Comments from the online Petition:

1. “Once New York State masters communicating to beekeepers, anything is possible. In the 1980's and 1990's the NYS Ag Commissioner used to communicate to all the Bee Organizations in the State. Invite representatives to discuss beekeeping matters. Gone are those days of communication.”-Commented by David Newman
   
2. “No mandatory registration for beekeepers, period!”-Commented by David Belding
3. “Please leave us alone and stick to politics!”-Commented by Dave Werdein
4. “I am completely against mandatory registration”- Commented by Michael Bassett
5. “An apiary program that provides services to all New York beekeepers, regardless of size of operation, is needed to encourage beekeepers to want to register their hives.”-Commented by Aaron Morris
   
6. “I've dedicated most of my adult life to raising hardy, resilient honey bees. Please support our efforts by supporting this petition.”-Commented by Robert Brachmann
7. “several years ago i called my town to see if it was okay to have a hive. they would not tell me "yes". I had to turn the question around and ask if there was a law against it, and the official grudgingly said there wasn't I got the idea that I could have bees until someone complained, at which point I would be asked to get rid of them as there was nothing in place to protect MY rights. This experience makes me very leery of the state's motivation in registering my hives.”- Commented by Anonymous
8. “I strongly oppose mandatory hive registration.”-Commented by Edward Butler
9. “No mandated beekeeping registry.”-Commented by Anonymous
10. “Until better channels of truly informed, open communications take place among all beekeepers, mandatory registration should not be attempted. What is needed is to form a consensus of what would constitute an acceptable Apiary Program.”-Commented by Pat Bono
11. “This proposal is absurd, and will serve only big agriculture. Can't see how it would benefit small farms and small beekeepers. How about announce publicly when spraying? Everybody has the right to this information and not only 'registered beekeepers'. Can do the same with outbreak of diseases. No problem to post such info available to all. Who will collect registration fees? what would the fees be used for? Next step would be to prioritize large beekeeping operations, who have more power and money, over small beekeepers who may have only a couple of bee yards. I can see how large operations would like to know who keeps bees in their proximity and drive out smaller beekeepers and hobbyists”-Commented by Anonymous
    
12. “I am against registration of hives and beekeepers for the following reasons: lack of services, misuse of information, creating onerous and politically motivated regulations, and adding fees to an already costly profession.”-Commented by Anonymous
13. “This is a familiar NYS formula: Register and promise solutions down the road. Take action to promote safe practices and LOWER the burden to initiate a beekeeping hobby/career”.-Commented by Peter Ellison
    
14. “I am opposed to regulations that do nothing for the regulated, provide no information to beekeepers as promised but will eventually levy a fee. Would any of the fee money pay for Inspections? A lot of us really don't trust the Gov't to follow through, doing what they say.”-Commented by Anonymous
    
15. “I feel this is another way to make money and it would be enough to stop all hobbyist beekeepers. We want to save our bees!”-Commented by Rubena Iversen
    
16. “I will likely cease to raise bees if registration is required.”-Commented by Anonymous
    
17. “I oppose mandatory registration for all beekeepers in NYS.”-Commented by Linda Walters
18. “Beekeepers are inherently vigilant when it comes to their bees.”-Commented by Anonymous
19. “No more fees/expenses”-Commented by Brendan Regan
    
20. “It would be far better to regulate the migratory pollination industry, bringing untreated hives for pollination into NYS. These migratory hives bring all sorts of pests and diseases. Local beekeepers/hobbyists with only a few hives have their hives infested/infected by the 1000’s of commercial hives – not the other way around. PUT THE BURDEN AND COST OF THESE REGULATIONS ON THE FARMS, ORCHARDS WHO RELY ON THESE COMMERCIAL POLLINATORS TO POLLINATE THEIR CROPS. REGULATE THE COMMERCIAL POLLINATORS WHO BRING THOUSANDS OF THESE HIVES INTO OUR AREA. THEY SHOULD BE FORCED TO VALIDATE THE HEALTH OF THEIR HIVES AND SUPPLY VALID CERTIFICATES STATING THE STATUS OF THESE HIVES. OTHERWISE ALL SHIPMENTS SHOULD BE HELD IN QUARANTINE AND SUBSEQUENTLY TEST THESE HIVES. OR REGULATE THE FARMS AND ORCHARDS WITH CROPS NEEDING LARGE SCALE POLLINATION TO “GROW THEIR OWN BEES” AND HAVE THEM TESTED/REGULATED.”-Commented by Putt Georgi
    
21. “Albany, hands off bees!”-Commented by Johanna Ruiz
22. “give us beekeepers the info we need before registration”-Commented by Anonymous
    
23. “This is just another grab for power by a small group of people that no one know exist. Not to mention just another tax/Regulation on the agriculture market that we can't afford”-Commented by Scott McDonald
    
24. “This takes away the intent of the backyard beekeeper to pollinate their own gardens and collect honey for personal use. It is an expensive and rewarding hobby, but by requiring backyard beekeepers to register a couple of hives takes the joy of this rewarding hobby. Beekeepers voluntarily track diseases and properly treat their hives. There is no need to have hobbyists register their hives and pay exorbitant fees for a personal hobby.”-Commented by Robyn Gray
    
25. “Mandatory registration of beekeepers will diminish the will of potential beekeepers that had hoped to pursue this wonderful hobby and potential revenue generator.”-Commented by Anonymous
26. “We fought this before and won, we will fight it again, and win. Ag & Mkts does nothing for NY beekeepers and we will not fund their attempts to empire build.”-Commented by Anonymous
    
27. “In no way should we need to register our apiaries. There are better ways to communicate to beekeepers. This does nothing for protecting the honeybees in this state.”-Commented by Brian McDonald
    
28. “The registry is a dreadful idea that will result in ----- prices, a lot of headaches and unnecessary bureaucracy.”.-Commented by Anonymous
    
29. “Enough with government intrusion into the lives of people who are genuinely striving to help the environment. Life, liberty & the pursuit of happiness need not be government-monitored.”-Commented by Anonymous
30. “Stay out of it New York State”-Commented by Anonymous
    
31. “Why would you want to get into my hobby as a bee keeper! Monitor the farmers that are spraying their fields and genetically altered field corn. I have to keep moving hives to places that will not effect the bees as much,”-Commented by Anonymous
32. “First, deliver the promised communication to the keepers ALREADY registered. If the information was valuable and timely I would happily register. No mandatory registration until Albany can deliver on its promises!”-Commented by Anonymous
    
33. “I have been a bee keeper for 4 years . I oppose any legislation for the registration of my hives. I will vote and campaign against any legislator who supports registration”-Commented by Anonymous
    
34. “Please stop the efforts to require beekeepers in New York state to register.”-Commented by Antonio Gonzalez
    
35. “This should stay voluntarily and not put more costs to an already costly profession.”-Commented by Anonymous
36. “I am totally against governmental intervention into small apiaries. It opens the pandora box to increased regulations, higher costs, and political gains. I fully trust the advice and counsel of local beekeepers associations across new york state, Why interfere with the success of local associations that research and communicate current issues and effectively communicates these sincere concerns to the backyard beekeeper. Bottom line: the information and support we beekeepers receive from local groups is credible. These local associations refresh our core American way to strengthen the freedom of making our own choices on how to be a successful beekeepers. This is directly contrary to the purpose and desires of any governmental agency. Dick Satterlee, Hilton New York”-Commented by RICHARD SATTERLEE
    
37. “I do not support mandatory registration for Beekeepers in New York”-Commented by Christy Kapuschat
38. “Please help the bees! No more government imposed hurdles to jump.”-Commented by Paul Cross
39. “I'm not opposed to the state understanding what's going on with its beekeeping industry, but this law is not adequately thought out (at least from what I can tell). Please do better!”-Commented by Bill Day