Help Wanted - Seasonal Apiary Inspector
Brooke Decker, the Pollinator Health Specialist/ State Apiculturist with the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets (VAAFM) passes along the following temporary employment opportunity:
"The VAAFM Apiary Program is seeking a qualified candidate to assist with the duties of the Apiary Inspection Program. Primary duties include inspecting bee hives for regulated diseases, pests and parasites and light office work. Depending on experience and skill, the candidate may also be asked to provide educational opportunities for Vermont beekeepers. We have a strong preference for candidates with prior beekeeping experience & education."
Learn more and apply for the position online.
2020 VBA Beekeeper Census/Survey
The Vermont Beekeepers Association (VBA) has prepared a beekeeper census/survey in collaboration with the Vermont Bee Lab and the State Apiculturist/Pollinator Health Specialist. The purpose of this census/survey is to better understand beekeeping management actions and how those actions affect colony survival related to geographic locations in Vermont. It will also help us obtain a general understanding of honey yields and some miscellaneous but pertinent topics statewide.
New Beekeeper? - A Reminder
Actually, a reminder for all as spring approaches...
Please become familiar with the laws applicable to beekeeping in Vermont. The Vermont Apiary Program website includes useful information and necessary registration forms.
"As required by Vermont Statute, Title 6, Chapter 172,
"§ 3022 & 3023. A person who is the owner of any bees, apiary, colony, or hive in the State shall register with the Secretary in writing on a form provided by the Secretary...and shall pay a $10.00 annual registration fee for each apiary location.
"Registration for new Apiaries is due upon ownership of bees. Renewal period is open from June 1st through June 30th each year."
Importing Honey Bees and used beekeeping equipment into Vermont
"Beekeepers bringing honey bees and/ or used beekeeping equipment into Vermont from out-of-state are required to first fill out the Hive Import Form, a minimum of 14 days prior to intended import into Vermont. Beekeepers will be provided with an Import Permit, after the application has been reviewed and a valid Health certificate from the state of origin is provided."
What Does the New Ruling on Oxalic Acid in Honey Mean?
On February 23, 2021 the FDA finalized a ruling that establishes an exemption from the requirement of a tolerance for residues of oxalic acid in honey and honeycomb. This post on the Bee Informed website from Meghan Milbrath helps clarify some of the confusion.
Juniper Hill Split (Danenhower Split)
Over 100 people attended this morning's Online Winter Meeting of the Vermont Beekeepers Association. One of the keynote speakers via Zoom was Herman Danenhower, a beekeeper in Pennsylvania who presented his method - the Juniper Hill Split (Danenhower Split).
VBA Board Seeks Approval for Proposal
The VBA Board of Directors is seeking membership approval at the upcoming Winter meeting of a proposal from UVM student, Brianna Borch, to conduct a study titled, “Identifying Key Pollen and Nectar Resources for Vermont Honey Bees” with the outcomes summarized below.
This study will identify which plant species are most important to honeybees for pollen and nectar production at different times of the year. These findings will inform land-use decisions made by both beekeepers and other residents of the state aiming to improve the health of honeybees as well as the livelihoods of beekeepers. By understanding which plants are most important to honeybees as well as which plants contribute most to honey yield, land-use decisions that protect and amplify these types of plants can be made. Beekeepers may also use these findings to decide where to locate future apiaries, as well as to more accurately label their honey as coming from specific plant sources.