Farm Commodity Programs: Honey

Publication Date: October 2006

Publisher: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Author(s):

Research Area: Agriculture, forestry and fishing

Type:

Abstract:

The honey price support program was first created by the Agricultural Act of 1949 (P.L. 81-439) to provide market price stability for honey producers and to encourage maintenance of sufficient bee populations for pollination. It was repealed by the Federal Agricultural Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (P.L. 104-127) following several years of suspension by appropriations laws. Limited assistance in the form of recourse loans was restored for the 1998 and 1999 honey crops. More marketing loan program support was approved for 2000, but funding was not provided for the 2001 honey crop. The 2002 farm bill (P.L. 107-171) restored marketing assistance loan program benefits for crop years 2002-2007. With the program expiring at the end of 2007, its future may be determined by the anticipated 2007 farm bill. This report will be updated as legislative developments transpire.