We learned in late March that the ODA plans to cut the apiary program this summer. The supervisory position now filled by John Grafton would be eliminated. This would eliminate any trained, experienced apiculturist on the staff of ODA. They plan to provide state inspection services by hastily training several staff from the plant pest program who would split their time between doing plant inspections and bee inspections. In early April the executive committee met with Bob Boggs, ODA Director, to protest the projected cuts in the apiary program.  He informed us the cuts were mandated by the budget crisis and that he did not have the authority to revoke the cuts.  A decision to revoke the cuts would have to be mandated from further up the chain of authority, which we understood to mean the Governor.  We then took steps to mobilize a letter writing campaign to protest the cuts and to try to stop them. In addition to local beekeeper associations across the state and OSBA members we were supported in this effort by the Ohio Farm Bureau, the Ohio Ecological Farm and Food Association and many others. We want to thank all of you who took the time to contact the Governor and the Director of Agriculture to express your opinion on this issue. I believe we had a significant response, however it is unclear what impact this will have in the short term.

Information that we received recently indicates that John Grafton will be retiring at the end of July. With the hiring freeze that has been ordered by the Governor it is unlikely that he will be replaced. At the time of this writing we assume that the Department of Agriculture intends to go through with their plans to provide state bee inspection services with part-time inspectors. However, officials within the Department of Agriculture have requested a meeting with representatives from the OSBA to discuss the future of the apiary program. We are hopeful that this will be the beginning of constructive dialogue between the ODA and the OSBA that will lead to providing an effective bee inspection program for Ohio. The county inspectors, who are hired and paid by the County Commissioners in each county, will remain in place. Local beekeepers associations and beekeepers should take the initiative to contact their county commissioners and encourage them to provide a bee inspector for their county.

On a more positive note, Rep. Mark Okey, Carrollton, after consultation with the OSBA and other beekeeping experts in Ohio, introduced House Bill 501 on April 9th with a good number of co-sponsors from both parties.  HB 501 would create a Task Force to study the beekeeping industry in Ohio and to recommend a course of action to strengthen it.  The task force would consist of representatives from the legislature, the ODA, the OSBA, the Ohio Farm Bureau, The Ohio Farmers Union, Vegetable and Fruit growers, OSU Entomology and Extension Departments, and others. An initial hearing was held before the House Agriculture Committee to hear proponent testimony Wednesday, April 16th.  In spite of short notice we had a number of beekeepers there to offer testimony.  Adam Ward, representing the ODA, testified stating ODA's support for the bill.   A Farm Bureau representative, our own Margaret Reid, was also present to state their support for the bill.  We feel confident of the prospects for passing the bill and are hopeful that the recommendations of the task force will lead to long term strengthening of beekeeping in Ohio.

Our attempts to influence the decision to cut the apiary program and to impact policies affecting beekeeping in Ohio were hindered by the absence of a mechanism for mobilizing public support for our initiatives. We were attempting to mobilize public support and to create the mechanism to do it at the same time. We plan to establish now and in the future permanent means to effectively inform our members and to mobilize action on short notice.

Our goals for the future are:

To create a group e-mailing capability so that we can quickly disseminate information to our members and mobilize a response to issues of concern to Ohio beekeepers.

To utilize our regional coordinators to maintain contact with local associations in their regions so that they can be a channel of two-way communication between the local associations and the state association. We need to hear their concerns as well as share our concerns with them.

To encourage our regional coordinators, our local associations and our members to establish and maintain contact with state and national legislators in their areas to facilitate more effective communication of our concerns.

To develop and distribute to our officers, Directors, Regional Coordinators and local associations a Legislative Action Guide that will give them direction and guidance on how to establish and maintain effective contacts with legislators, etc., and how to express their opinion to legislators when necessary.

To establish and maintain contact and connections with the Farm Bureau, The Fruit and Vegetable Growers and other groups and agencies with allied interests.

To present to the OSBA Board of Directors for approval a draft statement of the OSBA’s goals and positions on a number of critical priorities so that when we take a stance on an issue we can have confidence that we do indeed represent the position of the OSBA.

These are ambitious goals but we have made a start. You can learn more about our campaign to influence the decision by the ODA to cut the apiary program on the OSBA website: www.ohiostatebeekeers.org. A new feature planned for the website is a legislative committee blog page where you can express your opinion on issues affecting beekeeping in Ohio. Watch the website for this blog page to become active.

Bob Hooker

Legislative Cmte, Chr.  

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