Updates for 2025

  • The Summer Picnic will be July 19th in Fulton, NY (SE of Oswego)

  • The Board voted to change around the dues structure starting in January. The new fees will be as follows;
    Single membership - $40
    Couple or family membership - $50 (includes 2 votes)
    Student membership - $10 (must have student ID)
    The Commercial and Sideliner membership levels have been eliminated
    Lifetime Membership is $400

  • We will be adding a public calendar of all the beekeeping clubs throughout the state.

  • We are adding a benefit for members only; a state wide locator for those wishing to buy honey, bees or other products from the hive, directly from you, the seller!

  • Two $1000 student scholarships will be available this year for students participating in Agricultural degrees

  • Board Election results:

    Bob Deemer moves up to 2nd Vice President, formally the 3rd VP

    Eliazara Campbell moves up to the 3rd Vice President, formally the Western district director

    Tara Hahn joins the Board as the Western district director

    Tom Kingsley joins the Board as the Central district director

    Nick Hoefly joins the Board as the Southern district director



Welcome to The Empire State Honey Producers Association, Inc.
Or for short, ESHPA.

ESHPA open to all beekeepers in NYS, from the hobbyist with one hive, to the commercial migratory beekeeper with thousands. This is made clear in the preamble of the bylaws:

To promote and protect the interests of New York State beekeepers, and

To form an association for mutual benefit of New York State honey producers; to promote and assist in efforts to preserve and protect the honey bee; to assist New York State honey producers in promoting, marketing and publicizing honey and hive products and educate the public to the value of honey bee pollination; to aid in presenting a uniform point of view on concerns of New York State honey producers to state and federal agencies and the general public.

To procure uniformity and certainty in customs and usages of trade and commerce, and of those having a common trade, business, financial or professional interest; to promote a more enlarged and friendly intercourse among beekeepers.

ESHPA was originally founded in 1870 as the “New York State Bee-Keepers Association”, with dues of $1 (considered too high by many potential members). Ladies interested in beekeeping could join with just a signature.

Today ESHPA is a 501(c) (5) Federal Tax exempt corporation with a governing board elected by the general membership. Full bylaws are available at ESHPA.org . Regional “North-Eastern” “Southern” “Western” and “Long Island” directors are elected to three-year terms. Officers are elected to two year terms.

The majority of ESHPA members have less than 50 hives according to a voluntary online survey conducted in 2012.


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