Just Got Your Nucs Or Bee Packages?—Now What??
Mid-spring is the time of year when many new beekeepers in Vermont pick up their first nucleus colonies or packages of bees. If you are one of those just starting out, hopefully you did your homework over the winter and have a pretty good idea of what to do next. You may have read some reference materials, attended a class, and participated in VBA webinars. Maybe you purchased a book that you can refer to from time to time. (By the way, the VBA has an excellent list of references designed specifically for new beekeepers under the “Resources” tab on this website.) But uncertainty or just a lack of confidence may arise about the next task in your bee yard. It’s not uncommon. Beekeeping may not be rocket science, but it isn’t simple either. There’s much to learn in the first few years and the VBA is here to help!
H.706 Update
As many of you know, the Pollinator Protection Act, H706 has passed the Vermont House 112-29. It was taken up by the Senate Agriculture committee, and UVM Bee Lab director Samantha Alger and VBA past president Andrew Munkres both testified in support of the bill among others. Last week the bill passed out of the Senate Agriculture committee 4-1 with a couple of changes from the House version. Today the bill went to Senate appropriations and passed out of that committee this afternoon 6-0.
Take Action! H.706
Dear VBA members,
The VBA Board has heard from a number of beekeepers asking about how to best hold conversations with farmer friends and neighbors about neonicotinoids. As a result, the VT Pollinator Working Group compiled this digital educational resource curated for crop producer audiences. Each resource listed has a summary and link where you can view the resource. We hope that you, VBA beekeepers, will have some conversations with your farmer neighbors in the coming weeks. Please feel free to share this resource and let it aid your discussions. This is a great opportunity to connect with your community around something that can help us all and make a better future for generations to come.
In addition, VPIRG has provided us with talking points for speaking with local farmers and neighbors (Login required.) about neonicotinoids and H.706 (a bill to phase out the use of neonicotinoids). We will include that as well if you'd like help on how to hold these conversations.
If you have any conversations with folks in your community, please keep a record of the conversations and report back to VBA Vice President Bianca Braman
Thank you for all of your effort on behalf of the bees. Your hard work will have an effect for decades to come!
Beekeepers in Sweden
Bianca and Adam of Vermont Bees traveled in February for a chilly trip to a warm-hearted country.
Breakfast included homemade bread, fresh eggs, cherry tomatoes, sautéed mushrooms, and rose-hip soup-Vit C power!When I was asked to visit Sweden and speak to their National Beekeepers Associations, I didn’t hesitate to say yes, so long as I could bring my partner and greatest friend, Adam!
We found the Swedish people to be organized and design centric. Things had a good flow, even traffic. We rented a car and found the driving easy to pick-up. Everyone speaks English and they’re very agreeable.
The beekeepers wanted to know about commercial beekeeping from the perspective of a stationary American beekeeper. More specifically, they wanted to hear from a woman. The population of women in professional beekeeping is increasing in Sweden and they wanted to bring in education for their growth.
The conference was four wonderful days full of learning, spectacular food, and delightful people. It was held in a conference center & chocolaterie called Aronsborg. We enjoyed bits of chocolate in all winter settings.
How Are The Bees Doing? – Really
"How are the bees doing?" is the question that we beekeepers are often asked when we interact with the public. The truth is, the bees are not doing well, but you wouldn’t know that if you listened only to the VT Agency of Agriculture, Food, and Markets (“Agency of Agriculture” or “Agency”).
In fact, the Agency claims that the beekeeping industry in Vermont is “healthy and robust” due to an apparent increase in the number of honeybee colonies registered in their database. But this measure of bee health is an illusion.
According to the Agency of Agriculture’s own statistics, Vermont beekeepers have lost at least 25% of their bees each winter over the last 3 years. But the Bee Informed Partnership places annual colony loss much higher: Vermont beekeepers report losing 38-85% of their colonies each year over the last four years.
From the Vermont Bee Lab...
The Vermont Bee Lab is asking you to participate in the 2024 National Honey Bee Survey. For more information including a link to the survey and answers to any questions you may have, please download the flyer.
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
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