We're saved..

[Yankee11]

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/06/20/presidential-memorandum-creating-federal-strategy-promote-health-honey-b

[apisbees]

I like the proposals in section 3 If implemented it will provide an increase in bee forage and the mow it down policy that is in place at this time in most areas.

Sec. 3. Increasing and Improving Pollinator Habitat. Unless otherwise specified, within 180 days of the date of this memorandum:

[blueblood]

Thanks for the link.  Sec. 3 (L) is a very good thing.  Hopefully they will follow through with it.  However, I hope this legislature does not set out to restrict, regulate etc. in ways that would be a pita for the keeper in the future.  Maybe it is just the cynicism developed and fostered by my occupation that makes me think this way, 

The farmer that owned the oak tree I cut the bees out of yesterday shared his thoughts on insecticides.  He said he does the best he can not to overuse and minimize them as much as possible.  I understand his point of view as a farmer too.  They have to do something or their crop will be compromised.

[Bamabww]

Sounds pretty good to me except it is falls in the category of one of the three biggest lies: I'm from the government and I'm here to help.

Hopefully it's something that will help and a step in the right direction. I always try to give the benefit of the doubt until proven wrong.

[Slowmodem]

Sounds pretty good to me except it is falls in the category of one of the three biggest lies: I'm from the government and I'm here to help.

I work for the government, and I'm happy if I can help someone, but I don't remember ever saying I'm from the government and I'm here to help.   

[CpnObvious]

One flaw I find in this memorandum is that it's goal appear to be to help commercial pollinators...  They negate the importance of the hobbyist.  While there's not necessarily too much they can do, and I can't stand it when Big Brother the government sticks it's big head where it doesn't belong... but, at the very least, they could encourage insurance companies not to have policies AGAINST homeowners keeping bees as a hobby.  After reading through the http://www.worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/index.php/topic,770.msg26200.html#msg26200 thread I started calling insurance agents...  I never got back good news.  I kept hearing the same story:  "We carry X number of homeowner insurance companies.  I spoke them all.  None of them will carry a policy for someone who keeps bees on their property."  Don't bees naturally live in the environment?  Who are they only prejudice against people who keep friendly bees as a hobby???

[pistolpete]

The way insurance companies see it:  one bee sting is enough to kill a person who's allergic.  200 bee stings is enough to kill a person who's not allergic.  So 100 000 bees in two hives must be enough to kill 500 people.  They don't want any part of that, and I can't really say I blame them. 

[Yankee11]

About insurance- What I found is that it differed from one agent to another even within the same Ins. Company. But most don't have a clue.

I called my Ins, Company to get a General Liability Policy for 300,000 to do cutouts. It took them a week and they asked me 50 questions. I called another company while waiting. I had a quote by the end of the same day. Was done and paid for before my Ins. Company got back to me to tell me they couldn't do it.

[apisbees]

Pete, Insurance can be purchase through the BCHPA (British Columbia Honey Producers Association), if you are a member.

It may be feasible to look into getting a group policy set up through your state beekeeping association, like we have in B.C.