American Foul Brood Announcement
Brooke Decker
Pollinator Health Specialist
State Apiculturist
Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets (VAAFM)
American Foul Brood Announcement
November 30, 2021
American Foul Brood (AFB) Paenibacillus larva has been confirmed at an apiary located within a 5-mile radius of Newbury, Vermont.
The origin of this highly contagious honey bee disease is currently unknown. Traceback investigation is under way.
Beekeepers should remain diligent in their hive inspections, especially in the spring. Learning to identify the clinical symptoms of AFB is crucial. Hives should be closely examined for scale and other symptoms. Rope tests, field test kits or laboratory diagnosis should be performed on any suspect brood cells. Equipment should only be reused if clinical symptoms are absent.
Tunbridge World’s Fair
- by Richard Roy, Vermont Beekeepers Association Treasurer
Mary Stoddard & Bill Mares setting up...The Tunbridge World’s Fair was held for the 149th time this year after Covid forced its cancelation in 2020. The Fair, which began in 1867, has had its yearly occurrence interrupted only by the two World Wars and the Covid pandemic.
Although the VBA’s presence at the Fair doesn’t date back to the 19th century, it does go back a while. So we were happy when, earlier this year, we learned the 2021 Fair was on. The Fair’s 4 days started as it always does on a Thursday, ten days after Labor Day, this year on September 16th. And at 9 am on the Thursday, the16th, the VBA’s booth was ready for fairgoers.
Bees Besieged by Our Changing Climate
All 20,000 species of bees worldwide are at risk as global climate change affects their forage, reproduction, and behavior. Based on his 50 years as a backyard beekeeper, author Bill Mares addresses the macro and micro effects of a rapidly warming planet on Vermont’s bees, particularly Apis mellifera, the common honeybee. The recording of this Zoom presentation is free and available online for viewing until the end of October. To view, please visit this link and use the password E&8BKdpd to access the recording.
About Bill Mares
Raised in Texas, educated at Harvard, Bill Mares is a former journalist, state representative and high school teacher. He has authored or co-authored eighteen books on subjects ranging from the U.S. Marines to desert travel, and from war memorials to brewing. Bill is also a past-president of the Vermont Beekeepers Association and most recently co-authored a book (with Ross Conrad) "The Land of Milk and Honey."
Winter Hive Prep Workshop Replay
VBA members: If you missed our online Fall Actions and Winter Hive Prep Workshop you can watch the recorded session online. Login to our website and choose Past Workshops & Events from the top Calendar menu chooice.
You'll see links to all our recorded sessions with the necessary passwords to view them. The Powerpoint presentation prepared by Fred Putnam is available separately for viewing.
VBA Summer Meeting Recap Online
If you missed the September 4th meeting of the Vermont Beekeepers Association at the Brandon Town Hall, you may view the all-day event since all the sessions were recorded.
We suggest you refer to the meeting minutes for the day as they provide a detailed summary of the event. (Login required.) In fact, we remind you the best way to stay abreast of everything the VBA is working on is to review the meetings minutes as they are published.
Videos for the day's five sessions are available after logging in to the VBA website by selecting Past Workshop & Events Recordings under the Calendar menu.
The Vermont Beekeepers Association welcomes new board member James T. Key who was elected to serve as the board's member at large.
Meet James Key
James Key is new to the VBA board of directors. He has been nominated to serve as the Director-at-large.
