South Bee Yard Workshops
Our South Bee Yard is back in action following the pandemic and you're invited to attend our free in-person beekeeping workshops.
Hosted by Jeffrey Hamelman and Debra Pasho, the workshops will cover a variety of topics. Take a look at our calendar of upcoming events to view the entire list of in-person and online workshops and plan for the rest of the year. Hint: You can easily identify the South Yard workshops by selecting South Bee Yard from the All Locations drop-down search selector. You can also import events into your calendar by selecting iCal Export at the top of the page.
New Resource to Support Pollinators
We often get requests from people wanting to help honey bees and other pollinators.
It’s helpful to create or maintain a habitat with plant species that bloom from Spring through Fall to provide pollinator forage as consistently as possible throughout the growing season. Having abundant forage and propolis sources is critical to honey bees and other pollinators' health.
A new resource written by Fred Putnam, Jr. and Jeff Cunningham from the Vermont Beekeepers Association can be helpful to homeowners, landowners, land managers, and consultants who wish to plant or retain species helpful to honey bees and other pollinators.
Vermont Removes 2EE authorization for Oxalic Acid Extended (OAE) Use
If you've been following discussions about using OAE with cellulose pads in your hives please read the following from Vermont's State Apiculturist Brooke Decker:
Effective March 21, 2023 the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets has removed the Extended Release Oxalic Acid FIFRA 2(ee) interpretation notice from our website. This was done as a result of a determination by the US EPA on March 21, 2023 that this interpretation was not allowed under the provisions of FIFRA. As a result of this determination, the application of oxalic acid using glycerin treated cellulose pads is no longer considered allowable under the provisions of FIFRA 2(ee). A copy of the letter is available here:
EPA Letter - Extended Release Oxalic Acid FIFRA 2(ee) interpretation (PDF)
All persons who apply pesticides must comply with all label provisions including directions for use, personal protective equipment, disposal instructions and environmental protection statements.
Brooke Decker
Pollinator Health Specialist/ State Apiculturist
Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets
116 State Street | Montpelier, Vermont | 05620
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | 802-272-6688
(VBA has removed links on our website to the 2(ee) authorization announcement and, for the time being, our Zoom workshop explaining how to use cellulose pads with oxalic acid.)
Bee Sample Request
Purdue University’s honey bee research lab is seeking bee samples for genomic analysis and has asked for help getting the word out to beekeepers willing to send honey bee workers for sequencing.
They are working to understand genetic diversity of honey bees across the country. If any beekeepers are interested in participating, please send an email to Isabelle Gilchrist at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to coordinate shipping samples.
WCB Small Hive Beetle Meeting
Windham County Beekeepers is hosting a Zoom meeting on Tuesday, March 21 at 7 pm (Please pre-register by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to receive the Zoom link.). Atreya Manaswi will talk to us about small hive beetles (SHB), a pest we are starting to see more often here in Vermont. Atreya offers a cost-effective method of controlling SHB. He is a 10th-grade student in Orlando who has been involved in university-level honey bee conservation research for four years. Atreya has also written a wonderful children's book called The Bee Story. Check it out!