VBA Launches The Beekeeper's Helpline
The VBA is pleased to announce the launch of The Beekeeper’s Helpline, a new program intended to assist beekeepers in their journey to become successful beekeepers. This virtual program provides yet another helpful source of information to VBA members by supplementing the wide range of workshops and other educational opportunities that the VBA already offers throughout the year. Through this program, a VBA member can contact directly an experienced beekeeper located in their area, referred to as an “Advisor,” and get answers to specific questions or issues within 24 hours. These volunteer Advisors are available by email or by phone to share their knowledge on a wide range of issues that arise in the apiary. Although it is targeted toward beekeepers in their early years, the Helpline is available to all VBA beekeepers with any level of experience. To read more about the Helpline and learn how to use it, click on the “Resources” tab above and then “For Beekeepers” in the drop down menu.
Not a VBA member? Click here to join and take advantage of the Helpline for a full year and all the VBA has to offer!
New Beekeeper Webinar Replay
Things to know before you buy equipment!
If you missed our latest new beekeeper workshop, the recording is available for VBA members under our Calendar menu - look for Past Events & Workshop Recordings. (Login required.) The Powerpoint presentation from the program is available here for everyone - non-members too.
Whether you are just beginning your beekeeping journey this Spring or have a year or two under your belt but still have questions on equipment and supplies, you won’t want to miss this workshop. It provides an overview on the basics of a wide range of topics from where to locate your hives and buy your bees to choices of equipment and pest control supplies, along with many other important topics.
Presented by VBA's Fred Putnam and Robin Foldesy.
Swarm the State House - Tuesday
Tuesday, February 27, 2024 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM ET
Vermont State House,
Cedar Creek Room,
115 State St,
Montpelier, VT 05633
VPIRG has been working with several beekeeping groups to organize this lobbying event and appreciates all the beekeepers’ interest in attending the Swarm the Statehouse event to help advance the H. 706 anti-neonicotinoids bill. We hope that all the attention will push it successfully out of committee and to the Senate. More information about the Protect Our Pollinators Coalition can be found here. Optional registration may be found here.
If attending, make your way to the Cedar Creek Room by 10:30 AM. A press conference will then start promptly at 11:00. The Cedar Creek Room is 2nd floor, room F on this map. (Please get back to Anna Suberling,
"This is a great chance for all those who are concerned about pollinators and the overuse of toxic neonic pesticides in Vermont to "swarm" the State House and make their voices heard. It's time to create some positive buzz around H.706, which is the bill to phaseout the use of 80-90% of all neonics in the state. The bill could get a vote in the key House Committee on Agriculture, Forestry, and Food Services very soon. So, now's the time to talk with your Reps and tell them why you care about bees, birds, and other pollinators!"
Commentary on Pollinators
Elena Mihaly, vice president of Conservation Law Foundation Vermont says "It’s time for Vermont to protect its pollinators, farmers and food system." Her commentary in today's VTDigger describes how "Neonicotinoid-treated corn and soybean seeds dominate Vermont’s working landscape."
Please continue to follow this issue, the related H-706, and contact your local legislators. Talk with them about our concerns. If you have any questions or need further information please contact us.
(Updated 7pm) An article posted this evening provides more information: Vermont lawmakers consider banning pesticide class to help insect pollinators.
Advisors Wanted for New Beekeeper Helpline
Remember your first of year of beekeeping? I remember mine! It was filled with lots of questions and plenty of uncertainty as I embarked on each new task or procedure.
Even though I attended classes, referred to books and articles, and joined VBA webinars, a question or challenge always seemed to arise that I wasn’t sure how to address. Fortunately, I managed to find VBA members whom I could turn to clarify my confusion. That was 6 years ago. But now, the VBA will soon be launching a new service, called the New Beekeepers Helpline, to make it easy for new VBA beekeepers to connect quickly with experienced beekeepers, known as “Advisors,” who will answer their questions. This brand new virtual service will start in early March. Details will be available then. At this time, the VBA is looking to add experienced beekeepers to its roster of Advisors who would be willing to answer questions by email or over the phone. A minimum of two seasons of beekeeping, including bringing colonies through two winters, is required. Please consider serving as an Advisor and paying forward the favors you received in your first year. For further information on the Helpline and to volunteer, contact me at
Vermont Beekeepers Recognized
2024 Winter Meeting Recognition Recipients
The Vermont Beekeepers Association recognized a number of people for their contributions to beekeeping at the VBA Winter Meeting in Hinesburg this past weekend. (Previous recipients are listed here.)
Congratulations to all recipients and those nominated in the following categories:
Images from Winter Meeting
Scott Sanderson, Conservation Law Foundation (at left), and State Rep. Robin Chestnut-Tangerman (D) spoke about the newly introduced H-0706, a proposed bill relating to banning the use of neonicotinoid pesticides in Vermont.
If you missed it...
Tuesday evening's workshop, New and Prospective Beekeeper Orientation Plus First Year Winter Hive Inspections, was recorded and is now available for members by logging in to the VBA website and choosing Past Workshops & Events Recordings under the Calendar menu.
The first part of this presentation provides an overview of what it takes to get started in beekeeping. For new beekeepers who are overwintering hives for the first time, the second part describes how to inspect hives during the winter and what to look for. Presented by Robin Foldesy, Colin Whitehouse & Fred Putnam.
The Tuesday morning panel discussion with Quebec farmers on Transitioning Away From Neonic Treated Seeds was recorded and can be - no login required. (Presented by the University of Vermont Extension and the Vermont Bee Lab.)
New Honey Bee Nutrition Guide
The Honey Bee Health Coalition has released the latest comprehensive Honey Bee Nutrition Guide.
The guide, free to distribute, is a "manual for supplemental feeding in bee hives, giving beekeepers a simple approach to the complex and nuanced world of honey bee nutrition."
You can download the guide here, by clicking on the image or by visiting the Honey Bee Health Coalition.
"Vermont has not, in fact, saved the bees..."
VBA's statement calling the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets (VAAFM) to task for misleading the public received quite a bit of attention. In addition to coverage by a number of local papers throughout the state and WCAX, Bee Culture featured our statement in their daily news summary -- Catch the Buzz.
VBA Past-president Ross Conrad penned a Letter to the Editor in the Addison Independent that succinctly describes the issue.
From VT Digger: "Vermont has not, in fact, saved the bees, according to Jeff Battaglini, president of the Vermont Beekeepers Association. Rather, he said the industry is struggling with significant losses that are becoming harder and harder to recover from."
This issue will be discussed at the Winter Meeting and will be the focus of much of VBA's work during this legislative session. We encourage you to discuss this with your legislators, especially if they are in the Senate or House Ag Committees.
VBA Webinar Series for Vermont's New Beekeepers
In keeping with its strong commitment to educating Vermont beekeepers, the Vermont Beekeepers Association (VBA) announces a new series of Zoom webinars designed specifically for people considering becoming beekeepers as well as those who are just starting out on their beekeeping journey. These webinars will be hosted by experienced VBA members who faced the same questions and challenges that all beekeepers have in their first two years. All presenters will be Vermont beekeepers who have their own apiaries and stay informed of the latest beekeeping best practices. With years of knowledge and experience under their belts, they are eager to share the lessons learned and make the new Vermont beekeeper’s journey a smoother one.
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