Virginia Regulatory Town Hall
Agency
Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
 
Board
Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
 
chapter
Best Management Practices for the Operation of Apiaries in Order to Limit Operator Liability [2 VAC 5 ‑ 319]
Chapter is Exempt from Article 2 of the Administrative Process Act
Action Promulgate best management practices for the operation of apiaries to limit operator liability
Stage Proposed
Comment Period Ended on 7/13/2016
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6/21/16  12:10 pm
Commenter: Karla E

Comments on 2VAC5-319. Best Management Practices for the Operation of Apiaries in Order to Limit Ope
 

Proposed. 1) G. An apiary operator shall not maintain an apiary within 50 feet of any animal that is tethered, kenneled, or otherwise prevented from escaping a possible stinging incident.

I think this is onerous requirement and really not fair to require.  It is possible that someone moves in with a tethered or kenneled animal after you have your apiary established and then their rights supersede yours.  I think that it would be better to read that the  apiary owner should not keep a kenneled or tethered animal on their property but in the case that this type of animal exists on a neighbor's property, the apiary owner should alert the neighbor with the tethered or kenneled animal to the potential problems associated with keeping the animal next to an apiary.

Propsed: 2.  4. Replace queens in all captured or trapped swarms within 30 days of capturing or trapping swarms;

I am not sure this is necessary- it seems like an extreme requirement.  Perhaps soften if to assess behavior within 45 days of capturing or trapping swarms and requeen if defensive behavior becomes apparent.

Proposed: 3.  5. Replace queens in all colonies every two years to minimize swarming behavior; and

Could this be amended to state- with the exception of established queen breeders.  This is so that those fully engaged in breeding queens, which require at least 2 winters for a queen to survive do not get penalized for this standard queen breeding practice?  

CommentID: 50273