Excerpted from the USDA “Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees
and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP) – Honeybee Assistance” Fact Sheet.

The Agricultural Act of 2014 (the 2014 Farm Bill) authorized up to $20 million in a fiscal year (FY) for the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP). The program provides emergency assistance to eligible producers of livestock, honeybees and farm-raised fish. It covers losses due to an eligible adverse weather or loss condition, including blizzards and wildfires, as determined by the Secretary. The losses must have occurred on or after Oct. 1, 2011. ELAP covers losses that are not covered under other Supplemental Agricultural Disaster Assistance Payment programs authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill. The other programs are the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) and the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP).

Recipients of ELAP payments may receive a pro-rated reduced payment should the total annual national demand for ELAP exceed $20 million in a fiscal year. ELAP is administered by the Farm Service Agency (FSA) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

ELIGIBLE HONEYBEES

Eligible honeybees include bees housed in a managed hive and used for honey production, pollination or honeybee breeding. Eligible honeybees do not include wild, feral honeybees, leaf cutter bees or other bee species that are not used for producing honey, pollinating or breeding honeybees.

ELIGIBLE HONEYBEE LOSSES

ELAP provides assistance for the loss of honeybee colonies in excess of normal mortality. It covers damage to honeybee hives and honeybee feed that was purchased or produced for eligible honeybees, including additional feed purchased above normal quantities to sustain honeybees until such time that additional feed becomes available.

SEE THE USDA WEBSITE for the complete Fact Sheet :  http://fsa.usda.gov/Internet/FSA_File/elap_honeybee_fact_sht.pdf