Assistance for Honey Producers

From Plants to Product

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has programs to help

honey producers every step of the way — from plants to the final
product. We have programs to help protect and conserve habitat,
protect your investments and recover from disasters impacting
your operation.

Pollinator Habitat Honey Production Your Business

 (CSP) and Agricultural Conservation
Easement Program (ACEP) provide
assistance to help implement these practices.
FSA’s Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)
encourages farmers to convert highly erodible
cropland or other environmentally sensitive
Assistance for Pollinator Habitat acreage to vegetative cover. Both NRCS and
FSA programs encourage producers to plant
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation appropriate grasses, wildflowers, trees and
Service (NRCS) and the USDA Farm Service shrubs to establish wildlife habitat, diverse
Agency (FSA) provide support through pasture and rangelands, filter strips or
technical and financial assistance to provide riparian buffers. USDA conservation lands
safe and diverse food sources for honeybees. offer tremendous benefits to pollinators that
require diverse floral blooms over the entire
For example, NRCS helps producers growing season as well as safe placement of
implement voluntary conservation practices honeybee colonies.
such as planting cover crops, wildflowers and
native grasses in buffers and areas not in
production as well as improving management
of grazing lands.

In total, more than three dozen NRCS

conservation practices provide benefits
to pollinators like honeybees. The Assistance for Honeybees
Environmental Quality Incentives Program
(EQIP), Conservation Stewardship Program FSA’s Emergency Assistance for Livestock,
Honeybees and Farm-Raised Fish Program
(ELAP) covers colony losses, honeybee hive
losses and honeybee feed losses in instances
where these have been destroyed by an
eligible natural disaster or, in the case of favorable. Alternatively, Loan Deficiency
colony losses, because of Colony Collapse Payments (LDP) may be available in lieu of
Disorder. Colony losses must be in excess of securing a MAL. The final loan availability date
normal mortality. Eligible honeybees include is March 31 following the crop year.
bees housed in a managed hive and used
for honey production, pollination or Farm Storage Facility Loans (FSFLs) provide
honeybee breeding. low-interest financing for equipment and
structures needed for you to store, handle
and/or transport your honey. Examples of
eligible equipment include:
Assistance for Honey
• A storage building for harvested honey. 
FSA’s Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance • Equipment to maintain and monitor the
Program (NAP) provides financial assistance quality of stored honey. 
to producers of table and non-table
honey produced commercially for human • Portable storage containers, essential to
consumption. Honey producers must apply the proper storage of honey. 
for coverage and pay a service fee by the • Bulk tanks suitable for storing honey.
application closing date, which for honey • Bottler systems for honey (excludes the
is December 31 of the prior calendar year. honey containers). 
Producers must timely file acreage (colony)
reports and production records by reporting • Equipment for moving honey, such as a
pounds of honey produced per colony of bees forklift or hand truck. 
per crop year.
Processing equipment, packing containers
Honey from eligible floral sources and and storage space for bees or beehives are
meeting FSA’s storage requirements may be not eligible.
pledged as security for Marketing Assistance
Loans (MAL). These short-term loans provide
interim financing to allow you to sell your
product when market conditions are more
 Don’t Forget
ˆ Establish a farm number with FSA if
you’re new to working with us.
Assistance for Your Business ˆ Report your honeybee colonies to FSA
by January 2 each year. These reports
FSA offers direct and guaranteed loans to verify the existence of colonies and are
farmers and ranchers to promote, build and essential to program participation.
sustain family farms for a thriving agricultural
ˆ Notify FSA when a loss occurs to your
economy. This includes farm operating
colonies, hives, or honeybee feed.
and ownership loans. Youth loans are also
available to those between the ages of 10 and ˆ Talk to NRCS and FSA to see how we
20 years of age for up to $5,000. can establish or enhance pollinators on
your operation.
Whole-Farm Revenue Protection (WFRP) ˆ Ask your crop insurance agent
provides a risk management safety net for all about risk management options for
commodities on the farm under one insurance your operation.
policy. The Apiculture Pilot Insurance
Rainfall Index Program (API) provides a
safety net for beekeepers’ primary income
sources – honey, pollen collection, wax, and Working with Us
breeding stock. You can buy a WFRP or an API
You can learn more about USDA
policy from a crop insurance agent by the sales
assistance for honey producers at your
closing date for your county.
local USDA Service Center. Find your
local USDA Service Center at farmers.
gov/service-locator. If you’re new to
working with us, check out farmers.gov/
newfarmers to learn how to get started.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.