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Honeybees will have to fly a little higher, but Michigan beekeepers wont be required to fence them in.

(MLive.com File)

LANSING, MI -- The notion of a privacy fence around bee hives in Michigan to keep the neighbors happy has been clarified, and the Michigan Small Farm Council is relieved.

On Wednesday, Jan. 21, the Michigan Commission of Agriculture and Rural Development voted on proposed changes to the 2015 Generally Accepted Agricultural management Practices, an annual updating of the best farming practices guidelines that direct farmers who wish Right to Farm protection from nuisance lawsuits.

Michigan Small Farm Council keeps a close eye on the proposed annual changes to flag any that cause unforeseen repercussions for smaller or suburban operations.

Such was the case this year with a proposed change to the Animal Care GAAMP to require a 6-foot high fence around any bee hive within 200 feet of a property line. That proposal was interpreted by some to suggest that, in some cases, an entire property perimeter would require such fencing.

"Discussion during the meeting revealed that the major concern was that there be a 6-foot high barrier on the side of the hive where bees exit and enter, " the council posted on its Facebook page Wednesday night.

Michigan State Apiarist Mike Hansen explained at the time of the proposed change that the intent was to elevate the high speed "beeline" flight honeybees make as they leave the hive to seek nectar. Those flights can be upsetting to neighbors if they go directly through picnic or play areas on a collision course with people enjoying their yards. Requiring the bees to go up over a fence as they leave the hive solves the problem because they will stay at that height as they go foraging, he said.

Two edits to the proposed wording helped.

Jennifer Holton, director of communications for the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in Lansing, said one added the word "developed" to the description of neighboring property.

That clarification helps in cases where a parcel that has a house or barn etc. near the front but the remaining acreage is vacant, or in crops or trees, so that barriers may not be necessary.

The second language change, she said, clarified that the barrier only needed to be placed on the side of the hive where the bees enter and exit -- not around an entire lot.

Holton provided the exact language approved by the Commission :

Hive Placement: Correct placement of hives is an important consideration for responsible beekeeping in urban/suburban situations.

Hives must be located in a quiet area of the lot

Hives must be oriented so that a direct line of flight from the hive entrance does not impact living areas on neighboring properties.

When placing hives on small lots (Table 2a) or at locations within 200 feet of any developed portion of property a solid fence, wall, or dense vegetative barrier capable of interrupting the direct flight of bees shall be used to redirect the bee's flight pattern and prevent a direct line of flight from the hives into neighboring properties. The barrier shall start at the ground, be a minimum of six feet in height and shall extend beyond the direct line if of sight from the entrance to the hive to the neighboring or adjacent property.

Hives must not be placed along property lines unless a solid fence, wall or dense vegetative barrier capable of interrupting the direct flight of bees forms the property boundary.

Hives placed in elevated locations need to be placed so bees do not have a direct line of flight to neighboring properties with elevated living areas.

Do not place hives next to roads, sidewalks, and public rights of way.

Hive entrances should face so that bees fly across your property. If this is impossible, use barriers (hedges, shrubs, or fencing six to twelve feet high) to redirect the bees' flight pattern.

"This was a win-win-win-win, as all the interested parties - the MSFC, the Ag Commission, MDARD, and the Michigan Beekeepers Association all agreed to this solution," the Michigan Small Farm Council wrote.