Selling Honey in South Dakota
According to the SD Dept. of Agriculture, there are about 216 South Dakotans keeping bees. There are about 90 commercial apiaries in South Dakota and another 125 or so hobbyist beekeepers. That may not sound like a lot but South Dakota is in the top five states for number of hives (colonies) and typically produces a mild flavored and light colored alfalfa- sweet clover blend of honey.
Honey is subject to the normal retail food laws. Unfortunately, it is not subject to the less-strict home-processed food rules.
State law requires that all apiaries, including hobbyists, be registered with the Department of Agriculture by February 1st of each year or within 10 days of coming into possession of an apiary. The state has established a 3-mile distance between apiaries. This lessens the contact of bees and helps prevent the transfer of disease.
- Online Apiary Registration and Compliance Agreement
- South Dakota Apiary Location Maps (SDDA Sensitive Site Registry)
- South Dakota Apiary laws and regulations
South Dakota Honey Contact Information
South Dakota Department of Agriculture Division of Agricultural Services
Phone: 605-773-3796
Fax: 605-773-3481
Resources
Click here for this honey or item on Amazon
Click here for this honey or item on Amazon
Click here for this honey or item on Amazon
Click here for this honey or item on Amazon
- National Honey Board
- Sample honey labels
- National and International Beekeeping Associations
- State and Local Beekeeping Associations
- Honey, Beekeeping & Processing Supplies:
- Magazines: Bee Culture and American Bee Journal
- Apiary Inspection Program
- Apiary Inspection Program Brochure
- Alternative Pollinators: Native Bees
- Managing Alternative Pollinators: A Handbook for Beekeepers, Growers and Conservationists
- USDA, ARS, Honey Bee Lab: Survey Reports Latest Honey Bee Losses (5/19/2009)
- USDA National Agriculture Library: Learn about Colony Collapse Disorder
- Africanized Bees Brochure