Privacy fences around Michigan bee hives proposed by Department of Agriculture

LANSING, MI-- The latest attempt to keep the peace between farmers and their neighbors is the recommendation that beehives be blocked from nearby properties by a solid 6-foot-high fence or hedge to redirect the flight path of the bees.

The Michigan Small Farm Council is crying foul at the suggested change to the 2015 state's Generally Accepted Agricultural Practices,the official guidelines to which commercial farmers must adhere to be assured protection from nuisance lawsuits under Michigan's Right to Farm law.

In an action alert to other council members, member Wendy Banka wrote: " This could be a very long fence indeed for someone with five acres and hives less than 200 feet from the property line. For someone in a residential area, it could mean complete enclosure of the yard with a solid 6-foot high fence."

The new rules state that hives that are less than 200 feet from a property line require the erection of a solid fence, wall, or dense vegetative barrier from the ground to at least 6 feet in height, that must extend from the line of sight of the hive to the neighboring property.

The GAAMPsare opened for tweaking every year, with public hearings to discuss changes recommended by the committees of experts who are assigned the task of making sure practices are kept up to date. Last year, changes stripped Right to Farm protection from farmers keeping animals in many suburban and urban areas, changes approved over vigorous protest from many of the affected farmers.

This year's public input meeting and review period has been scheduled for 9 a.m. Dec. 12 in order to gather comments on the 2015 drafts of the state's GAAMPs. The Council is urging its members to ask the Commissioners of Agriculture to reject the proposed changes to the Beekeeper portion of the Animal Care GAAMPs.

"We have searched requirements in other states and even in other countries and have found none that require this kind of barrier, even in urban areas," the Action Alert says. "Furthermore, the proposed changes are not accompanied by any evidence that the erection of such barriers are necessary or helpful to the farmer, the neighbor, or the bees."

Public comment will be taken on all of GAAMPs for which changes have been proposed: Manure Management and Utilization, the Care of Farm Animals, and Site Selection and Odor Control for New and Expanding Livestock Facilities.

The GAAMPs regarding Pesticide Utilization and Pest Control, Farm Markets, Nutrient Utilization, Cranberry Production, and Irrigation Water Use have no proposed changes for 2015.

The GAAMPs public input meeting will be held in the Lake Superior Conference Room at the State of Michigan Library and Historical Center, 702 West Kalamazoo Street, Lansing. Written comments may be submitted to MDARD's Environmental Stewardship Division, P.O. Box 30017, Lansing, MI 48909 and postmarked no later than Dec. 12, 2014, or sent via e-mail to WilcoxR2@michigan.gov by 5 p.m. on Dec. 12.

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Privacy fences around Michigan bee hives proposed by Department of Agriculture