Fall Meeting Preliminary Agenda
Virginia State Beekeepers Association - When: Saturday, November 5, 2016 Where: Blue Ridge Community College, Weyers Cave, VA Hosted by: Shenandoah Valley Beekeepers Association
Speakers include:
Dr. Kirsten Traynor, researcher and author, along with her husband Michael Traynor, a fine arts photographer, will present Over the Atlantic: Intensive Hive Management detailing European sideliner beekeeping operations that are not only profitable but experience only a 4% loss annually. Their second presentation, Pesticides and Pollinators will cover the effects of pesticides beyond neonics and explain how the Zika scare may impact our colonies' health.
Toni Burnham, urban beekeeper in Washington, DC, will present Urban/Suburban Beekeeping - the Human Side providing tips for keeping bees and deveolping a responsible beekeeping ordinance in an urban/suburban environment.
Dr. Wyatt Mangum, researcher and author will present Hot Bees! Thermal Cameras in the Apiary with information on the behavior of winter honey bee clusters as revealed by thermal imaging.
Richmond beekeeper, Theo Hartmann, will introduce the BroodMinder system which wirelessly records hive weight, humidity and temperature (both inside and outside) for remote hive monitoring.
An optional lunch consisting of a hot pork barbecue sandwich, coleslaw, macaroni salad, baked beans, potato chips & a drink is offered by the Shenandoah Valley Beekeepers Association for a nominal fee.
On-line registration is available HERE to current VSBA members and expired/non-members via credit card. Mail-in registrations are available HERE. Early registration is until October 10, 2016. Late registration is October 11 through October 24, 2016.
On Saturday, November 5th, Walk-in registration (cashor check only) will open at 8 AM with the meeting beginning at 9 AM. Presentations and vendors go until 5:00 PM.
Virginia’s DRAFT Plan to Mitigate Pesticide Risk to Managed Pollinators
In June of 2014, federal departments and agencies were tasked with taking new steps to reverse pollinator losses and help restore pollinator populations. To accomplish this effort, the Pollinator Health Task Force was created. Co-chaired by the Secretary of Agriculture and the Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the task force included representatives from a wide variety of departments and agencies.
As part of this effort, the EPA engaged the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) in the development of a Virginia pollinator protection plan as a means of mitigating the risk of pesticides to honey bees and other managed pollinators.
Click here to read the DRAFT Plan to Mitigate Pesticide Risk to Managed Pollinators (Plan), one component of the Virginia Pollinator Protection Strategy (Strategy). The Strategy, which was enacted by the 2016 General Assembly, directs VDACS to develop and maintain a pollinator protection strategy to promote the health of and mitigate the risks to pollinator species and ensure a robust apiary industry. The Strategy shall include a protection plan for managed pollinators that provides voluntary best management practices and supports efforts to reduce risks from pesticides, increase habitat, and take other steps to protect pollinators.
An advisory committee composed of 20 stakeholders is providing input on critical issues of the plan. Beekeepers are represented by Mike Church, Pam Fisher and Mike Sandridge. Please feel free to contact the beekeeping members of the advisory committee with your suggestions.
