The Apiculture Support Program provides a partial reimbursement of the contribution for apiculture businesses that enroll in the Crop Insurance Coverage (ASREC) Apiculture of the Bees Subgroup and the Honey Subgroup.
This program is designed to ensure the financial strength of apiculture businesses while recognizing their invaluable contribution to agriculture through pollination.
The program is in effect since April 1, 2022, and represents a $1 M commitment over a period of up to 5 years.
To be eligible, you must be covered under the Bees or Honey program and meet the eligibility requirements of the ASREC program, which include compliance with good production practices.
The maximum financial assistance for Bee or Honey coverage is $5,000 per policy year, for a maximum of $10,000 for a business that is covered under both plans.
The financial assistance amount will be set by La Financière agricole du Québec for each relevant year of coverage, starting with the 2022 insurance year for the Honey subgroup and 2023 for the Bees subgroup.
The reimbursement amount for the first year of the program is 40% of the apiculture business’s contribution. Thus, an average Honey participant who paid a contribution of $5,200 in 2021 will pay $3,120 in 2022.
Note that this reimbursement is in addition to the new disaster component (available in French only), which reduces your contribution from 4% to 11% depending on the chosen coverage option.
