Mid-spring is the time of year when many new beekeepers in Vermont pick up their first nucleus colonies or packages of bees. If you are one of those just starting out, hopefully you did your homework over the winter and have a pretty good idea of what to do next. You may have read some reference materials, attended a class, and participated in VBA webinars. Maybe you purchased a book that you can refer to from time to time. (By the way, the VBA has an excellent list of references designed specifically for new beekeepers under the “Resources” tab on this website.) But uncertainty or just a lack of confidence may arise about the next task in your bee yard. It’s not uncommon. Beekeeping may not be rocket science, but it isn’t simple either. There’s much to learn in the first few years and the VBA is here to help!
As many of you know, the Pollinator Protection Act, H706 has passed the Vermont House 112-29. It was taken up by the Senate Agriculture committee, and UVM Bee Lab director Samantha Alger and VBA past president Andrew Munkres both testified in support of the bill among others. Last week the bill passed out of the Senate Agriculture committee 4-1 with a couple of changes from the House version. Today the bill went to Senate appropriations and passed out of that committee this afternoon 6-0.
When I was asked to visit Sweden and speak to their National Beekeepers Associations, I didn’t hesitate to say yes, so long as I could bring my partner and greatest friend, Adam!
We found the Swedish people to be organized and design centric. Things had a good flow, even traffic. We rented a car and found the driving easy to pick-up. Everyone speaks English and they’re very agreeable.
The beekeepers wanted to know about commercial beekeeping from the perspective of a stationary American beekeeper. More specifically, they wanted to hear from a woman. The population of women in professional beekeeping is increasing in Sweden and they wanted to bring in education for their growth.
The conference was four wonderful days full of learning, spectacular food, and delightful people. It was held in a conference center & chocolaterie called Aronsborg. We enjoyed bits of chocolate in all winter settings.
"How are the bees doing?" is the question that we beekeepers are often asked when we interact with the public. The truth is, the bees are not doing well, but you wouldn’t know that if you listened only to the VT Agency of Agriculture, Food, and Markets (“Agency of Agriculture” or “Agency”).
In fact, the Agency claims that the beekeeping industry in Vermont is “healthy and robust” due to an apparent increase in the number of honeybee colonies registered in their database. But this measure of bee health is an illusion.
According to the Agency of Agriculture’s own statistics, Vermont beekeepers have lost at least 25% of their bees each winter over the last 3 years. But the Bee Informed Partnership places annual colony loss much higher: Vermont beekeepers report losing 38-85% of their colonies each year over the last four years.
The Vermont Bee Lab is asking you to participate in the 2024 National Honey Bee Survey. For more information including a link to the survey and answers to any questions you may have, please download the flyer.
The VBA is pleased to announce the launch of The Beekeeper’s Helpline, a new program intended to assist beekeepers in their journey to become successful beekeepers. This virtual program provides yet another helpful source of information to VBA members by supplementing the wide range of workshops and other educational opportunities that the VBA already offers throughout the year. Through this program, a VBA member can contact directly an experienced beekeeper located in their area, referred to as an “Advisor,” and get answers to specific questions or issues within 24 hours. These volunteer Advisors are available by email or by phone to share their knowledge on a wide range of issues that arise in the apiary. Although it is targeted toward beekeepers in their early years, the Helpline is available to all VBA beekeepers with any level of experience. To read more about the Helpline and learn how to use it, click on the “Resources” tab above and then “For Beekeepers” in the drop down menu.
Not a VBA member? Click here to join and take advantage of the Helpline for a full year and all the VBA has to offer!
If you missed our latest new beekeeper workshop, the recording is available for VBA members under our Calendar menu - look for Past Events & Workshop Recordings. (Login required.) The Powerpoint presentation from the program is available here for everyone - non-members too.
Whether you are just beginning your beekeeping journey this Spring or have a year or two under your belt but still have questions on equipment and supplies, you won’t want to miss this workshop. It provides an overview on the basics of a wide range of topics from where to locate your hives and buy your bees to choices of equipment and pest control supplies, along with many other important topics.
Presented by VBA's Fred Putnam and Robin Foldesy.
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