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VBA calls attention to new UVM report showing severe colony losses in 2024/25

The Vermont Beekeepers Association (VBA) is calling statewide attention to a new report released by the University of Vermont Bee Lab documenting unprecedented honey bee colony losses in Vermont during the 2024–2025 season. The UVM survey captured data from 12 commercial and sideline beekeeping operations representing 6,434 colonies — over one-third of all colonies registered in Vermont in 2024. The findings: Vermont beekeepers lost 56.08% of colonies across the 2024–2025 beekeeping year. “This is not a normal loss year — this is an emergency signal,” said Andrew Munkres, Past President of the Vermont Beekeepers Association and co-author of the study. “These losses affect not just bees but Vermont farms, food systems, and rural livelihoods.”

VBA Winter Meeting- 1/31/25 @ CVU

Published On 12/3/2025

You’re invited to the Vermont Beekeepers Association’s Annual Winter Meeting!

When:
Saturday, January 31, 2026, 8:30 AM until 4:00 PM Eastern Time

Where:
Champlain Valley Union High School
369 CVU Rd
Hinesburg, VT 05461

The event is free for members and $15 for non-members (register ahead or at the door).

We’re excited to welcome our keynote speaker, Landi Simone, Certified Master Beekeeper and educator from New Jersey.

Join us for a full day of workshops for all experience levels, our annual honey show, and vendor booths.

Come learn, connect, and celebrate beekeeping with the VBA community!

Tunbridge World's Fair

Thank you to all our members who volunteered for this event. Whether a booth shift volunteer, a honey seller, or a committee member, with your help and generosity we had a successful, enjoyable and productive event.

Highlights of our booth were the ever-popular finding the queen in the observation hive, honey sticks, honey tasting, honey purchasing and sharing information about bees and bee keeping. It is a great opportunity to share the work of the VBA and our love of bees.

The 2026 Tunbridge World's Fair dates are not yet officially announced, but it will likely be held in mid-September 2026. The fair will be celebrating the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. (We’ll need a patriotic bee theme for our booth.)

VBA Raffle Winner!

Published On 9/16/2025

Over the past year, VBA member Anne Bowers (Franklin County) has led a fund-raising raffle for a beautiful framed quilt with help from Peggy Apple-Woods and her husband, Dana (Bennington County).

Winter Meeting Registration Now Open

Published On 12/28/2025

Our Winter Meeting signup is now live! We encourage all members to register early and sign up by 1/24/26 if you would like to order lunch. Click here to view more details.

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