Industry Issues

Ensure beekeepers have access to critical federal disaster relief by reauthorizing and improving the ELAP program. 

Protect U.S. honey producers by establishing a national standard of identity for honey, improving labeling requirements, and standardizing detection and enforcement protocls to combat adulteration and fraud.

Increase federal funding to ensure cutting-edge research on pollinator health and sustainability continues uninterrupted.

  Reform the H-2A program and related labor requirements to help beekeepers hire and retain skilled workers necessary for honey production and pollination services.

Integrate pollinator-friendly practices into federal conservation programs to benefit both beekeepers and ecosystems, and streamline access to public lands. 

Increase the statutory marketing loan amount to align with current market conditions and make the program more workable for beekeepers. T

[Learn More]: The current statutory rate is $.69/lb. A more appropriate rate consistent with marketing loan formulas would be +/- $1.75/lb and is included in both versions of the current Farm Bill. 

 Enact legislation to recoup interest accrued but not paid to eligible beekeepers under the Byrd Rule.  

  ELAP has provided essential disaster relief to beekeepers since 2008. We support legislation like the Thune-Lujan Livestock Disaster Assistance Improvement Act (S.555), which expands coverage and standardizes payment calculations. Additional support includes exempting small farmers from AGI limitations to improve access to these programs -- the Panetta (D-CA)-Cammack (R-FL) Fair Access to Agriculture Disaster Programs Act in the House. And the same bill in the Senate sponsored by Senators Padilla (D-CA) and Tillis (R-NC). The bill provides an exemption from the AGI limitation for farms that get 75% of their income from farming or related farming practices (agritourism, direct-to-consumer marketing of agricultural products, sale of agricultural equipment owned by person or entity, and other agriculture related activities, as determined by the Secretary of Agriculture).

 The Honey Identification, Verification, and Enforcement (HIVE) Act (H.R. 4764) is a crucial step forward. It mandates FDA standards for honey identity, reorganizes USDA country-of-origin labeling requirements, and enhances consumer transparency. 

The H-2A program needs targeted reforms, including extended worker stays, streamlined mobility across regions, and competitive wage solutions. Any comprehensive immigration reform package should include H-2A reform. 

By directing USDA funding toward projects like reforestation and regenerative farming, we can create habitats that support honeybees. Incorporating HBHC seed mixes and competitive bidding into NRCS programs ensures effective implementation of conservation programs. Making honeybees a national priority at the US Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management and other public lands agencies with multiple-use mandates can provide important clean forage to sustain America’s pollinators. 

 The current statutory rate is $.69/lb. A more appropriate rate consistent with marketing loan formulas would be +/- $1.75/lb and is included in both versions of the current Farm Bill.  

  The China Trade Cheating Restitution Actis introduced in both the House and Senate and we will continue to push for the legislation to be enacted on the next moving vehicle. The current score is around $39 million with part of that recovery going to beekeepers.