MASTERBEEKEEPING
Cornell Certificate Program

VBA members can sign up for Cornell's Master Beekeeping Certificate program at a substantially discounted rate. The 15-month training program consists of four online classes and three in-person final exams at Cornell's Dyce Lab for Honey Bee Studies. 

Who should enroll? 

• Beekeepers seeking advanced depth and breadth of knowledge to increase the success of their operation, extend their business opportunities, and gain credibility as a resource in the beekeeping community
• Beekeepers with at least 3 years beekeeping experience.

Normally, the cost for registration is $899 but current members of the Vermont Beekeepers Association can join the program at the discounted rate of $599. You can learn more about the program here. 

If interested in registering, send an email to discount@vermontbeekeepers.org to receive the code you will need for the discounted rate.

Setting up the booth from left, Richard Roy, Bianca Braman, Cheryl Dorschner, Bob Stoddard, Mary Stoddard and Anne Bowers.Cheryl Dorschner summarizes VBA's very successful exhibit at the 2023 Vermont Flower Show last month in her report that includes a slideshow of the hardworking volunteers who "routinely work incredibly together, take leadership, solve problems and scoff at snowstorms. They came from the Canadian to the New Hampshire borders and places in between, from the Champlain basin to the mountain region. And here also is the context of the larger beekeeping and pollinator presence at the Vermont Flower Show of which VBA can be proud to be in its midst."

Kudos to Cheryl (who organized VBA's presence) and all the volunteers! Read more...

Our South Bee Yard is back in action following the pandemic and  you're invited to attend our free in-person beekeeping workshops.

Hosted by Jeffrey Hamelman and Debra Pasho, the workshops will cover a variety of topics. Take a look at our calendar of upcoming events to view the entire list of in-person and online workshops and plan for the rest of the year. Hint: You can easily identify the South Yard workshops by selecting South Bee Yard from the All Locations drop-down search selector. You can also import events into your calendar by selecting iCal Export at the top of the page.

We often get requests from people wanting to help honey bees and other pollinators. 

It’s helpful to create or maintain a habitat with plant species that bloom from Spring through Fall to provide pollinator forage as consistently as possible throughout the growing season. Having abundant forage and propolis sources is critical to honey bees and other pollinators' health.

A new resource based upon university research in New England and tailored to Vermont by Fred Putnam, Jr. and Jeff Cunningham from the Vermont Beekeepers Association can be helpful to homeowners, landowners, land managers, and consultants who wish to plant or retain species helpful to honey bees and other pollinators.

Read More...

If you've been following discussions about using OAE with cellulose pads in your hives please read the following from Vermont's State Apiculturist Brooke Decker:

Effective March 21, 2023 the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets has removed the Extended Release Oxalic Acid FIFRA 2(ee) interpretation notice from our website. This was done as a result of a determination by the US EPA on March 21, 2023 that this interpretation was not allowed under the provisions of FIFRA. As a result of this determination, the application of oxalic acid using glycerin treated cellulose pads is no longer considered allowable under the provisions of FIFRA 2(ee). A copy of the letter is available here:

EPA Letter - Extended Release Oxalic Acid FIFRA 2(ee) interpretation (PDF)

All persons who apply pesticides must comply with all label provisions including directions for use, personal protective equipment, disposal instructions and environmental protection statements.  

Brooke Decker
Pollinator Health Specialist/ State Apiculturist 
Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets
116 State Street | Montpelier, Vermont | 05620
AGR.bees@vermont.gov | 802-272-6688 

Vermont Apiary Program

REQUEST AN INSPECTION

REGISTER YOUR APIARY

(VBA has removed links on our website to the 2(ee) authorization announcement and, for the time being, our Zoom workshop explaining how to use cellulose pads with oxalic acid.)

Download the brochure or visit the website.