USA Apiary Grants

Healthy apiaries are important to the U.S. agricultural industry.

Federal agencies, in collaboration with universities and local government, provide grants to conduct research and inspect apiaries across the country. Beekeeping is an essential component of U.S. agriculture. Bees pollinate more than 90 commercial crops and add $15 billion in value. Declining honeybee populations, at the time of publication, have spurred agencies to provide funding to investigate causes and help to improve the health of bee colonies.

Research and Education Grant

Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education has four regional offices that provides grants for the advancement of agricultural innovations to promote profitability, quality of life for agricultural producers and stewardship of the land, air and water. In March 2009, SARE provided Overland Apiaries with a $9,993 grant to demonstrate the differences between northern raised hives and queens from those raised in Georgia. The goal of the project was to determine whether modifications in colony purchasing practices can reduce costs and produce healthier honeybee populations. SARE provides research and education grants up to $200,000 on an annual basis.

State Grants

The Tennessee Agricultural Enhancement Program provides cost sharing for apiary projects, at the time of publication. Beekeepers and producers with at least three years of experience can apply for funding to expand their apiary, purchase honey processing equipment and improve pollination. The state provides a 50 percent match for these expenses. The Illinois Department of Agriculture helps beekeepers manage and protect honeybee colonies through inspections. As a service to the beekeeping industry, inspectors examine hives to detect diseases and pests. Inspectors also provide guidance on treatment. These services are provided at no cost to the beekeeper.

Coordinated Agricultural Project

In 2007, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service provided $4 million over the course of four years for research to improve the health and protection of honeybees. Research is in the areas of genomics, breeding, pathology, immunology and applied ecology is conducted to determine the cause behind the decline in bee populations. Area wide teams include beekeepers, universities, key scientists, state and federal agencies. Some key objectives included increasing colony strength for pollination of almonds, decreasing the level of pesticide contamination within the beehive and increasing beekeeping profitability.

Survey of Pests and Diseases

In 2010, the U.S. Department of Agriculture provided $550,000 to conduct a 13-state survey of 350 apiaries to determine the prevalence of parasites and disease causing microorganisms. The purpose of the survey is to identify if these are the cause of the decline in honey bee colonies nationwide. Researchers call this decline the Colony Collapse Disorder where adult bees leave the beehive and abandon the queen and eggs. Samples taken from Alabama, California, Georgia, Indiana, Florida, Hawaii, Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas and Washington are analyzed and reported on the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service website.

References

• Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education: Farmer Grant Examples
• Tennessee Government Department of Agriculture: Apiary Section
• U.S. Department of Agriculture: USDA Announces New Funding for Bee Health and Protection News Release
• Illinois Department of Agriculture: The Illinois Bees and Apiaries Program
• U.S. Department of Agriculture; USDA Begins National Survey of Honey Bee Pests and Diseases; June 2010