Legislative Issues and Updates

The American Beekeeping Federation (ABF) works tirelessly in Washington, D.C., and throughout the U.S. to further our legislative and regulatory priorities that the ABF membership has identified as important to our business.

Below are issues that the American Beekeeping Federation is currently working on or involved in.

The Honey Integrity Act

Standard of Identity (SOI), a clear and easy to understand country of origin label requirement to greatly improve product traceability, transparency, and testing.

ABF supports the efforts of Congressman Steube (R- FL) and Congressman Panetta (D-CA) in their efforts to establish the Honey Integrity Act which enact federal honey standards. (Bill HR.2162)

ABF also supports the companion bill introduced by Senator Tuberville (R-AL) in the Senate. (Bill S.1028)

Full text of the bill can be found here.

Sample Letter

We have a sample letter that can be easily adapted by beekeepers.

Click here to download the copy. You may make changes and then send contact your Senator or Congressman to encourage them to sign on to this bill.

Easiest way to find their contact information is at this site: https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials

ABF Leave Behind

American Beekeeping Federation Releases 2026 Legislative and Regulatory Priorities

The American Beekeeping Federation (ABF) has released its 2026 Legislative and Regulatory Issues document, outlining the organization’s top federal policy priorities for Congress and federal agencies. The document highlights recommendations for the 2026 Farm Bill, including establishing federal honey standards and testing requirements, supporting honey bee research, strengthening conservation programs, improving access to public lands, addressing agricultural labor needs, and recognizing honey as a specialty crop eligible for USDA assistance.

Comparison Report

Comparison Report Highlights Key Differences Between House and Senate Farm Bill Proposals

A new comparison report examines the House-passed Farm Bill (H.R. 7567) alongside Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Boozman’s draft, identifying provisions that affect the beekeeping industry. The report compares policies related to honey standards, honey testing, emergency assistance, research, conservation, specialty crops, and other agricultural programs, while also summarizing bee- and honey-related provisions included in the recently enacted “Big Beautiful Bill” (Pub. L. 119-21).

We can make a positive impact through strong governmental relations to bring our thoughts and concerns to the appropriate parties. We need to convey our message when proposed legislation and laws will adversely affect beekeepers and their business.

We promise to keep you informed of legislative issues throughout the year, and if we can better serve you as your ABF representatives, please let us know.

We Need Your Involvement!

Previous Years' ABF Update & Industry Issues

2025

EPA Finalizes First-of-its-Kind Strategy to Protect 900 Endangered Species from Herbicides

WASHINGTON – Today, Aug. 20, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released its final Herbicide Strategy, an unprecedented step in protecting over 900 federally endangered and threatened (listed) species from the potential impacts of herbicide, which are chemicals used to control weeds.

EPA will use the strategy to identify measures to reduce the amount of herbicides exposure to these species when it registers new herbicides and when it reevaluates registered herbicides under a process called registration review.

Experts investigate cause of massive honeybee colony die-offs

Cornell University bee experts are analyzing samples of bees and related material to help identify the cause of unprecedented managed honey bee losses this winter.

Research associate Wayne Anderson loads bee samples into a liquid chromatography mass spectrometer for analysis in the lab of Scott McArt in Comstock Hall.

Credit: Jason Koski / Cornell University

USDA and ELAP

USDA began to process ELAP claims last evening and processing payments. FSA will not be able to pay any 2025 losses until the 2025 rates are set which they are working to do as quickly as possible.

How To Apply

To apply for the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program, producers must complete and submit a notice of loss and an application for payment to their local FSA office. The process includes providing documentation of the losses and the conditions causing the losses. Detailed enrollment instructions and deadlines are available through the local FSA office.

Important message from the Georgia Department of Agriculture:

Wednesday, March 5, 2025
Office of Communications
404-656-3689

Georgia Department of Agriculture Asking Georgians to Report Embryo Nests to Limit the Spread of Yellow-legged Hornets in the State

EPA Finalizes First-of-its-Kind Strategy to Protect 900 Endangered Species from Herbicides

EPA Provides New Tool to Protect Honey Bees, Ensuring Safe and Abundant Food Supply

Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is releasing a final registration decision for one technical and two end use products containing the new pesticide active ingredient Vadescana for control against Varroa mites (Varroa destructor) in honey bee hives. EPA prioritizes pesticide applications that target Varroa mites to provide beekeepers with a variety of tools to combat this pest—a contributor to colony collapse. The agency is committed to supporting the development of innovative products that give the agricultural community the tools they need to ensure our country has a safe and abundant food supply. EPA has a webpage with more information on Vadescana and other products to control Varroa mites.

House Ag Committee’s Ag Labor Working Group

WASHINGTON, DC —House Committee on Agriculture Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson (PA-15) and Ranking Member David Scott (GA-13) released the following joint statement after the bipartisan Agricultural Labor Working Group (ALWG) released its final report. The final report is the product of a months-long effort to identify workforce issues faced by the nation’s agricultural producers and offer specific policy recommendations to address flaws within the H-2A visa program.

EPA/FDA Whitepaper on Modernizing Oversight of Products for Animals Regulated as Pesticides or New Animal Drugs

EPA Publishes New Webpage to Answer Frequently Asked Questions on the EPA/FDA Whitepaper on Modernizing Oversight of Products for Animals Regulated as Pesticides or New Animal Drugs

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are publishing new web content to provide an overview of the topics raised during the public comment period and to answer frequently asked questions about EPA and FDA’s whitepaper, “A Modern Approach to EPA and FDA Product Oversight.”

As an initial step, the agencies have published a new website to answer some of the public’s most frequently asked questions.

Interim Report of the House Agriculture Committee on Agriculture Labor

Congressman Crawford (R-AK) and Congressman Davis (D-NC) the bipartisan working group’s co-chairs are trying to deep dive into the current ag-labor programs we have, their initial finding document what we know, the current programs available to agriculture are not working and need to be fixed. However, they are providing quantitative documentation for policy makers.

Click here for the entire Interim Report.

We Need Your Support!

We can make a positive impact through strong governmental relations to bring our thoughts and concerns to the appropriate parties. We need to convey our message when proposed legislation and laws will adversely affect beekeepers and their business.

We ask that you consider donating to the ABF Legislative fund so that we can continue voicing our concerns and have our collective voice heard.

Please visit www.abfnet.org today and click the “donate” button!

Legislative Issues and Updates

Legislative Issues and Updates

The American Beekeeping Federation (ABF) works tirelessly in Washington, D.C., and throughout the U.S. to further our legislative and regulatory priorities that the ABF membership has identified as important to our business.

Below are issues that the American Beekeeping Federation is currently working on or involved in.

The Honey Integrity Act

Standard of Identity (SOI), a clear and easy to understand country of origin label requirement to greatly improve product traceability, transparency, and testing.

ABF supports the efforts of Congressman Steube (R- FL) and Congressman Panetta (D-CA) in their efforts to establish the Honey Integrity Act which enact federal honey standards. (Bill HR.2162)

ABF also supports the companion bill introduced by Senator Tuberville (R-AL) in the Senate. (Bill S.1028)

Full text of the bill can be found here.

Sample Letter

We have a sample letter that can be easily adapted by beekeepers.

Click here to download the copy. You may make changes and then send contact your Senator or Congressman to encourage them to sign on to this bill.

Easiest way to find their contact information is at this site: https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials

ABF Leave Behind

American Beekeeping Federation Releases 2026 Legislative and Regulatory Priorities

Comparison Report

Comparison Report Highlights Key Differences Between House and Senate Farm Bill Proposals

We can make a positive impact through strong governmental relations to bring our thoughts and concerns to the appropriate parties. We need to convey our message when proposed legislation and laws will adversely affect beekeepers and their business.

We promise to keep you informed of legislative issues throughout the year, and if we can better serve you as your ABF representatives, please let us know.

We Need Your Involvement!

Previous Years' ABF Update & Industry Issues

2025

EPA Finalizes First-of-its-Kind Strategy to Protect 900 Endangered Species from Herbicides

WASHINGTON – Today, Aug. 20, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released its final Herbicide Strategy, an unprecedented step in protecting over 900 federally endangered and threatened (listed) species from the potential impacts of herbicide, which are chemicals used to control weeds.

EPA will use the strategy to identify measures to reduce the amount of herbicides exposure to these species when it registers new herbicides and when it reevaluates registered herbicides under a process called registration review.

Experts investigate cause of massive honeybee colony die-offs

Cornell University bee experts are analyzing samples of bees and related material to help identify the cause of unprecedented managed honey bee losses this winter.

Research associate Wayne Anderson loads bee samples into a liquid chromatography mass spectrometer for analysis in the lab of Scott McArt in Comstock Hall.

Credit: Jason Koski / Cornell University

USDA and ELAP

USDA began to process ELAP claims last evening and processing payments. FSA will not be able to pay any 2025 losses until the 2025 rates are set which they are working to do as quickly as possible.

How To Apply

Important message from the Georgia Department of Agriculture:

Wednesday, March 5, 2025Office of Communications404-656-3689

Georgia Department of Agriculture Asking Georgians to Report Embryo Nests to Limit the Spread of Yellow-legged Hornets in the State

EPA Finalizes First-of-its-Kind Strategy to Protect 900 Endangered Species from Herbicides

EPA Provides New Tool to Protect Honey Bees, Ensuring Safe and Abundant Food Supply

USDA Recognizes National Pollinator Week

House Ag Committee’s Ag Labor Working Group

EPA/FDA Whitepaper on Modernizing Oversight of Products for Animals Regulated as Pesticides or New Animal Drugs

EPA Publishes New Webpage to Answer Frequently Asked Questions on the EPA/FDA Whitepaper on Modernizing Oversight of Products for Animals Regulated as Pesticides or New Animal Drugs

As an initial step, the agencies have published a new website to answer some of the public’s most frequently asked questions.

Interim Report of the House Agriculture Committee on Agriculture Labor

Click here for the entire Interim Report.

We Need Your Support!

We can make a positive impact through strong governmental relations to bring our thoughts and concerns to the appropriate parties. We need to convey our message when proposed legislation and laws will adversely affect beekeepers and their business.

We ask that you consider donating to the ABF Legislative fund so that we can continue voicing our concerns and have our collective voice heard.

Please visit www.abfnet.org today and click the “donate” button!

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Contact Us

Wednesday, March 5, 2025
Office of Communications
404-656-3689