Honey bee colonies play an vital role in global agricultural by providing essential pollination services, in addition to producing honey and other hive products. Colony productivity and health can be adversely affected by weather. We examine the characteristics of beekeepers who participate in the Rainfall Index Apiculture Insurance Program (RI-API), a subsidized insurance program offered by the USDA Risk Management Agency. We find that large operations with more colonies and those deriving a greater share of household income from beekeeping are more likely to enroll in RI-API. We find regional variation in enrollment: beekeepers pollinating almonds in the Sacramento Valley region of California and beekeepers transporting colonies to almonds from the southwestern U.S. are less likely to enroll than their counterparts. We also find evidence that beekeepers who are more risk averse are less likely to enroll, counter to standard economic theory.
