Vermont Beekeepers Association discusses colony inspections and pollinator health initiatives

The Vermont Senate Agriculture Committee convened on March 28, 2025, to engage in a detailed discussion with representatives from the Vermont Beekeepers Association, focusing on the current state of beekeeping in Vermont and the challenges faced by local beekeepers.

The meeting commenced with an introduction by the committee chair, who expressed enthusiasm for the opportunity to hear from beekeepers. Doug, a member of the Vermont Beekeepers Association, highlighted the importance of recent legislative efforts, specifically referencing House Bill 209 from 2019 and House Bill 706 from 2020, which have rekindled civic engagement in the state's law-making process.

Brooke Decker, the state's pollinator health specialist, presented an overview of the apiary program, emphasizing the necessity of registering all honeybee colonies. She explained that there is a $10 registration fee for apiaries, which is crucial for regulatory compliance, inspections, and emergency responses to diseases or pests. Decker noted that while many backyard beekeepers may not be registered, larger operations are typically aware of the legal requirements.

The discussion then shifted to the inspection process, where Decker explained that her role involves monitoring bee health, inspecting colonies for diseases and pests, and providing management advice to beekeepers. She mentioned the significant impact of varroa mites, a parasite that poses a serious threat to bee populations, and shared data indicating that many colonies are experiencing high mite loads, which can lead to colony collapse.

Decker provided statistics on the beekeeping industry in Vermont, revealing that there are approximately 18,000 colonies spread across 1,100 apiaries. She categorized beekeepers into two groups: hobbyists, who manage fewer than 20 colonies, and larger operations, which account for the majority of the colonies. The committee learned that there are 553 hobbyist beekeepers managing around 2,000 colonies, while 20 larger operations manage about 14,000 colonies.

The meeting concluded with a reminder of the upcoming annual survey on winter colony loss, set to be distributed on April 1. This survey aims to gather data on the health of bee populations in the state, which is critical for understanding the challenges faced by beekeepers and informing future policy decisions.

Overall, the session underscored the importance of beekeeping in Vermont's agricultural landscape and the ongoing efforts to support and regulate this vital industry. The committee expressed appreciation for the insights shared by the beekeepers and committed to considering their needs in future legislative discussions.