Certified Vermont Beekeepers
Dannah Beauregard officially became a Certified Vermont Beekeeper July 13 at the Vermont Beekeepers Association summer meeting. Six of eight VBA members passed the written test that day and have two years to meet hive inspection and community outreach components. More than 25 VBA members are certified, according to Bill Mares and Ross Conrad (not pictured), who administer the program.
Summer Meeting 2019
A very few scenes from the 2019 VBA Summer Meeting in Townshend on the 13th.
From left: Dr. Humberto Boncristiani, VBA Recording Secretary Fred Putnam presents Cheryl Dorschner with the new VBA Mission Superhero award for her work organizing the VBA booth at the 2019 Vermont Flower Show, Windham County Beekeepers President Jeff Battaglini (holding the mic) and WCB Raffle organizer Jill Dean at left, and Bill Mares and Scott Wilson's arm presenting Dannah Beauragard with her Vermont Certified Beekeeper patch. A good day all around!
Special Subscription Offer
VBA Members may take advantage of a special subscription offer to the Mother Earth News arranged by the Windham County Beekeepers (WCB).
WCB arranged this for the recent VBA Summer meeting in Townshend. To take advantage of this discount, please login to the site and look under Publications in the Members Only menu.
UVM Study Discussed on VPR
A recent study by the University of Vermont and the Vermont Center for Ecostudies researcher suggests viruses from managed bees have spread from apiaries to wild bumblebees. UVM researcher and pollinator specialist Samantha Alger shared her findings with Vermont Edition.
Yes or No?
HoneyBeeSuite.com asks the question: "Is the Beekeeping Bubble About to Burst?"
What do you think? Please take a few minutes to read the article then come back here and take our one-question very unscientific survey. (You also have the opportunity to leave your thoughts in a comment box.)
We'll have our experts review the comments - if any - and show the results in an upcoming email Update. In the meantime you may view the results here.
Call a Beekeeper, Not an Exterminator
This is the time of year when Vermont homeowners are likely to find swarms of bees in trees, or even within the walls of houses or barns. While frightening to those unfamiliar with it, it is a natural part of a bee's reproductive cycle. Swarming is the process by which a new honey bee colony is formed when the queen bee leaves the colony with a large group of worker bees - usually to alleviate over-crowding in a hive. When that happens: Call a beekeeper to remove a swarm of bees, not an exterminator.
H.205 Signed by Governor
H.205, the "Neonics" legislation the Vermont Beekeepers Association has been following, was signed into law by Governor Phil Scott on Tuesday, May 28 and will take effect July 1, 2019.
VBA thanks all Vermont beekeepers who worked with us on getting it passed.