BeeGirl 118 Posted June 11, 2017 Share Posted June 11, 2017 Just wondering how many hives denotes each category. I recently read where somebody had 10 hives and called themselves semi-commercial, I've got over that and still call myself a hobbyist. Link to post Share on other sites
tristan 4,362 Posted June 11, 2017 Share Posted June 11, 2017 there is a long thread and debate on this but to me if your selling bee products your semi-commercial. if your getting the bulk of your income from selling bee products your full commercial. Link to post Share on other sites
Kiwifruiter 605 Posted June 11, 2017 Share Posted June 11, 2017 I agree with tristan. Not getting real income=hobbyist Getting some income but not enough to full time sustain you = Semi commercial/sideline commercial Getting the bulk of your yearly income = commercial. Link to post Share on other sites
BeeGirl 118 Posted June 11, 2017 Author Share Posted June 11, 2017 there is a long thread and debate on thisbut to me if your selling bee products your semi-commercial. if your getting the bulk of your income from selling bee products your full commercial. Thanks tristan. Can you please tell me what the thread is under, I'm interested to know what others think of each category. Link to post Share on other sites
yesbut 6,230 Posted June 11, 2017 Share Posted June 11, 2017 Semi commercial/sideline commercial Some people just can't help complicating things. Is this a new category ? Link to post Share on other sites
frazzledfozzle 7,483 Posted June 11, 2017 Share Posted June 11, 2017 If you are on high UMF manuka honey you need a whole lot less hives to make the same money that you would if you were on honeydew so hive numbers isn't as relevant as it once was. Totally of subject but where's @Daley Link to post Share on other sites
tudor 1,568 Posted June 11, 2017 Share Posted June 11, 2017 My accountant defines it simply that if your total outgoings (costs) are close to income or greater than, you are a hobby bee keeper. Link to post Share on other sites
tristan 4,362 Posted June 11, 2017 Share Posted June 11, 2017 Thanks tristan. Can you please tell me what the thread is under, I'm interested to know what others think of each category. google couple of examples. How many hives to make you Semi-Commercial? NZBF: - How many hive's ? i know there is others. i recall things got a little heated at one point. Link to post Share on other sites
Rob Stockley 3,417 Posted June 11, 2017 Share Posted June 11, 2017 Just wondering how many hives denotes each category. Apiculture NZ drew the line between hobbyist and commercial at twenty hives. Link to post Share on other sites
Hector Wong 263 Posted June 11, 2017 Share Posted June 11, 2017 @tudor if your total costs exceed your income by lots what does that make you? Link to post Share on other sites
Rob Stockley 3,417 Posted June 11, 2017 Share Posted June 11, 2017 @tudor if your total costs exceed your income by lots what does that make you? A start up? Link to post Share on other sites
Hector Wong 263 Posted June 11, 2017 Share Posted June 11, 2017 I couldn't find that classification on the list Link to post Share on other sites
CraBee 1,748 Posted June 11, 2017 Share Posted June 11, 2017 @tudor if your total costs exceed your income by lots what does that make you? Bankrupt? Link to post Share on other sites
Rob Stockley 3,417 Posted June 11, 2017 Share Posted June 11, 2017 I couldn't find that classification on the list How about optimist? Link to post Share on other sites
Over Worker 981 Posted June 11, 2017 Share Posted June 11, 2017 Bankrupt? As a hobbyist or semi commercial you will more than likely be making a living out side of beekeeping. Link to post Share on other sites
fieldbee 255 Posted June 11, 2017 Share Posted June 11, 2017 If you are on high UMF manuka honey you need a whole lot less hives to make the same money that you would if you were on honeydew so hive numbers isn't as relevant as it once was. Totally of subject but where's @Daley i met her and her mum at the MPI meeting in Gisborne, they are lovely, sorry @frazzledfozzle dunno where she is at the moment, maybe more sensible thatn some of us and having a holiday Link to post Share on other sites
Hector Wong 263 Posted June 11, 2017 Share Posted June 11, 2017 How about optimist? Yes next season will be a bumper one & I will become a hobbyist Link to post Share on other sites
HSV_Darren 275 Posted June 11, 2017 Share Posted June 11, 2017 A hobbie gone mad should be a catorgory. Link to post Share on other sites
tudor 1,568 Posted June 11, 2017 Share Posted June 11, 2017 As a hobbyist or semi commercial you will more than likely be making a living out side of beekeeping. Yep, having two pensions for myself is good and some bee money left over from expenses is good. But relying on bee income for food is probably not to be recommended, as some years would be hungry. 3 Link to post Share on other sites
john berry 5,636 Posted June 11, 2017 Share Posted June 11, 2017 @tudor if your total costs exceed your income by lots what does that make you? A corporate beekeeper. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Alastair 8,627 Posted June 11, 2017 Share Posted June 11, 2017 To me it's the same as any other activity, from stamp collecting to fishing to beekeeping to goat farming. If you make a living from it you are commercial, if you make a side income, but enough to declare to ird you are semi commercial, less than that it is a hobby. But eod it's just words. Link to post Share on other sites
robeez 11 Posted June 13, 2017 Share Posted June 13, 2017 I just applied for my DECA and there was a couple of pages to fill out if you were a semi commercial beekeeper,there definition of that was you needed to have 10 or more hives. Link to post Share on other sites
Daley 4,351 Posted June 13, 2017 Share Posted June 13, 2017 Here I am Frazz. And I agree with everyone else, if that's how you make your money it's your job and that makes you commercial. It's pretty subjective. I'm commercial, most people would probably say I'm semi commercial coz I'm broke and should really get a job but I have no intention of doing that haha 3 Link to post Share on other sites
BeeGirl 118 Posted June 14, 2017 Author Share Posted June 14, 2017 Here I am Frazz. And I agree with everyone else, if that's how you make your money it's your job and that makes you commercial. It's pretty subjective. I'm commercial, most people would probably say I'm semi commercial coz I'm broke and should really get a job but I have no intention of doing that haha Good to see you back Daley. Why should you give up something you have a passion for and get a job purely for the money - I know having money makes life an awful lot easier, but often it doesn't always birngs the happiness that working with honey bees provides. 4 Link to post Share on other sites
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