Governing Agriculture and Apiculture

 Agriculture has always had laws. Since the Code of Hammurabi, which dealt much with early urbanization and the rise of agriculturally based civilization, everything has been regulated. Whether it has been flocks or herds, fields or rice patties, people have to delineate whose is what. 

The Code of Hammurabi | By Mbzt - Own work, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=16931676

This lead to the original surveyors and mapmakers, like me. Since land has value because of the labor performed, it is important to delineate who owns what, and to have an enforcement agency empowered to mediate and intervene in said disputes. Many would quote the book Leviathan in regards to why we have government; I would point out the Cain and Abel story in how it came to be. As the pastoral Semitic herders were driven off the land by organized and driven Neolithic farmers, the dispute over the sharp lines drawn in the land by time, by irrigation, and by fence posts, in comparison to the natural and seasonal cycles of herders and hunter-gatherers, governments had to be formed to mediate between farmers, fight off nomadic bands, and to forcefully intervene and enforce the law by arresting certain parties.

Cain and Abel |   By Unknown author - Title of Work: Speculum Humanae Salvationis Production: Germany; 15th century.Source: http://www.imagesonline.bl.uk/britishlibrary/controller/subjectidsearch?id=10614&startid=11550&width=4&height=2&idx=2, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=34028272

 Interestingly enough, this pattern reflects the pattern of conquest of the American Midwest and West. Nomadic indigenous tribes were forced off land by militias and army units, but there was no law for the longest time, so the government grew haphazardly. Then the government built buildings such as jailhouses, built pipe, and started exerting power over the somewhat tamed wilderness through its monopoly on force and the distribution of public goods. The difference between events that happened anywhere from 5-10,000 years ago, and the last two hundred years is the level of technology, the accumulated software upgrades of five thousand years of culture, and the political modicums--white farmers and the working class had a voice in democracy. Not perfect, but a big improvement compared to the absolute kings of not that long ago.

Apiculture has laws too. While the science was only developed in the late 18th century, the industry has been around almost since the beginning of time. 

Honey seeker  8,0000 years ago in Spain
By Achillea - Drawn of a painting from the caves of Cueva de la Araña by fr:Utilisateur:Achillea converted to svg by User:Amada44, GPL, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3255236

Compared to today with techniques invented during the Enlightenment

Here are the laws, almost more mre footnote for Alaska's beekeeping laws for the Division of Agriculture. It's probably not as popular as it is in the Lower 48, so there is less need for gigantic beekeeping laws. The real governing body is SABA, or Southcentral Alaskan Beekeeping Association. They train people, they 

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Chapter 47. Bees and Beekeeping Equipment.

Sec. 03.47.010. Importation.
The importation into the state of bees on bee combs and used beekeeping equipment is prohibited. Section comb honey for human consumption may be imported into the state.

Sec. 03.47.020. Importation of bees.
All bees imported into the state shall be accompanied by a health certificate that states that the bees come from an apiary apparently free of bee diseases and that is signed by an apiary inspector determined to be qualified by the division.

Sec. 03.47.030. Duties of the division.
 (a) The division shall investigate reported cases of diseased bees and cases of diseased bees discovered by the division.

 (b) The division shall take action necessary to prevent the spread of bee diseases. Bees or used beekeeping equipment found to contain the causative organisms of American foulbrood (Bacillus larvae) or European foulbrood (Streptococcus pluton) shall be immediately quarantined and treated within five days by
     (1) chamber fumigation using ethylene oxide or other gases approved by the division;

     (2) sterilization by boiling in lyewater for at least 15 minutes; or

     (3) destruction of bees, bee combs, and frames by burning followed by burying 18 inches deep.

 (c) Notwithstanding (b) of this section, hive boxes, top and bottom boards found to contain the causative organisms of American foulbrood (Bacillus larvae) or European foulbrood (Streptococcus pluton) may be salvaged by scorching inside surfaces and edges using a flame to produce a light brown charring of the wood unless the boxes, top and bottom boards are in poor condition due to weathering, rotting, or ant tunneling.

 (d) A quarantine imposed under this section may not be removed until infected bees and used beekeeping equipment are destroyed or the division determines through testing that the used beekeeping equipment is free of the disease.

 (e) The division shall adopt regulations necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter.




Sec. 03.47.035. Penalty.
A person who violates this chapter or a regulation adopted under this chapter is guilty of a class B misdemeanor.

Sec. 03.47.040. Definitions.
In this chapter,
     (1) "bees" means honey-producing insects of the genus Apis and includes the adults, eggs, larvae, pupae, and other immature stages of the insects;

     (2) "division" means the division of the department with responsibility for agriculture;

     (3) "used beekeeping equipment" means equipment that has been used to feed or house bees, including hive boxes, frames, pollen traps, queen excluders, inner covers, supers, tops, bottom boards, slatted racks, and bee combs, or other wooden or plastic beehive parts that have been in contact with honeybees.

Utah's Beekeeping laws are a 6 short pages. The large difference in farming versus non agricultural economies in Utah versus Alaska is probably why there are so few regulations in Alaska. They even have a county bee inspector--something I have never heard of!

Utah Code Page 1 Effective 7/1/2017 

Chapter 11 Utah Bee Inspection Act 4-11-101 Title. 

 This chapter is known as the "Utah Bee Inspection Act." Renumbered and Amended by Chapter 345, 2017 General Session 4-11-102 

Definitions. As used in this chapter: (1) "Abandoned apiary" means any apiary to which the owner or operator fails to give reasonable and adequate attention during a given year as determined by the department. (2) "Apiary" means any place where one or more colonies of bees are located. (3) "Apiary equipment" means hives, supers, frames, veils, gloves, or other equipment used to handle or manipulate bees, honey, wax, or hives. (4) "Appliance" means any apparatus, tool, machine, or other device used to handle or manipulate bees, wax, honey, or hives. (5) "Bee" means the common honey bee, Apis mellifera, at any stage of development. (6) (a) "Beekeeper" means a person who keeps bees. (b) "Beekeeper" includes an apiarist. (7) "Colony" means an aggregation of bees in any type of hive that includes queens, workers, drones, or brood. (8) "Disease" means any infectious or contagious disease affecting bees, as specified by the department, including American foulbrood. (9) "Hive" means a frame hive, box hive, box, barrel, log, gum skep, or other artificial or natural receptacle that may be used to house bees. (10) "Package" means any number of bees in a bee-tight container, with or without a queen, and without comb. (11) "Parasite" means an organism that parasitizes any developmental stage of a bee. (12) "Pest" means an organism that: (a) inflicts damage to a bee or bee colony directly or indirectly; or (b) may damage apiary equipment in a manner that is likely to have an adverse effect on the health of the colony or an adjacent colony. (13) "Raise" means: (a) to hold a colony of bees in a hive for the purpose of pollination, honey production, or study, or a similar purpose; and (b) when the person holding a colony holds the colony or a package of bees in the state for a period of time exceeding 30 days. (14) "Terminal disease" means a pest, parasite, or pathogen that will kill an occupant colony or subsequent colony on the same equipment. Amended by Chapter 136, 2019 General Session 4-11-103 Department authorized to make and enforce rules. Utah Code Page 2 (1) The department is authorized, subject to Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, to make and enforce rules necessary for the administration and enforcement of this chapter. (2) The rules described in Subsection (1) shall include provisions for the identification of each apiary within the state. Renumbered and Amended by Chapter 345, 2017 General Session 4-11-104 Bee raising -- Registration required -- Application -- Fees -- Renewal -- License required -- Application -- Fees -- Renewal. (1) A person may not raise bees in this state without being registered with the department. (2) Application for registration to raise bees shall be made to the department upon tangible or electronic forms prescribed and furnished by the department, within 30 days after the person: (a) takes possession of the bees; or (b) moves the bees into the state. (3) Nothing in Subsection (2) limits the requirements of Section 4-11-111. (4) An application in accordance with this chapter shall specify: (a) the name and address of the applicant; (b) the number of bee colonies owned by the applicant at the time of the application that will be present in the state for a period exceeding 30 days; and (c) any other relevant information the department considers appropriate. (5) Upon receipt of a proper application and payment of an annual registration fee determined by the department pursuant to Subsection 4-2-103(2), the commissioner shall issue a registration to the applicant valid through December 31 of the year in which the registration is issued, subject to suspension or revocation for cause. (6) A bee registration is renewable for a period of one year upon the payment of an annual registration renewal fee as determined by the department pursuant to Subsection 4-2-103(2). (7) Registration shall be renewed on or before December 31 of each year. Renumbered and Amended by Chapter 345, 2017 General Session 4-11-105 

County bee inspector -- Appointment -- Termination -- Compensation. (1) The county executive upon the petition of five or more persons who raise bees within the respective county shall, with the approval of the commissioner, appoint a qualified person to act as a bee inspector within the county. (2) A county bee inspector shall be employed at the pleasure of the county executive and the commissioner and is subject to termination of employment, with or without cause, at the instance of either. (3) Compensation for the county bee inspector shall be fixed by the county legislative body. (4) To be appointed a county bee inspector, a person shall demonstrate adequate training and knowledge related to this chapter, bee diseases, and pests. (5) A record concerning bee inspection shall be kept by the county executive or commissioner. (6) The county executive and the commissioner shall investigate a formal, written complaint against a county bee inspector. Renumbered and Amended by Chapter 345, 2017 General Session Utah Code Page 3 4-11-106 Hives to have removable frames -- Consent of county bee inspector to sell or transport diseased bees. (1) A person may not house or keep bees in a hive unless the hive is equipped with movable frames to all the hive's parts so that access to the hive can be had without difficulty. (2) No person who owns or has possession of bees (whether queens or workers) with knowledge that they are infected with terminal disease, parasites, or pests, or with knowledge that they have been exposed to terminal disease, parasites, or pests, shall sell, barter, give away, or move the bees, colonies, or apiary equipment without the consent of the county bee inspector or the department. Renumbered and Amended by Chapter 345, 2017 General Session 4-11-107 Inspector -- Duties -- Diseased apiaries -- Examination of diseased bees by department -- Election to transport bees to wax-salvage plant. (1) The county bee inspector or the department may inspect: (a) all apiaries within the county at least once each year; and (b) immediately any apiary within the county that is alleged in a complaint to be severely diseased, parasitized, or abandoned. (2) If, upon inspection, the inspector determines that an apiary is diseased or parasitized, the inspector may take the following action based on the severity of the disease or parasite present: (a) prescribe the course of treatment that the owner or caretaker of the bees shall follow to eliminate the disease or parasite; (b) personally, for the purpose of treatment approved by the department, take control of the afflicted bees, hives, combs, broods, honey, and equipment; or (c) destroy the afflicted bees and, if necessary, their hives, combs, broods, honey, and all appliances that may have become infected. (3) If, upon reinspection, the inspector determines that the responsible party has not executed the course of treatment prescribed by Subsection (2), the inspector may take immediate possession of the afflicted colony for control or destruction in accordance with Subsection (2)(b) or (c). (4) (a) The owner of an apiary who is dissatisfied with the diagnosis or course of action proposed by an inspector under this section may, at the owner's expense, have the department examine the alleged diseased bees. (b) The decision of the commissioner with respect to the condition of bees at the time of the examination is final and conclusive upon the owner and the inspector involved. Renumbered and Amended by Chapter 345, 2017 General Session 4-11-108 County bee inspector -- Disinfection required before leaving apiary with diseased bees. (1) Before inspecting the premises of any apiary, an inspector and any assistant of an inspector shall disinfect any equipment that will be used in the inspection. (2) Before leaving the premises of any apiary, the bee inspector, or any assistant, shall thoroughly disinfect any part of the inspector's own person, clothing, or any appliance that has come in contact with infected material. (3) The method of disinfection required by Subsection (2): Utah Code Page 4 (a) may be determined by the department; and (b) shall be sufficient to destroy disease, parasites, and pathogens encountered. (4) A county bee inspector shall maintain a record of each inspection, including disinfection practices. (5) The county executive or the commissioner may review a county bee inspector's records kept in accordance with Subsection (4). Renumbered and Amended by Chapter 345, 2017 General Session 4-11-109 Inspection of apiaries where queen bees raised for sale -- Honey from apiaries where queen bees raised for sale not to be used for candy for mailing cages unless boiled. (1) (a) At least twice each summer the county bee inspector may inspect each apiary in which queen bees are raised for sale. (b) A person may not sell or transport any queen bee from an apiary that is found to be infected with disease without the consent of the county bee inspector or the department. (2) No person engaged in raising queen bees for sale shall use any honey for making candy for mailing cages that has not been boiled for at least 30 minutes. (3) A person rearing queens shall follow standard methods for minimizing or eliminating unmanageably aggressive stock. Renumbered and Amended by Chapter 345, 2017 General Session 4-11-110 Enforcement -- Inspections authorized -- Warrants. (1) The department and all bee inspectors shall have access to all apiaries or places where bees, hives, and appliances are kept for the purpose of enforcing this chapter. (2) If admittance is refused, the department, or the bee inspector involved, may proceed immediately to obtain an ex parte warrant from the nearest court of competent jurisdiction to allow entry upon the premises for the purpose of making an inspection. Renumbered and Amended by Chapter 345, 2017 General Session 4-11-111 Importation of bees or appliances into state -- Certification required -- Inspection discretionary -- Authority to require destruction or removal of diseased bees and appliances. (1) (a) A person may not bring or import any bees in packages or hives or bring or import any used beekeeping equipment or appliances into this state without obtaining a certificate from an inspector authorized in the state of origin certifying that: (i) the bees, apiary equipment, or appliances have been inspected within the current production season; and (ii) all diseased colonies in the apiary at the time of the inspection were destroyed or treated. (b) A person bringing or importing bees into the state shall advise the department of the address of the bees' destination and furnish the department with a copy of the certificate of inspection upon entry into the state. (c) A person intending to hold bees in the state for a period of time exceeding 30 days shall comply with Section 4-11-104. (2) Utah Code Page 5 (a) A person may not bring or import any used apiary equipment, except after obtaining a certificate from an inspector authorized in the state of origin certifying that all potentially pathogen-conductive apiary equipment or appliances are appropriately sterilized immediately before importation. (b) A person bringing or importing used apiary equipment shall advise the department of the address of the destination in the state and furnish the department with a copy of the certificate of inspection upon entry into the state. (3) Used apiary equipment or appliances that have been exposed to terminal disease may not be sold without the consent of the bee inspector or the commissioner. (4) In lieu of the certificate required by Subsection (1), the certificate may be a Utah certificate. (5) (a) If the department determines it is necessary for any reason to inspect any bees, apiary equipment, or appliance upon arrival at a destination in this state, and upon this inspection finds terminal disease, the department shall cause all diseased colonies, appliances, and equipment to be either: (i) destroyed immediately; or (ii) removed from the state within 48 hours. (b) The costs of complying with Subsection (5)(a)(i) or (ii) shall be paid by the person bringing the diseased colonies, appliances, or equipment into the state. Renumbered and Amended by Chapter 345, 2017 General Session 4-11-112 Quarantine authorized. The commissioner, in order to protect the bee industry of the state against bee health or management issues, may quarantine the entire state, an entire county, or any apiary or specific hive within the state. Renumbered and Amended by Chapter 345, 2017 General Session 4-11-113 Unlawful acts specified. It is unlawful for a person to: (1) extract honey in any place where bees can gain access either during or after the extraction process; (2) maintain any neglected or abandoned hives, apiary equipment, or appliances other than in an enclosure that prohibits the entrance of bees; (3) raise bees without being registered with the department; or (4) knowingly sell a colony, apiary equipment, or appliance that is inoculated with terminal disease pathogens. Renumbered and Amended by Chapter 345, 2017 General Session 4-11-114 Maintenance of abandoned apiary, equipment, or appliance -- Nuisance. (1) It is a public nuisance to keep an abandoned or diseased apiary, apiary equipment, or appliance anywhere other than in an enclosure that prohibits the entry of bees. (2) Items listed in Subsection (1) are subject to seizure and destruction by the county bee inspector. Utah Code Page 6 (3) Upon discovery of, or receipt of a written complaint concerning, an abandoned apiary site, apiary equipment, or appliance, the bee inspector shall attempt to notify the registered owner, if any. (4) (a) A registered owner notified under Subsection (3) shall remove the abandoned apiary, apiary equipment, or appliance or provide a bee-proof enclosure within 15 days. (b) The bee inspector or the department shall verify the removal or protection in accordance with Subsection (4)(a) at the expiration of the 15-day period. (c) If a registered owner does not comply with Subsection (4)(a), the bee inspector or the department may seize and destroy the abandoned apiary, apiary equipment, and appliances. (5) A bee inspector or the department may seize and destroy an abandoned apiary, apiary equipment, or appliances if the abandoned apiary, apiary equipment, or appliances do not indicate a registered owner. Renumbered and Amended by Chapter 345, 2017 General Session 4-11-115 Maintaining gentle stock. A beekeeper may not intentionally maintain an aggressive or unmanageable stock, whether African or European in origin. Renumbered and Amended by Chapter 345, 2017 General Session

What interests me the most is that the more people you have, the more farms you have, and the more rules and regulations you have. Let's take a look at California and see if that is true...

They have a whole webpage. Let's not even go there! In fairness, they do have to be more careful because they have more bees to pollinate their larger, and vastly more important farms. The number of  "colonies demanded for almond pollination in 2018 will likely be around 1.9 million, approximately 73% of the total U.S. honey bee colony population on January 1, 2017." Using 73% of all colonies for one monoculture crop is a huge amount! I think I see a strong correlation. People + farms + bees = more regulation.