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Beekeeping in Vermont
MONTPELIER – A slow change in agricultural practices is having an unintended consequence: limiting food for bees.
Since the 1980s, Vermont has lost more than 100,000 acres of hay fields that used to be full of bee friendly blooming alfalfa and clover. That means bees today aren’t finding as many flowering plants as they need to flourish. And while hay is still grown, it is often cut before it can bloom, making it more nutritious for cows but bad for bees.
VBA is working with the UVM Extension to promote the use of more pollinator plants that would enhance food resources for honeybees and other wild pollinators. As part of this initiative, the VBA would like to promote hay and pasture crops that are more ‘bee friendly’ without sacrificing forage quality that dairy and other livestock farmers are dependent upon. However, there is a need to conduct field trials on farms to actually determine the feasibility of various mixtures and management practices that would help the VBA meet these goals while dairy livestock farmers still meet their feed goals. Read more about the project here:
State Apiculturalist Steve Parise has confirmed that Zombie Fly Apocephalus borealis has been detected here in Vermont. This fly is native to North America. This fly attacks its host by injecting eggs into the abdomen; the emerging fly larva eats the insides of its host. This results in "Zombie" like behavior of the host.
The honey bee sampling was taken from an observant beekeeper in Burlngton. The affected honey bees were sent to San Francisco State University for testing. John Hafernik, a researcher and professor of biology at San Francisco State University has started a website tracking the discovery of infected honey bees in the United Stated. "Zombee Watch"
A Burlington Free Press article was recently published about the Vermont beekeeper and his experience in detecting the Zombie Fly. Killer 'zombie fly' maggots found in Vermont honeybees
For additional information about Apocephalus borealis, please click this link: Apocephalus borealis
VBA Members: You now have the option of checking the status of your membership account, updating your membership information and renewing your membership in the Vermont Beekeepers Association online.
It's easy. Simply login to the site as you normally would and look under the User Menu on the right sidebar of the site's front page. You'll see a few new options:
The first ever Vermont Golden Honey Festival was a great success! Organized by Golden Stage Inn B&B of 
Proctorsville and Goodmans American Pie of Ludlow, the festival was hosted at Golden Stage Inn on Saturday September 14. Over a dozen vendors showcased their honeybee themed items such as books, pizza, fiber arts, quilts, and of course plenty of honey too.
Organizers estimate that at least 150 visitors passed through. Next year's Second Annual is scheduled for September 13. 2014 and has already been awarded recognition as one of "Vermont's Top Ten Fall Events of 2014."
Hello Vermont Beekeepers
I would like to share my first experience with starting my own nucs for the purpose of overwintering as replacements suggested by Mike Palmer. Mike states it is not a new concept and that it just makes common sense in many ways both economically and biologically. You know the management side of beekeeping today has become somewhat complex and unfortunate.
MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — A slow change in agricultural practices is having an unintended consequence: limiting food for bees.
Since the 1980s, Vermont has lost more than 100,000 acres of hay fields that used to be full of bee friendly blooming alfalfa and clover. That means bees today aren't finding as many flowering plants as they need to flourish. And while hay is still grown, it is often cut before it can bloom, making it more nutritious for cows but bad for bees.
"Everything with bees is a negative. They don't have anything going for them right now," said Chas Mraz, who operates Champlain Valley Apiaries, one of the oldest commercial beekeeping operations in Vermont. Mraz's family started their bee business in 1931, and he took over in 2004.
See more:http://newsok.com/loss-of-vermont-hay-fields-limits-food-for-bees/article/feed/673364
Judges: Mike Palmer, Michael Willard, and Paul Yanus.
BEST OF SHOW: Sarah Rath - One Comb, Section or Cut
Best of Class:
Class 120: Sarah Rath, Comb, Section or Cut
Class 121: Leanne Lessley, 1-lb Jar Honey, Extracted, Light
Class 122: Alan MacKenzie, 1-lb Jar Honey, Extracted, Amber
Class 123: No Entries, 1-lb Jar Honey, Extracted, Dark
Class 124: No Winner, 1-lb Jar Chunk Honey
Class 125: No Winner, 1-lb Jar Creamed Honey
Class 126: Leanne Lessley, Opaque Glass or Ceramic Jar Any Color Honey
Class 127: Kathy Deemer & Kiana Donegan, Honey Cookery, Lemon Chiffon Pie
