Exchange of views

[silviu318]

Hello. I'm new here (I'm from Romania). I apologize if there are typos. I have some questions for you:
1. Beekeeping is taxable? yes / no, how much?
2. Receive subsidies? yes / no, how much?
3. Get money for pollination? yes / no, how much?
4. Other benefits from the government?

In Romania the situation is bad, do not get money (subsidies), not receive money for pollination or other benefits from the government, honey is sold between 1.50 (polyfloral) - 5 (monoflora) Euro / kg (natural honey - Organic) .
Yet do not pay taxes on what we sell. Will organize a protest and we intend to ask our rights. :rulez: We want to see how they are treated beekeepers in Europe to know what to ask.

All the best from Romania!

[Kathyp]

the answers to your questions will be different in different parts of the country.  i'll do my best to answer for my state of Oregon.

1.  beekeeping for the hobby beekeeper is not taxable unless you sell honey at enough of a profit to meet the tax threshold.  that will be different for different people.  profit will be listed on income tax forms, but tax may not be paid depending on income and amount earned.

2.  to my knowledge, there are no state subsidies for beekeeping in Oregon.  I don't know of any federal subsides in the US, but i do know that there are some grants in places through universities and perhaps the federal government also.  that's a sort of subsidy, i guess, but it is not for everyone.

3.  beekeepers who keep bees to pollinate crops are paid by the crop growers, not the government.  they are hired for their services.

4.  let's hope not.  most of us want government far away from us.  better not to take from them and then follow their rules  :-)

[CountryBee]

Amen to #4

[Livefreeordie]

Amen to #4

Agreed, the only thing I want government to do is maintain the military and keep the roads fixed, nothing more.

[CountryBee]

You sound like a great friend!  "Freetown" Pa must be a nicer place to live than here in NY!  They just passed our state budget and started taxing clothes under $110!  Who buys a piece of clothing over $110?  Them! :evil:

[silviu318]

Thanks for the reply. Still waiting for other answers. Agree with #4

[CountryBee]

Silviu318, in NY state it is exactly the same as Kathyp's state.  We just have one other thing, an inspector that comes around every 5-8 years and checks our bees for diseases.  He works for the state and asks neighbors who has honey bees and has to inspect everyones hives for mites, foul brood and stuff.  The last guy was like 85 years old but was so smart, really nice.  Good luck with bees and try to make it your own business, not a handout from the government or anything, just your own little thing you know.  That is how things start over here, small and with a lot of hard work and time they get to be big things.  Best of luck over in Romania and I hope that you can make it work. :) Country

[Livefreeordie]

Silviu318,

I am just getting into beekeeping, I don't even have bee's yet, but am reading everything I can in preparation of having some early next year. I am doing it as a backyard hobby. At the moment I am only planning on 2-4 hives, to help with pollination of my gardens, and of course to harvest honey for myself and friends.
With our litigious society and restrictive government, it seems once you get any bigger than a hobbyist, the government wants to step in and regulate and of course tax and fee you to death.
A beekeeper I talked to a couple weeks ago said our state Pennsylvania insists on health inspections and forces you to buy all kinds of equipment if you want to start marketing your honey. People will find ways around that of course, but it seems the nanny state government will continue tightening the noose for anyone ambitious enough to try to make a profit from their beekeeping.

[FRAMEshift]

We want to see how they are treated beekeepers in Europe to know what to ask.

All the best from Romania!

Hello silviu.  You are not getting responses from Europe yet, but there are many folks from Europe on this forum.  As usual, many people don't like taxes or regulation but they like what government does for them... like establishing a stable environment for commerce, banking, transportation, etc.  The views you are hearing are not necessarily representative of the US as a whole.  Most people want government regulation when it comes to food inspection, health and safety regulation, and measures to keep the economy from disintegrating.  And although that requires taxes, nobody enjoys paying them.  :-D

There are programs here to encourage small business so some money is available if you look for it.  There are no general subsidies and beekeeping is treated the same as all other business when it comes to taxes. 

The price you quote is not so different from what a local beekeeper would get selling to neighbors or at a farmers' market.  Wholesale prices are much lower and much honey is imported from China, which is a big problem.  Monofloral honey is in demand from certain plants, such as the sourwood tree.  Clover honey is less expensive.

I think people here would enjoy hearing more about Romania and what it's like to keep bees there.  Do you buy your queens or raise them yourself?  Do you build your own boxes and frames?  What is the situation with mites and other pests?  Do you feed sugar in winter?

[AliciaH]

I live in King County, which is in Washington State.  My apiary is registered as a business, so to the State I pay a Business and Occupations Tax, which is based on the amount of income my apiary makes.  Generally, I am not allowed to deduct expenses from that tax, though I am still learning about some exemptions that I may qualify for.  I would also pay Income Tax to the Federal Government, but my business is new and I still have many expenses, so I won't be earning a profit to pay Income Tax on, at least this year.

As for selling honey, I enjoy the same privilege as hobby beekeepers in that I can extract and sell my honey without having a County inspected kitchen.  Some larger honey operations here, though, do add flavors into the honey to make it more marketable; those businesses need to use a certified and inspected kitchen and that's a lot more expense on top of all the beekeeping expenses.

There are not subsidies here specifically for beekeeping, but a beekeeper closer to Seattle applied, and received, a grant to put hives in an area that needed "beautification".  That was recent and I don't have an update.

Pollination contracts here are also paid by the farmer needing the pollination, or, you can simply trade the service for the favor of being able to collect honey from a particular source, like berries.

As for benefits from the government?  I am subject to two kinds of taxes, I guess that's all the "benefit" they feel I need!  ;)

[silviu318]

Thanks again for answers.

I think people here would enjoy hearing more about Romania and what it's like to keep bees there.  Do you buy your queens or raise them yourself?  Do you build your own boxes and frames?  What is the situation with mites and other pests?  Do you feed sugar in winter?

I exchange queens every year in March to cut a wing. Do not buy because they are too expensive. My father made all the hives, frames and other stuff (he is the carpenter). We have some problems with varroa and CCD.The sugar feed spring and autumn. January stuffing a "sugar cake".

This week I was extracted sunflower honey. and I was starting to give them sugar syrup by month from September to October.

I have 25 hives and I hope to get to 50 next year!

[Livefreeordie]

We want to see how they are treated beekeepers in Europe to know what to ask.

All the best from Romania!

Most people want government regulation when it comes to food inspection, health and safety regulation, and measures to keep the economy from disintegrating.  And although that requires taxes, nobody enjoys paying them.  :-D

Not at all, all I want is for the government to stick to the 17 enumerated powers that were LOANED to them by the states and the PEOPLE.
Regulation is another nail in the coffin of freedom and liberty.

Silviu, that is interesting that you build your own frames and hives. Do you purchase foundation or do you go foundationless?

[silviu318]

Silviu, that is interesting that you build your own frames and hives. Do you purchase foundation or do you go foundationless?

I sell honey and buy boards. The hives are made by my dad (he's model) from 0.

[CountryBee]

I second Livefreeordie

[CountryBee]

Queens are expensive over there, can you learn to raise your own?
http://www.bushfarms.com/beesmillermethod.htm
http://www.bushfarms.com/beesalleymethod.htm
http://www.bushfarms.com/beesqueenrearing.htm#hopkinsmethod
Maybe these will help, they are from Michael Bush's website.  He is a great guy too!

[Livefreeordie]

Silviu, that is interesting that you build your own frames and hives. Do you purchase foundation or do you go foundationless?

I sell honey and buy boards. The hives are made by my dad (he's model) from 0.

Langstroth type hives?  Or do they use another type in Romania? I am a woodworker too, and was thinking that once I get the hang of all of this, I would attempt making some of my own hives as well. Does your dad use dovetail joints on the corners?
Sorry for all the questions, I find it interesting to compare with others from around the world.

[CountryBee]

Livefreeordie check this out!
http://forum.beemaster.com/index.php/topic,26187.0.html

[Livefreeordie]

Livefreeordie check this out!
http://forum.beemaster.com/index.php/topic,26187.0.html

Thanks Country!! Now my brain is starting to work overtime, I have a couple different ideas bouncing around in there. this winter will be fun trying out a few to see if my ideas will work.

[AllenF]

Did you check out that smoker in the video?

[Livefreeordie]

Is that battery powered?