Mentors Needed

The Vermont Beekeepers Association Mentor Program is always looking for experienced beekeepers willing to mentor newcomers. We are especially in need of mentors to help cover these areas around the state: Stowe, Moretown, Johnson, Eden,  St.Johnsbury, Tunbridge, Westmore and Hartland.

To learn more about the program and what the requirements are for participation as a mentor, please read the qualifications page on our website. If you have any questions, please address them to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Mentoring is a great way to share your skillset with other beekeepers while promoting best management practices in Vermont.

Mares: The Bee Bill

VBA's Bill Mares recently explained H.205 on Vermont Public Radio.
Please, spread the word!

H.205 UPDATE

VBA Members: As we've been telling you, H.205 is an important piece of legislation that could change beekeeping in Vermont. We ask you to read the following and take action. A good summary of the bill was recently the subject of a VPR commentary by VBA's Bill Mares.

• Ask your legislators to support the changes to the bill (UPDATED: H.205) recommended by the VBA as outlined here. (Login required to access some areas of the VBA website.)
• Senator Chris Pearson,Senate Ag Committee Vice Chair, provided us the following summation of changes following our testimony before the committee:
  - Makes the pesticide fee distribution (paid by manufacturers) more straightforward, although no actual change in impact. 
  - Applies product ban to internet sales. 
  - Makes clear that beekeepers are registering apiaries. 
  - Clarifies that the beekeeper ed program is developed in cooperation with you all and is voluntary. And it’s no longer called a certificate. 
  - Trims the timeline of a valid certificate of inspection when bees are coming into VT from 90 days (House bill) to 60 days. 
  - Clarifies that pollinator specialist (new position also in House bill) is funded by the product fee and maintains the inspector (although there’s no language on that since it’s already in statute).
• If you don't know how to contact your legislators you can easily locate them with this tool:
  

  Find your State Legislator

• Please contact ALL your legislators, especially those on the Senate Ag committee and express gratitude for their time;

Senate Ag Committee Contact Information:

• Sen. Robert Starr, Chair
• Sen. Christopher A. Pearson, Vice Chair
• Sen. Ruth Hardy, Clerk
• Sen. Brian Collamore
• Sen. Anthony Pollina
• This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Committee Assistant - (802) 828-2233

• Encourage them to support cooperation between the Agency of Agriculture  and VBA in developing educational programs and;
• Encourage them to support the new positions (pollinator protection and enforcement specialists) as long as the full-time apiary inspector is retained.

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