Contributions For Beekeeping In The Emilia-Romagna Region

Several action measures have been approved, each with different beneficiaries. More specifically, the forms reserved for beekeepers are A.6, which provides for expenditure on equipment for running the apiary, processing, packaging and preserving beekeeping products, B.3 for the purchase of various equipment to combat beehive aggressors and diseases, C.2.2 for the purchase of machinery, equipment and various materials specific to the practice of nomadism and, lastly, E.1 for the purchase of swarms, nuclei, bee packs and queen bees.

Beneficiaries of these subsidies are beekeepers, beekeeping entrepreneurs and professional beekeepers, also in associated form. They must be in order to register and report their hives with the National Beekeeping Registry Office and have an agricultural or combined VAT number. Beekeepers must be registered in the regional registry of agricultural holdings and must possess at least 20 correctly registered hives. In addition, all hive products must be processed in compliance with health and hygiene regulations whether working on their own premises or in third-party facilities.

Specifically, Action A.6 concerns expenditure for the purchase of equipment for apiary management, processing, packaging and preservation of beekeeping products. The eligible measures include the purchase of blowers, honeycombs, sublimators, swarm suckers and also equipment and software for the control and remote monitoring of apiaries. On 28 July 2020, the Regional Council approved the call for bids for the 2020/2021 year, allocating the €554,497.41 allocated by Mipaaf on the basis of the region's bee population, which numbered 122,590 hives as at 31 December 2019.

Our remote monitoring systems are also included in these expenses. Our scales and anti-theft devices allow better and more rational management of beekeeping activity, especially in the case of nomadic beekeeping. Having your bees under control at all times, you can plan targeted visits and interventions, avoiding empty trips and saving time. Monitoring devices will also provide you with valuable information on production and stock consumption, as well as the state of the colony. On your profile you can organise your work, enter notes, schedule activities and even set warning thresholds. With anti-theft devices you can then protect your crates and monitor them in case of theft. As soon as the system detects abnormal movement or vibration, specific alarms are sent to you via SMS and email. By entering the app, you can directly track your movements around the house.

The maximum eligible expenditure for the purchase of these systems is 2,000€. For measure A.6 as a whole, expenditure must be between a minimum of EUR 800 and a maximum of EUR 3,500. The grant covers 50% of the total expenditure. Expenditure on the maintenance and repair of equipment, transport and packaging material and the purchase of used equipment are not eligible for support. Applications can be submitted until 19 November 2020 using the Sistema Operativo Pratiche (S.O.P.) of the Agenzia Regionale per le Erogazioni in Agricoltura per l'Emilia-Romagna (AGREA). Beekeepers, beekeeping entrepreneurs, individual professional beekeepers and associated forms must submit their applications directly to the Territorial Service for Agriculture, Hunting and Fisheries - Directorate General for Agriculture, Hunting and Fisheries of Emilia-Romagna. At least 2 cost estimates must be attached with a specific explanation of the choice of supplier.