2008 PRESS RELEASES
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July 1, 2008
VDACS’ EFFORTS SUPPORT BEEKEEPERS AND HONEY BEES IN VIRGINIA
Contact: Marion Horsley, 804.225.3820
Honey bees are manageable, moveable, adaptable and crucial for the pollination of fruit and vegetable crops in Virginia. Today honey bees are also at great risk because Virginia is losing valuable honey bee hives at an annual rate of 30%.
A 2006 General Assembly study of the plight of Virginia’s beekeepers found that the loss of honey bee hives is due to parasitic mites and other pests which impair the health and productivity of Virginia honey bees. The report recognized the risk that Africanized Honey Bees (AHB) could be accidentally introduced into the state and that queens, replaced every two to three years, often come from states affected by AHB and other serious pests. The study also found that 90% of beekeepers in Virginia are hobbyists, many of whom want additional training and information.
To address the challenges identified by the study, a Work Group of beekeepers and other experts recommended that the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS), along with Virginia Tech, develop Virginia-specific programs to further the education of beekeepers, increase the use of honey bees, address integrated pest management, promote local queen-rearing and monitor the risk and impact of AHB.
VDACS and Tech began the programs and projects called for by the study in July, 2007. Nearly a year later, the list of accomplishments is lengthy and impressive.
To help educate beekeepers, VDACS developed Best Management Practices for maintaining European honey bees in Virginia and distributed copies to local beekeeping groups and extension agents. VDACS also negotiated the establishment of a research/demonstration apiary on Randolph Farm at Virginia State University (VSU) in Petersburg to reinforce and expand the educational effort. Local beekeepers along with VDACS staff will maintain the apiary and organizers anticipate that VSU students will assist with research and maintenance, augmenting the outreach programs for minority farmers. Other research/demonstration apiaries were established at Virginia Agriculture Research and Extension Centers in Virginia Beach and Winchester and at Kentland Farm at Virginia Tech in Montgomery County.
Tech and VDACS worked together to develop the structure and guidelines for a Master Beekeeper program which is scheduled to begin in July, 2008. The program will consist of three levels: qualified, certified and Master Beekeeper. It is designed to provide individuals with incremental knowledge about beekeeping so they can assist and mentor others at the local level. The program will include a public relations component requiring that Master Beekeepers share their knowledge and enthusiasm for beekeeping with the public through speaking and writing.
As part of the move to expand the use of honey bees, VDACS promoted beginner beekeeper classes extensively in 2008 and, as a result, saw a significant increase in the number of these classes and attendance. In addition, VDACS implemented a cost-sharing incentive by purchasing and distributing 250 basic hive units for class members.
Staff participated in farm and grower meetings and conferences to promote honey bee pollination and the Virginia Pollinator, a Web-based resource which connects beekeepers with honey bees for pollination rental with growers who need honey bees to pollinate their crops. In addition, VDACS initiated the development of a beekeeping Web site for promoting the benefits of honey bees and other pollinators for crop production and improving environmental habitats.
VDACS staff completed U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) apiary inspector training in the identification of honey bee pests and diseases and AHB. A USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant provided laboratory equipment for VDACS’ Office of Plant and Pest Services’ regional offices for the diagnosis of pests and diseases of the honey bee.
To help reduce the reliance on out-of-state queen and package bees in hive management, VDACS expanded the Virginia Pollinator which now includes available queen and nucleus colony sources in Virginia. VDACS also established guidelines for queen quality and production in consultation with member states of the Mid-Atlantic Apiculture Research and Extension Consortium. Staff served as a principal instructor for queen-rearing workshops which saw a six-fold increase in the number scheduled. As with the beginner classes, VDACS distributed to those attending the workshop queen-rearing equipment as an incentive to promote queen production.
As part of a feasibility study on the production of queen honey bees, VDACS began a survey on the distribution of honey bees in Virginia. The availability of drones from a variety of bee colonies is necessary for successful queen mating. VDACS also developed a new protocol for sampling areas for the presence of bee colonies as part of queen-rearing and AHB programs.
Responding to concerns regarding Africanized honey bees, VDACS drafted response guidelines for emergency responders and the general public and completed the revision of VDACS AHB Action and Bee Spill Action Plans.
For additional information regarding the study, call Keith Tignor, State Apiarist, at the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, 804.786.3515, or send an e-mail to keith.tignor@vdacs.virginia.gov.