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News
AHPA App and Honey Labeling
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Raw Honey from Argentina, Brazil, India, and Vietnam Injures U.S. Industry, Says USITC
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Honey Industry Votes to Continue the Research and Promotion Program
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) today announced that U.S. honey first handlers and importers have approved continuing the National Honey Board research and promotion program.
In the referendum, 73.8% of first handlers and importers voting, who represented 85.5% of the volume of honey or honey products voting in the referendum, were in favor of continuing the program. Over 50% of the first handlers and importers voting and over 50% of the volume voting in the referendum were required for the program to continue.
To be eligible to participate in the referendum, first handlers and importers had to handle or import at least 250,000 pounds of honey or honey products during the representative period of Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, 2021, and be subject to assessments under the program.
The Honey Packers and Importers Research, Promotion, Consumer Education and Industry Information Order, which has been administered by the National Honey Board since 2008, requires USDA to conduct a referendum every seven years to determine whether the industry is in favor of continuing the program. For the program to continue, first handlers and importers had to approve the program by a majority of handlers and importers voting in the referendum, who also represent a majority of the volume represented in the referendum.
The honey research and promotion program is authorized under the Commodity Promotion, Research and Information Act of 1996. The program was developed to administer an effective and coordinated program of generic promotion, consumer information and related research designed to drive consumption of honey and honey products in the U.S.
For more information about the National Honey Board, visit the National Honey Board AMS webpage page or visit their website at honey.com.
Since 1966, Congress has authorized the development of industry-funded research and promotion boards to provide a framework for agricultural industries to pool their resources and combine efforts to develop new markets, strengthen existing markets and conduct important research and promotion activities. The Agricultural Marketing Service provides oversight of 22 boards, paid for by industry assessments, which helps ensure fiscal accountability and program integrity.
https://www.ams.usda.gov/content/honey-industry-votes-continue-research-and-promotion-program
Need a Food Handlers Certification??
Food Handler’s Course – need your Food Handler’s Certification for your honey sales in Texas? Texas A&M AgriLife is offering a virtual course, November 3, 2022, 6-8pm, for $20. This certification is good for 2 years!
This class is geared for those who want or need that certification to sell Honey in Texas (with the new rules/laws by DSHS). Honey producers are NOT REQUIRED to have a this certification, but anyone selling honey/honey products under Cottage Food laws IS required to have this. DSHS encourages everyone (even beekeepers) to go through the course, but beekeepers are not required to do so. Please pre-register at Online Survey Software | Qualtrics Survey Solutions this is also where you will receive information for the course!
Please mail $20 payment to:
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
Attn: Angie Gutierrez
3355 Cherry Ridge Suite 212
San Antonio, TX 78230
Questions? Contact Angie at 210-631-0400 | aogutierrez@ag.tamu.edu
The Honey Bee Health Coalition unveiled the 8th Edition of the Tools for Varroa Management Guide
The full guide is offered free of charge at the Honey Bee Health Coalition’s Website: https://honeybeehealthcoalition.org/resources/varroa-management/
Aggies Working To Protect One Of Nature’s Most Critical Species, The Honey Bee
Dr. Juliana Rangel is an associate professor of apiculture in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences’ Department of Entomology. In addition to teaching students about honey bees and beekeeping, she runs Texas A&M’s Honey Bee Lab.
There, researchers like Rangel are studying the factors that affect honey bee health. And there are many – pesticides, landscape changes, poor nutrition and sick queens, to start. They’re also looking into a mite that weakens the bees and transmits associated viruses. Varroa mites are the number one problem faced by honey bees today, Rangel said.
Rangel and her students investigate these issues at the laboratory located at Texas A&M’s RELLIS Campus. In addition to the research projects run by graduate students, the Janice and John G. Thomas Honey Bee Facility is also the site of honey harvesting and extraction each year.
Read more: https://today.tamu.edu/2022/08/20/aggies-working-to-protect-one-of-natures-most-critical-species-the-honey-bee/
Approaching Deadline – NAPPC Pollinator Electric Power Award
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Legislative Ag Day – TBA Highlight
The Texas Beekeepers Association Legislative Committee was invited to attend the Texas Farm Bureau’s “Legislative Ag Day” and sent TBA President – Ashley Ralph, Vice President – Dodie Stillman, and Past President – Chris Moore to speak to Texas legislative staff in a casual and adventure-filled day at the Luling Foundation.
Farm Bureau put this event together with a goal of providing legislative staff with information as well as contacts in the agricultural industry throughout Texas. This event helps to create foundation of knowledge and curiosity in how agriculture and rural life affects Texas citizens. Hays, Travis and Caldwell County Farm Bureaus worked with the Luling Foundation and the Texas Ag Council to host the Legislative Ag Day on June 9.
“Because of the growing urban population in Texas, most of the legislators and their staff are from urban areas, and there are fewer and fewer rural representatives and senators,” Joe Morris, Travis County Farm Bureau president and our TBA lobbyist, said. “What we are trying to do is give urban legislators and staff, who otherwise have no contact with agriculture and rural life, a glimpse into what agriculture is.”
Our group was thrilled to attend this event during a warm, breezy summer day – as we spoke to the legislative staff, a herd of wild boars crossed the fields, cattle were herded into chutes, large farm machinery was lined up in the background of the 90 year old model Luling Foundation farm.
Staff members for Texas senators and representatives were able to create relationships that will aid them during the 2023 session as they write and evaluate potential legislation. The day’s activities included stations to show different aspects of farming and ranching. We had an uninterrupted opportunity to talk about the importance of bees with these enthusiastic young adults.
After an overview of the bee industry, the contribution of honey bees to agriculture as a whole as well as the U.S. and Texas economy, we were asked a number of questions by interested staffers in regards to labeling laws, ag valuation, and bee health and it was a wonderful opportunity to educate and excite about bees and beekeeping.
Check out this article By Julie Tomascik to read more: https://texasfarmbureau.org/farm-visit-grows-ag-knowledge-for-legislative-staff/
“It’s important to get out and hear from cattle producers, bee producers,” Will Rider said while speaking to Farm Bureau reps. “I think just hearing from the sources about issues that need some work is one of the most important things that I’ll take from this.” Will serves as the legislative director for Rep. Stan Lambert, noted Texas is growing increasingly urban. Lambert’s district includes Taylor, Jones and Nolan counties, covering both urban and rural areas.
The event was an opportunity to cultivate relationships with legislative aides and answer questions and concerns they might have and we’ll continue to offer expertise in issues related to bees and beekeeping.
New Website Feature – Member Profiles – Shared Interest Groups & Services
- Professional Beekeeper – Beekeeper that makes a living in the bee industry.
- Commercial Pollination – Beekeepers who move colonies – either locally or regionally to pollinate crops. Topics could include issues with logistics, licensing, insurance, broker involvement, etc. Could include beekeepers who don’t yet do commercial contracts but would like to in the future – maybe leads to smaller beekeepers pooling hives to provide pollination services. Managing multiple apiaries.
- Honey Producers – Beekeepers whose main focus is producing honey – for selling themselves or to Packers for resale.
- Honey Packers – Beekeepers licensed as a “producer” with the State of Texas, buys honey from other beekeepers for bottling and selling; and those interested.
- Queen Rearing – Beekeepers who raise and sell Queens and those who would like to raise and sell Queens.
- Package & Nuc Producers – Any beekeepers who sell packages and Nucs and those who want to learn/begin producing/selling bees.
- Professional Bee Removal – Beekeepers who do removals and those who want to learn/begin doing cutouts and removals.
- Small-Scale Beekeeping – Beekeepers with less than 20 hives. Often urban or backyard beekeepers.
- Urban Beekeeping – Beekeepers in urban settings – city and HOA regulations, appeasing neighbors, liability concerns, etc.
- Pollinator Advocacy – persons interested in active support for protecting pollinators through legislation limiting chemicals harmful to pollinators, educating others on the harm chemicals can do to pollinators,
- Natural Beekeeping – Beekeepers who practice IPM but stop at chemical or synthetic treatments.
- Bee Researcher – Scientists, students, and researchers that seek to better understand bees and provide valuable information to the bee industry and beekeepers through the scientific process.
- Growers & Farmers – stakeholders in the bee industry who care about colony help and are seeking better practices to improve overall bee health on their land.
Please take the time to fill out and edit Your Profile page and select any relevant interests as well as the services you provide if applicable.