USDA Survey Proposal | 1

Entomology Research Lab | (555) 456-7890 | 1250 Bellflower Blvd., Long Beach, CA 90840

December 10, 2016

Eric Beardsley, United States Department of Agriculture

6055 E. Washington Blvd.
Commerce, CA 90040

Dear Eric Beardsley:

The USDA continues to do an outstanding job in monitoring all facets of the public health, food
production, and most importantly, the environment. In California, the preservation and health of
the local farmland has always been a major contributor to many varieties of fruits and vegetables.
The Entomological Research Lab at California State University Long Beach has always
concerned itself with the longevity of environment and the insects that it houses. These two
facets of the environment are important contributors to the health of our planet, and the health of
our populace.

Our research group is asking for $75,000 to conduct an Entomological survey on the health and
population of the Bees in California. The Western Honey Bee is an important species to maintain
as they aid in both the pollination of crops and the production of commercial honey. The $75,000
grant from the USDA will allow our group to research and survey bee farms in multiple regions
of California. We want to analyze and understand the impact that bee health has on the
environment, and find ways to improve their health and food production.

By receiving aid from the USDA, the Entomological Research Lab at California State University
Long Beach hopes to provide the necessary information to aid in bolstering food production for
our growing population. Our proposal includes all of the preliminary details of our planned
research in California.

Thank you for taking the time to read our proposal. We appreciate your continued interest in the
health of the environment and all who benefit from it. We look forward to hearing from you at
your earliest convenience.

Sincerely,
Veronica Johnson | Staff Proposal Writer
Etymology Research Lab at California State University, Long Beach
 USDA Survey Proposal | 2

Introduction
Dr. Carl McDonald founded The Entomologist Association (EA) at California State University,
Long Beach, in 1990. The association formed after Dr. McDonald won a Nobel Peace Prize for
bringing awareness to the endangered Bay Checkerspot Butterfly. He trained a select few
scholarship winners such as Dr. Albert Wesker, Dr. Chris Redfield, and Dr. Jill Valentine.
The second generation of doctors promoted the popularity and prestige of the EA and won the
EPA Preservation Project Grant, which funded research correlating mosquito population increase
and the decrease in animal populations. Today, the EA is a leading figure in California
entomological studies.

The Necessity for Health Checks

The Western Honey Bee is responsible for the pollination and growth of plant life in Los
Angeles. But after 2010, the bee population—approximately 280,000—has been reduced to half
of what it was before 2010 at approximately 140,000. The plummeting bee population numbers
result in scarce natural agricultural resources and less produce to boost economy.

What are causes of the decline in Western Honey Bee population?

The climate change phenomenon is a component of the research. Because climate change has
brought exponentially worse conditions for all life, there are parallels between the introduction of
industrialization and fall in insect population. Soil is no longer adequate to produce quality
plants, one of the bees’ main sources for food. Climate change creates longer winters with colder
temperatures—less than what bees can tolerate—and summers are too hot and dry, causing
infrequent bloom periods for flowers.

Evaluation Plan
Our plan is to visit 7 bee farms in 7 different California cities over a span of 10 months:
 Each facility will charge our party a building requisition fee of approximately $200 per
weeklong visit.
 We will visit all 7 facilities every 2 months during the 10-month period, totaling 5 visits
to each facility.

In order to execute this plan, a road trip across California will need to be factored into our
expenses:
 Our calculations indicate that a road trip to the 7 bee farms on our list equates to 12 hours
total on the road for each trip.
 We will need to account for gas for a total of 5 12-hour round trips via rental car with a
20-gallon tank.
 The car to be used will be rented on an hourly basis at approximately $15 per hour, which
means we will be renting 5 different cars for 12 hours each.
 USDA Survey Proposal | 3

Additionally, we will need to factor in costs for the entomological survey equipment:
 Each survey kit costs $5,000 and we will need to do 7 of them. The high cost of each
survey kit is directly proportional to the abilities of the kit
 With one survey kit our team would be able to test for the current health of bees and
compare it to the health of bees approximately 30 years ago, provided we have access to
records and permissions of the previous group’s name.
 We would also be able to determine whether climate change, the increasing human
population, and/or any other factors is the culprit in declining bee population health.

Hotel costs will also need to be factored into our expenses, as well as food for the duration of the
trip (see cost/benefit analysis chart for details).

Expense Description Cost

(USD)

Bee farm visit fees Visits to 7 bee farms in 7 different California cities over a $7,000
span of 10 months

Hotel stays 245 total days of hotel time at approximately $100 per $25,000
night

Entomological 1 entomological survey kit per facility (7 total) $35,000

surveys

Equipment rental Beekeeping gear (suit, tools, etc.) for 4 people $2,000

Travel expenses Gasoline for rental car $4,000

Car rental fees Rental car from Hertz™ with no upgrades $1,000

Food expenses For 4 people for the duration of the research project $1,000

TOTAL $75,000
Fig. 1

Benefits
How will the restoration of the Western Honey Bee population benefit everyone?

If we confirm our hypothesis about the falling bee populations in Los Angeles is a result of
climate change, measures can be taken to prevent further depletion of the Western Honey Bee
population and use the increase to benefit all of human, mammal, and insect life.

Short Term:
 Bee population will return to its pre-2010 numbers.
 Pollination will increase.
 USDA Survey Proposal | 4

Intermediary Benefits:
 Increase in bee population means an increase in production of honey; expensive crops
such as blueberries and cherries will see a price drop.
 People will have healthier alternatives in their daily diet.
Long Term:
 Better quality of life
 Possibly more sustainable agricultural benefits
 In-depth knowledge of possible reasons for climate impact

We realize we are asking for the largest possible grant from the USDA. However, we would like
to reiterate that the benefits of our research outweigh the costs, in that finding out the cause of
the negative trend in the population health of the Western Honey Bee will provide the public
with vital information regarding the state of one of our biggest food providers. Information such
as this will strengthen public’s image of the USDA, and serve to enforce its mission statement;
the promotion of agricultural and environmental sustainability while continuing to improve the
health of our citizens.

We are grateful for the opportunity to research the health of the Western Honey Bees. We
believe that our entomological survey can reveal the need for consistent environmental surveys.
We strongly believe that your support not only helps us to gain the necessary information, but to
also educate the public about this important issue. California State University Long Beach’s
entomological experts are prepared to accomplish this assignment.

Thank you for taking the time to consider our proposal. We look forward to hearing from you
soon.