to build a house on sells for millions. And it now sets empty and unused. That property also sets right next to a golf course. can you imagine what building lots on the shore next to a golf course would sell for. That alone could fund 4-H until the next century. Much less all of the agricultural services. Yet that same university has at least 4 building under construction during this same period of time. Figure that one out. Here Ag mainly consists of wild horses that most residence consider a nuisance. Open range cattle grazing on public land which causes constant wights between the cattle ranchers and the horse lovers. And not really a lot more. Many people in this state wish Ag was something that woudl just go away and never return. The good news is I can still get a soil analysis done at the Extension office. And nobody around to give me any grief about keeping bees.
My best to Phil though. No matter how you look at it the situation stinks.

[Fishman43]

Very close to the same things have been happening here in NH. I think it is one more indicator of "the times". Our State Land Grant University is one of, if not the lowest funded State University in the Nation. This past year the University laid off the Farm Manager and completlety eliminated some of our Extension services/offices. It is insulting to me personally as an agricultural professional to see a Land Grant University gutting/destroying its agricultural programs!

[J&J]

From what I have heard the new Ag Commissioner has been eliminating unfunded positions, not just the State Apiarist...at least Commissioner Comer didn't get my vote. Best to Phil.

Jack

[hoodswoods]

Would have been nice to have some of the money helping us out here, rather than the questionable help it was doing someplace else JMO

http://costofwar.com/en/

[sqkcrk]

It's too bad when anyone looses a job. But, as a State Employee, employed in the manner which he was, he certainly knew his position wasn't secure or promised. Lots of cutbacks in civil service positions are happening. Not to be political, but our economy is probably doing more to cutting back government than any promises ever made by a politician.

[mike haney]

the previous AG commishioner hired his girlfriend to answer the phone- at $60K per year (for an example) so the whole dept. is getting a shake up by the new comm. i'm sure its no reflection on mr. craft.

[rlsiv]

the previous AG commishioner hired his girlfriend to answer the phone- at $60K per year

She must have been REALLY good at answering phones.


I hate to see Phil "retired"... he spoke at our BKA just a few months ago and did a bang-up job.

[Acebird]

Well what do you want? You think all the government jobs are for welfare. Look people, we gave away most of our manufacturing jobs to China. Agriculture is just another industry on the chopping block. I think beekeeping is part of it.

[WLC]

He might consider calling up Jerry Hayes to see if he can use his services.

[mike haney]

"...we gave away most of our manufacturing jobs to China. "
i did not have any thing to do with that. my own job with GE went to mexico, and i object to the "we"

[valleyman]

Thank you Mr. Haney. I agree with the "we" objection. More of our jobs went offshore during the previous administration than ever before. Looks like Comer might be a one termer. We didn't have much to choose from for ag commisioner this last election. We had a comedian and what appears an eager beaver out to make a name for himself. They are prepping him to run for govenor. Phil Craft was a very knowledgeable capable willing State Apiartist. Such a shame. I personally will miss him. He was accesible by phone or e-mail anytime. He honestly earned his money. Good Luck Phil.
Brent Cook

[Paul McCarty]

People get what they vote for, unfortunately this sort of thing is the result.

[valleyman]

This is the e-mail I recieved a couple of days ago. You can see his dedoication to the beekeepers in this state. Such a shame!


Phil Craft’s “NEW Beekeeping Newsletter” January 2012

An electronic newsletter from Phil Craft, Kentucky State Apiarist, retired

My retirement and upcoming Kentucky beekeeping schools
As many of you may have learned, as of January 3rd I became the Kentucky State Apiarist, retired. While I had contemplated retirement at some point, this early transition was the decision of the new Kentucky commissioner of agriculture. I’ll talk more about the transition and my retirement plans later in this newsletter, and provide my new contact information. However, the main content of this newsletter regards information on the six upcoming beekeeping schools, which will take place as in years past. The only difference is my inability to update the Kentucky Department of Agriculture webpage with information about the schools. I have no idea whether that page will stay up, however information will be available through the Kentucky State Beekeepers Association webpage at: http://www.ksbabeekeeping.org/.


2012 Kentucky Regional Beekeeping Schools
Between January 21 and March 10, six regional, one-day beekeeping schools will once again be held in Kentucky. These schools all have multi-session classes with topics of interest for all levels of beekeeping experience, including beginner classes for the new beekeepers. Vendors displaying and selling beekeeping equipment will set up at all the schools.

For more information on these schools, including programs, pre-registration forms, directions, lists of vendors present, etc., go to the webpage of the Kentucky State Beekeepers Association. Please note that more information for each school will be posted as it is passed on to me. I’m including some details on some of the schools in this newsletter, especially the Hazard Beekeeping school which will take place in less than two weeks.

• Eastern Kentucky Beekeeping School, Hazard – January 21, 2012
• Allen County Beekeeping School, Scottsville – February 4, 2012
• Southeast Kentucky Beekeeping School, Corbin – February 11, 2012
• Northeast Kentucky Beekeeping School, Morehead – February 25, 2012
• Audubon Beekeeping School, Henderson – March 2, 2012
• Bluegrass Beekeeping School, Frankfort – March 10, 2012

Eastern Kentucky Beekeeping School, Hazard - January 21, 2012
The Eastern Kentucky Beekeeping School will again be held at the Hazard Community and Technical College. The college is located just east of Hazard off Kentucky route15 on One Community College Drive. This year the school will include both a beginner track of classes and a QUEEN REARING TRACK FOR ADVANCED BEEKEEPERS. In addition there will be many other classes of interest for beekeepers, including numerous hive management topics and sessions on producing value added products such as making beeswax candles and pollen trapping.

You can download the complete program and pre-registration form at the KSBA webpage. Pre-registration is not required, but it will save you $5 and help us with meal planning (pre-registration fee $20 or $25 at the door - includes lunch).

Bluegrass Beekeeping School, Frankfort (at KY State University) - March 10, 2012
While this school will not take place until March, I want to talk about it briefly to reassure everyone that it will take place as usual (some people have been concerned about this school due to my heavy involvement in school planning as the Kentucky State Apiarist) and to let everyone know that our special guest speaker this year will be Dr. Dewey Caron, Emeritus Professor of Entomology at the University of Delaware. Some of you know Dewey from his past appearances at the 2007 Heartland Apicultural Society Conference in Frankfort and the 2008 Eastern Apicultural Society Conference at Murray State University. Dr. Caron will give the opening talk at the bluegrass school this year and do two breakout talks. In Dr. Caron we have a presenter who will share with us extremely practical beekeeping information in a manner that is very dynamic. We are in for a treat! So mark your calendar for March 10th and make plans to be in Frankfort that day.


January Beekeeping Activities
This is the time of year Kentucky beekeepers move their beekeeping activities inside (for the most part - I have promised my wife I will clean up my beekeeping equipment junk pile outside this winter). This is, of course, a great time to repair old equipment and assemble and paint new woodenware. But we also need to start placing orders for package bees and queens. Suppliers are taking orders and it is on a first come first serve basis. This is especially true if you want queens or package bees in April; those early April dates will fill up fast. All the companies should have catalogs mailed out, if you have not received 2012 catalogs from vendors you might check their webpages to learn when they will be mailed or to request one if you are not on their mailing list.


My retirement transition and future plans
I was employed as the Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s State Apiarist in 1999 by Commissioner Billy Ray Smith. This position was a non-merit or non-classified position, which means it had no protection from immediate dismissal, and continued employment was always at the pleasure of the current commissioner of agriculture. My services were continued by Commissioner Richie Farmer upon his election in 2004. On January 3rd, 2012 I was informed by letter that my services as the Kentucky State Apiarist were no longer required by the newly elected commissioner (who had taken office the day before).

My future plans?
My long term professional plans are not yet formulated and I’m not in any rush to seek future employment. However, I will continue, as much as possible, to provide information and assistance to beekeepers, especially Kentucky beekeepers - hence this newsletter. I always said that I had a great job, spending most of my work days talking with beekeepers on the telephone and via email, writing beekeeping articles, working one on one with beekeepers in their apiaries and attending beekeeping meetings. I had always hoped that upon retirement I could keep on doing many of the parts of the job that I most enjoyed. I still have that desire, so I will continue to produce a beekeeping newsletter, perhaps even on a more regular schedule than I did as state apiarist. After all, I just eliminated a two hour commute to and from the office. At this time I’m not sure what I will call the new newsletter, so watch for a new name on the next edition. (More on my email list below). I also have plans to create a NEW beekeeping information webpage which will contain even more information than my old webpage at KDA (I‘ll let you know when this webpage goes up, hopefully SOON, via email). Until the new webpage goes up I will use the KY State Beekeepers Assoc. webpage to keep beekeepers informed on upcoming beekeeping events, including the schools. Beekeepers can continue to ask me questions and request information at my new email address at philcraftbeekeeping@windstream.net. I hope you use this email address as you have my KDA email address in the past. I do plan to attend and speak at all of the 2012 beekeeping schools, as I have in the past, and hope to see many of you there. So I’m not gone, I’m just starting my reorientation flights!


To have THIS NEW NEWSLETTER sent directly to you!
If you received this newsletter directly from philcraftbeekeeping@windstream.net, then I already have your email address and have tentatively added you to my new newsletter email list. If someone has forwarded you this issue of my new newsletter and you would like to have future issues emailed directly to you, send me an email to the above email address. I organize my email list by name, so PLEASE sign your email list request with first and last name. Also, if you are a Kentucky beekeeper, I very much appreciate knowing where you live so I can pass along regional beekeeping information from time to time (such as local beekeeping meetings and activities), so PLEASE let me know the town where you reside or get your mail. (Any other information is optional, but I do enjoy knowing something about your beekeeping experience and just more about you). If you are not from Kentucky I need only your full name and home state; any other information is optional. (If you are not interested in receiving future emails from me also just let me know via email.)

Note: A version of this newsletter more suitable for printing (Word or Adobe document) is available upon request. And I don’t mind if you make copies and distribute this newsletter.

Keep those smokers lit and your bee veils on!

Phil Craft, Kentucky State Apiarist, retired
PO Box 259
Wilmore, KY 40390

Email philcraftbeekeeping@windstream.net

Kentucky State Beekeepers Association webpage: http://www.ksbabeekeeping.org

[valleyman]

This is the e-mail I recieved a couple of days ago. You can see his dedoication to the beekeepers in this state. Such a shame!


Phil Craft’s “NEW Beekeeping Newsletter” January 2012

An electronic newsletter from Phil Craft, Kentucky State Apiarist, retired

My retirement and upcoming Kentucky beekeeping schools
As many of you may have learned, as of January 3rd I became the Kentucky State Apiarist, retired. While I had contemplated retirement at some point, this early transition was the decision of the new Kentucky commissioner of agriculture. I’ll talk more about the transition and my retirement plans later in this newsletter, and provide my new contact information. However, the main content of this newsletter regards information on the six upcoming beekeeping schools, which will take place as in years past. The only difference is my inability to update the Kentucky Department of Agriculture webpage with information about the schools. I have no idea whether that page will stay up, however information will be available through the Kentucky State Beekeepers Association webpage at: http://www.ksbabeekeeping.org/.


2012 Kentucky Regional Beekeeping Schools
Between January 21 and March 10, six regional, one-day beekeeping schools will once again be held in Kentucky. These schools all have multi-session classes with topics of interest for all levels of beekeeping experience, including beginner classes for the new beekeepers. Vendors displaying and selling beekeeping equipment will set up at all the schools.

For more information on these schools, including programs, pre-registration forms, directions, lists of vendors present, etc., go to the webpage of the Kentucky State Beekeepers Association. Please note that more information for each school will be posted as it is passed on to me. I’m including some details on some of the schools in this newsletter, especially the Hazard Beekeeping school which will take place in less than two weeks.

• Eastern Kentucky Beekeeping School, Hazard – January 21, 2012
• Allen County Beekeeping School, Scottsville – February 4, 2012
• Southeast Kentucky Beekeeping School, Corbin – February 11, 2012
• Northeast Kentucky Beekeeping School, Morehead – February 25, 2012
• Audubon Beekeeping School, Henderson – March 2, 2012
• Bluegrass Beekeeping School, Frankfort – March 10, 2012

Eastern Kentucky Beekeeping School, Hazard - January 21, 2012
The Eastern Kentucky Beekeeping School will again be held at the Hazard Community and Technical College. The college is located just east of Hazard off Kentucky route15 on One Community College Drive. This year the school will include both a beginner track of classes and a QUEEN REARING TRACK FOR ADVANCED BEEKEEPERS. In addition there will be many other classes of interest for beekeepers, including numerous hive management topics and sessions on producing value added products such as making beeswax candles and pollen trapping.

You can download the complete program and pre-registration form at the KSBA webpage. Pre-registration is not required, but it will save you $5 and help us with meal planning (pre-registration fee $20 or $25 at the door - includes lunch).

Bluegrass Beekeeping School, Frankfort (at KY State University) - March 10, 2012
While this school will not take place until March, I want to talk about it briefly to reassure everyone that it will take place as usual (some people have been concerned about this school due to my heavy involvement in school planning as the Kentucky State Apiarist) and to let everyone know that our special guest speaker this year will be Dr. Dewey Caron, Emeritus Professor of Entomology at the University of Delaware. Some of you know Dewey from his past appearances at the 2007 Heartland Apicultural Society Conference in Frankfort and the 2008 Eastern Apicultural Society Conference at Murray State University. Dr. Caron will give the opening talk at the bluegrass school this year and do two breakout talks. In Dr. Caron we have a presenter who will share with us extremely practical beekeeping information in a manner that is very dynamic. We are in for a treat! So mark your calendar for March 10th and make plans to be in Frankfort that day.


January Beekeeping Activities
This is the time of year Kentucky beekeepers move their beekeeping activities inside (for the most part - I have promised my wife I will clean up my beekeeping equipment junk pile outside this winter). This is, of course, a great time to repair old equipment and assemble and paint new woodenware. But we also need to start placing orders for package bees and queens. Suppliers are taking orders and it is on a first come first serve basis. This is especially true if you want queens or package bees in April; those early April dates will fill up fast. All the companies should have catalogs mailed out, if you have not received 2012 catalogs from vendors you might check their webpages to learn when they will be mailed or to request one if you are not on their mailing list.


My retirement transition and future plans
I was employed as the Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s State Apiarist in 1999 by Commissioner Billy Ray Smith. This position was a non-merit or non-classified position, which means it had no protection from immediate dismissal, and continued employment was always at the pleasure of the current commissioner of agriculture. My services were continued by Commissioner Richie Farmer upon his election in 2004. On January 3rd, 2012 I was informed by letter that my services as the Kentucky State Apiarist were no longer required by the newly elected commissioner (who had taken office the day before).

My future plans?
My long term professional plans are not yet formulated and I’m not in any rush to seek future employment. However, I will continue, as much as possible, to provide information and assistance to beekeepers, especially Kentucky beekeepers - hence this newsletter. I always said that I had a great job, spending most of my work days talking with beekeepers on the telephone and via email, writing beekeeping articles, working one on one with beekeepers in their apiaries and attending beekeeping meetings. I had always hoped that upon retirement I could keep on doing many of the parts of the job that I most enjoyed. I still have that desire, so I will continue to produce a beekeeping newsletter, perhaps even on a more regular schedule than I did as state apiarist. After all, I just eliminated a two hour commute to and from the office. At this time I’m not sure what I will call the new newsletter, so watch for a new name on the next edition. (More on my email list below). I also have plans to create a NEW beekeeping information webpage which will contain even more information than my old webpage at KDA (I‘ll let you know when this webpage goes up, hopefully SOON, via email). Until the new webpage goes up I will use the KY State Beekeepers Assoc. webpage to keep beekeepers informed on upcoming beekeeping events, including the schools. Beekeepers can continue to ask me questions and request information at my new email address at philcraftbeekeeping@windstream.net. I hope you use this email address as you have my KDA email address in the past. I do plan to attend and speak at all of the 2012 beekeeping schools, as I have in the past, and hope to see many of you there. So I’m not gone, I’m just starting my reorientation flights!


To have THIS NEW NEWSLETTER sent directly to you!
If you received this newsletter directly from philcraftbeekeeping@windstream.net, then I already have your email address and have tentatively added you to my new newsletter email list. If someone has forwarded you this issue of my new newsletter and you would like to have future issues emailed directly to you, send me an email to the above email address. I organize my email list by name, so PLEASE sign your email list request with first and last name. Also, if you are a Kentucky beekeeper, I very much appreciate knowing where you live so I can pass along regional beekeeping information from time to time (such as local beekeeping meetings and activities), so PLEASE let me know the town where you reside or get your mail. (Any other information is optional, but I do enjoy knowing something about your beekeeping experience and just more about you). If you are not from Kentucky I need only your full name and home state; any other information is optional. (If you are not interested in receiving future emails from me also just let me know via email.)

Note: A version of this newsletter more suitable for printing (Word or Adobe document) is available upon request. And I don’t mind if you make copies and distribute this newsletter.

Keep those smokers lit and your bee veils on!

Phil Craft, Kentucky State Apiarist, retired
PO Box 259
Wilmore, KY 40390

Email philcraftbeekeeping@windstream.net

Kentucky State Beekeepers Association webpage: http://www.ksbabeekeeping.org

[valleyman]

Sorry about the double post. The first click didn't seem to post and strange things happened to my computer so I clicked again and you'll can see the results.

[timgoodin]

I really hated to find out it was a forced retirement due to Commissioner changes. I fired off a "congratulation's on your retirement" email before I read the whole newsletter. It's a shame because Phil was always so nice to talk to and so helpful. I have emailed him on several occasions and he always took the time to respond and give good advice. It was always one of my highlights going to the State Fair and going to the honey exhibit and look up Phil to chat about beekeeping. My best wishes to him. Maybe we will have him back after the next eleciton...who knows maybe he will run for commissioner!

Meanwhile where does that leave beekeepers wanting to export bees or move them out of state? Will we have a state inspector? Can we get a health certificate to ship out of state?

Tim Goodin
Ballard County

[indypartridge]

Meanwhile where does that leave beekeepers wanting to export bees or move them out of state? Will we have a state inspector? Can we get a health certificate to ship out of state?

Seems like you should be firing off those questions to your new Ag Commissioner.

[Dodgerdoob]

Tim, I had those same questions when I got the email. You would think that with Kelleys and Dadant being in KY we might have a more of a bee lobby. But if I want to move bees from my old yard in KY to my new one in IN, how can I fill out the application without an inspection. There definitely wasn't much of a choice for commissioner this past election. The main problem is, we all got spoiled when Billy Ray Smith was commissioner through the 90s and since then, we've just gotten people that are looking for a state position to further their own political carreers.

[sqkcrk]

Call the Ag Dept in the state you are going to and make arrangements to have them inspected when you get there. They might just say "Thanks. Now that we know where they are we will get to them sometime next season." Otherwise, I wouldn't worry about it. You are a responsible beekeeper after all, right?