Bill writes:
> USDA is the one which has authorized certain companies to be the organic certifiers. You are in violation of the law if you use the organic certified label. Check out health/natural food stores. There will be organic honey with the certification on the label.

In order to obtain the USDA label, you have to be certified by an
organization such as (name deleted). In order to obtain certification
you must fill out the paperwork and pay a fee. How much?  "A fee
schedule is provided with the application for organic certification;
however, the actual single fixed fee is determined upon review of each
application."

A brief perusal of the forms reveals that whoever wrote them knows
next to nothing about beekeeping. For example, say bees forage out for
about 3 miles. This is an area of about 30 square miles, or about
20,000 acres. You are expected to know who all the property owners are
and what they are doing there? If you have more than a few apiaries,
that's hundreds of square miles!

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Apiary Operation Forms

COLONY HEALTH PROFILE (CHP)

For each colony maintained, please complete the following information.

A. Colony Identification (e.g. name, number): __________________________

B. Colony Description:
Species
Number of Hives
Colony Size
Hive Materials

C. Colony Health Management - Please include all medical treatments
and food supplements you plan to use on bees that are under your
organic management:
Type of Treatment or Food Supplement
Brand Name or Source of Product
Reason for Use
Do you have verification that this treatment is NOP compliant? YES NO

* * *

INDIVIDUAL FORAGE ZONE PROFILE (IFZP)

For EACH forage area, please complete the following information.

A. Forage Area ID (i.e. name or location)
B. Owner / Custodian of the Land Used for Forage
C. Total Number of Acres for this area
D. Please provide the estimated date(s) of forage TO (begin) (end)
E. Please Attach an Area Map.
F. Please provide the following information for the forage plants
grown in this area:

Type of Plant (e.g. orange tree, cactus)
Status of Plant (Conventional, Wild, Organic)
Percentage of Area covered by this plant
Plant Bloom Dates

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