Questions concerning mandatory registration of beekeepers in
New York State, what is known.
1) What is mandatory registration about?
A 3rd legislative bill (S6182-a & A08431) was introduced in 2019, calling for mandatory registration that would require all resident beekeepers to register with NYS. Currently NYS has a voluntary registration in place (the form is on the NYS Apiary Program webpage); the number of beekeepers voluntarily registered is unknown to the public. Some feel that Albany should start communicating with registered beekeepers now instead of waiting for legislation, as a good faith measure. UPDATE June 1, 2021 Assembly Bill A7568 (brand new number) introdude Friday May 14, 2021
2) So why don’t many beekeepers register voluntarily?
Possibly because once registered, beekeepers receive no services or notification from Albany. The current registration form states, that by registering, you will be notified of bee health developments--this is not true, as communication has been lacking. Albany needs to provide notification and communication now for the beekeepers already registered for: county spraying for mosquitos, use of bee toxic substances for tick abatement, outbreaks of honey bee disease such as American Foulbrood- all data which the State has, plus other services and info.
3) Why doesn’t Albany provide these services to beekeepers already voluntarily registered now?
Lack of staff and funding. Many question how an expanded database of beekeepers could be adequately maintained in the future after mandatory registration is enforced.
4) What does mandatory registration do?
There are 2 aspects of registration: 1st is the collection of data about the beekeeper, 2nd is the implementation of an Apiary Program, which may compel registered beekeepers to comply with various mandates, such as best management practices.
5) Will there be fees?, apiary inspectors?
The new bill states no fees, but many fear “bait & switch”. No additional inspectors are planned.
6) Why don’t many beekeepers like the idea of mandatory registration?
Beekeepers throughout the state are opposed to any mandatory registration to require traceability of hives and their beekeepers, citing: lack of transparency by Albany, lack of services, misuse of information, creating onerous and politically motivated regulations, and adding fees to an already costly profession. In 2007 there was a situation where legislation was quietly slipped into the legislature at the end of the NYS legislative session without the knowledge of most beekeepers. The Bill was enacted as law, but a major effort by NYS beekeepers was undertaken to successfully repeal the law in 2010.
7) Wasn’t a bill about registration quietly introduced into the NYS Legislature in 2018?
Yes, although the Empire State Honey Producers Association denied involvement with the Bill (S8274a/A10362a), both legislative sponsors of the Bill stated they had consulted with the beekeeper group. The Bill was withdrawn when the sponsors realized that information about the Bill was never communicated to or even accepted by most of the beekeepers in New York State, despite the sponsors’ contact with the Empire State Honey Producers Assoc.
8) How did we get to this point?
Unfortunately, in many types of groups, certain individuals seek to control information and decision making, and to influence officials and university personnel, contrary to the opinions and thoughts of the whole group. Beekeeping in NYS has been this way for decades. It was the NYS Pollinator Protection Plan (PPP), which is funded by the governor’s Environmental Protection Fund for millions of dollars which pushed this effort for the bill. NYS Ag & Markets has been tasked to determine ways to fulfill the goals of the PPP.
9) How do we move forward?
Essentially, NYS Agriculture and Markets should be mandated to vastly improve communication to ALL beekeepers, especially beekeepers who have registered over the past 10 years-- what services or benefits are being required for their tax dollars?
Have a moratorium on any legislation, until proper communication has been established.
The Bill should remove any mandatory registration, as it is an absolute hot button (nuclear strength) in NY that will only cause unnecessary anger and tension. Peter Borst in the June ABJ writes about apiary programs in the USA; some states have good programs with voluntary registration; having mandatory registration in other states does not prevent high winter loss and AFB incidence. Forcing it on beekeepers isn't worth the battle and is non-productive.
Beekeepers should look at the Bill (senate & assembly versions are similar but different) and coordinate their comments with the numbered line(s) in the Bill, and discuss with their respective groups, and contact their legislators.
It will take a lot of time. 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. To some, mandatory registration may seem innocuous and helpful (it’s about bees!), but better outreach and communication instead of a heavy handed regulation would be more helpful to beekeepers. This saves money for the state and clears up onerous regulations on our beekeepers, enabling the bee yard owners to protect their colonies, save time and money as they look to grow their businesses. *Contact Governor Cuomo and Commissioner Ball and let them know what you think
See FreeNYBees.com
-Pat Bono, Rochester NY
New York State, what is known.
1) What is mandatory registration about?
A 3rd legislative bill (S6182-a & A08431) was introduced in 2019, calling for mandatory registration that would require all resident beekeepers to register with NYS. Currently NYS has a voluntary registration in place (the form is on the NYS Apiary Program webpage); the number of beekeepers voluntarily registered is unknown to the public. Some feel that Albany should start communicating with registered beekeepers now instead of waiting for legislation, as a good faith measure. UPDATE June 1, 2021 Assembly Bill A7568 (brand new number) introdude Friday May 14, 2021
2) So why don’t many beekeepers register voluntarily?
Possibly because once registered, beekeepers receive no services or notification from Albany. The current registration form states, that by registering, you will be notified of bee health developments--this is not true, as communication has been lacking. Albany needs to provide notification and communication now for the beekeepers already registered for: county spraying for mosquitos, use of bee toxic substances for tick abatement, outbreaks of honey bee disease such as American Foulbrood- all data which the State has, plus other services and info.
3) Why doesn’t Albany provide these services to beekeepers already voluntarily registered now?
Lack of staff and funding. Many question how an expanded database of beekeepers could be adequately maintained in the future after mandatory registration is enforced.
4) What does mandatory registration do?
There are 2 aspects of registration: 1st is the collection of data about the beekeeper, 2nd is the implementation of an Apiary Program, which may compel registered beekeepers to comply with various mandates, such as best management practices.
5) Will there be fees?, apiary inspectors?
The new bill states no fees, but many fear “bait & switch”. No additional inspectors are planned.
6) Why don’t many beekeepers like the idea of mandatory registration?
Beekeepers throughout the state are opposed to any mandatory registration to require traceability of hives and their beekeepers, citing: lack of transparency by Albany, lack of services, misuse of information, creating onerous and politically motivated regulations, and adding fees to an already costly profession. In 2007 there was a situation where legislation was quietly slipped into the legislature at the end of the NYS legislative session without the knowledge of most beekeepers. The Bill was enacted as law, but a major effort by NYS beekeepers was undertaken to successfully repeal the law in 2010.
7) Wasn’t a bill about registration quietly introduced into the NYS Legislature in 2018?
Yes, although the Empire State Honey Producers Association denied involvement with the Bill (S8274a/A10362a), both legislative sponsors of the Bill stated they had consulted with the beekeeper group. The Bill was withdrawn when the sponsors realized that information about the Bill was never communicated to or even accepted by most of the beekeepers in New York State, despite the sponsors’ contact with the Empire State Honey Producers Assoc.
8) How did we get to this point?
Unfortunately, in many types of groups, certain individuals seek to control information and decision making, and to influence officials and university personnel, contrary to the opinions and thoughts of the whole group. Beekeeping in NYS has been this way for decades. It was the NYS Pollinator Protection Plan (PPP), which is funded by the governor’s Environmental Protection Fund for millions of dollars which pushed this effort for the bill. NYS Ag & Markets has been tasked to determine ways to fulfill the goals of the PPP.
9) How do we move forward?
Essentially, NYS Agriculture and Markets should be mandated to vastly improve communication to ALL beekeepers, especially beekeepers who have registered over the past 10 years-- what services or benefits are being required for their tax dollars?
Have a moratorium on any legislation, until proper communication has been established.
The Bill should remove any mandatory registration, as it is an absolute hot button (nuclear strength) in NY that will only cause unnecessary anger and tension. Peter Borst in the June ABJ writes about apiary programs in the USA; some states have good programs with voluntary registration; having mandatory registration in other states does not prevent high winter loss and AFB incidence. Forcing it on beekeepers isn't worth the battle and is non-productive.
Beekeepers should look at the Bill (senate & assembly versions are similar but different) and coordinate their comments with the numbered line(s) in the Bill, and discuss with their respective groups, and contact their legislators.
It will take a lot of time. 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. To some, mandatory registration may seem innocuous and helpful (it’s about bees!), but better outreach and communication instead of a heavy handed regulation would be more helpful to beekeepers. This saves money for the state and clears up onerous regulations on our beekeepers, enabling the bee yard owners to protect their colonies, save time and money as they look to grow their businesses. *Contact Governor Cuomo and Commissioner Ball and let them know what you think
See FreeNYBees.com
-Pat Bono, Rochester NY