Beekeeping in Vermont

Beekeeping in Vermont

If You Missed Last Night's Workshop...

VBA President Andrew Munkres presented our first workshop of the season last evening aimed at experienced beekeepers. Reversing for Intermediate Beekeepers was followed by an "Ask Me Anything" (AMA) session allowing people to discuss a variety of topics.

If you missed it, you can watch the presentation as we record our Zoom presentations for later viewing. (Login required.) Simply look on the Calendar menu for Past Workshop recordings to view it and previous workshops.

There is still time to register for the next workshop - Reversing for New Beekeepers - scheduled for Tuesday, May 11 at 7PM.

Spring Workshops Announced

The VBA wants to offer training and education that will be helpful to both new and more experienced beekeepers. While we have yet to return to live, in-person sessions at our bee yards, we are beginning the season with two online workshops that will be held on the Zoom platform.

VBA President Andrew Munkres will present a workshop entitled Reversing for Intermediate Beekeepers at 7:00 PM, Thursday, May 6 via Zoom. If time permits, there will be an AMA* session for intermediate beekeepers.

And on Tuesday, May 11, we will present a video of VBA Past-President Chas Mraz from Champlain Valley Apiaries demonstrating Reversing for New Beekeepers followed by a general AMA* session for new beekeepers.

Both workshops will be presented over Zoom and a link will be emailed to registrants a day before each meeting starts. VBA members may register for these free workshops online.

*AMAs (Ask Me Anything) are free-form question and answer sessions that allow participants to share information. Much fun!

Should You Keep Bees?

Bill Mares and Brooke Decker pass along this recent article from Michigan State University's College of Natural Science and the Michigan Pollinator Initiative. It poses an interesting question as it discusses how keeping bees may not be the best way to help bees. Should you keep bees?

Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2

USDA’s Farm Service Agency will accept new and modified
CFAP 2 applications beginning April 5.

Has your operation been directly impacted by the coronavirus pandemic? USDA is implementing updates to the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program for producers of agricultural commodities marketed in 2020 who faced market disruptions due to COVID-19. This is part of a larger initiative to improve USDA pandemic assistance to producers.

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.