HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 88

(By Delegates Stemple, Tabb, Amores, Anderson, Andes, Argento, Armstead, Ashley, Barker, Beach, Boggs, Border, Brown, Browning, Burdiss, Campbell, Cann, Canterbury, Caputo, Cowles, Craig, Crosier, DeLong, Doyle, Duke, Eldridge, Ellis, Evans, Fragale, Frederick, Guthrie, Hartman, Hatfield, Hrutkay, Hutchins, Iaquinta, Ireland, Kessler, Klempa, Kominar, Lane, Long, Mahan, Manchin, Marshall, Martin, Miley, C. Miller, J. Miller, Moore, Morgan, Moye, Overington, Palumbo, Paxton, Perdue, Perry, Pino, D. Poling, M. Poling, Proudfoot, Reynolds, Rodighiero, Romine, Rowan, Schoen, Shaver, Shook, Sobonya, Spencer, Staggers, Stalnaker, Stephens, Sumner, Swartzmiller, Talbott, Tansill, Tucker, Varner, Walters, Webster, White, Williams, Wells, Wysong and Yost)




Requesting that the Joint Committee on Government and Finance authorize the study of hardships facing West Virginia's agriculture community.

W HEREAS , Eighty percent of West Virginia's bee colonies require supplemental feeding due to inclement weather; and
W HEREAS , The beekeeping industry has suffered a heavy blow from parasitic mites; and
W HEREAS , Nearly 5,000 lambs and ewes are lost statewide each year due to coyote predation; and
W HEREAS , Over half of West Virginia shepherds who leave the sheep business do so because of sheep losses to predators; and
Whereas, Falling milk prices are weighing heavily on West Virginia's dairy economy; and
W HEREAS , West Virginia farmers have lost four thousand head of milk cows over the past six years; and
W HEREAS , Certain nonnative species could pose a threat to West Virginia's people, agricultural and forestry industries, and other natural resource interests; and
W HEREAS , Regulating the possession, sale and breeding of certain nonnative species may limit the potential for harm; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance is hereby requested to study the impact of weather, predators and the national economy on the agriculture community in West Virginia; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance report to the Regular Session of the Legislature, 2008, on its findings, conclusions and recommendations, together with drafts of any legislation necessary to effectuate its recommendations; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Legislative expenses necessary to conduct this study, to prepare a report and to draft necessary legislation be paid from legislative appropriations to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance.