the commonwealth buzz

THE COMMONWEALTH BUZZ Volume 17, Issue 1

A PUBLICATION OF THE VIRGINIA STATE BEEKEEPERS’ ASSOCIATION

View from the President

January 2016

Save the Date …

Greetings, fellow beekeepers!

VSBA Spring Meeting

I hope that your holidays were pleasant and your New Year is off to a good start. Like farmers, we beekeepers are an optimistic lot -- the promise that each year will be better than the last keeps us going.

When: Friday/Saturday June 17 & 18, 2016 Where: Smithfield Center, 220 North Church Street, Smithfield Host club: Nansemond Beekeepers Association Confirmed speakers: Dr. Larry Connor of Wicwas Press - queen breeder and author Michael Young - beekeeper, meadmaker, chef and honey judge from Northern Ireland Jennifer Berry - Apicultural Research Coordinator and Lab Manager for the University of Georgia Honey Bee Program Workshops: Attracting swarms with a new bait hive design by John Adams Top bar hives by Ruth Meredith More Info: To come, in the April newsletter

I am thrilled with the response to the local club representatives program. We were expecting perhaps a dozen beekeepers at the organizational meeting but to our surprise and delight, nearly 30 beekeepers participated. What your representatives told us loud and clear is that you enjoy our conferences and want more education, either in the form of more conferences, advanced classes and workshops, or simply a speakers bureau to use as a resource for local club meetings. You gave us some challenges too: beekeeper immunity legislation and liability insurance issues. It is my goal to begin working with the local reps to prioritize and address those topics this year. As many of you plan your beginning beekeeping courses, I’d like to challenge you as well: rethink ordering package bees and consider providing local nucleus colonies for your students instead. It may seem like a daunting undertaking but trust me, it can be done. My own experience has been that once a club nucleus program gets started, beekeepers who receive a local nuc return the favor by producing nucleus colonies for the program as soon as they possibly can. Club members take pride in supplying a quality product and want to see their nucs survive; they often mentor new beekeepers who buy bees from them. It’s a great way to build club camaraderie and improve the success rate of your students at the same time. Wishing you a very happy, healthy and prosperous 2016! Pam Fisher VSBA President

Check your Info on our Site The VSBA website at www.VirginiaBeekeepers.org is often the first introduction the public has to local clubs but the information there is only as good as what clubs provide. Some clubs have not updated their information in years! If each club would task one of their officers with notifying the VSBA when new officers are elected, we would greatly appreciate it. Please send current club information to VSBA Secretary Deb Parker at [email protected]. Remember to include email or phone numbers for your officers who have granted their permission to share it. If your club has a website or Facebook page you’d like to include, send those links, too. Please format your listing and submit it exactly as you’d like it to appear on the VSBA website to minimize transcription errors. Thank you in advance for your assistance.

Registration deadline is near!

Don’t Slip on the ICE

Feb. Beekeeping Course to Feature Jerry Hayes

State Apiarist’s Report

The Halifax County Beekeepers Association is organizing a two-day program, "Practical Backyard Beekeeping for Small-Scale (Hobby) and Serious Sideline Beekeepers," with apiary expert Jerry Hayes at the Olde Dominion Agricultural Complex in Chatham. The event starts at 6 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 5, with a dinner program followed by a multi-topic information session from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 6. At the Friday dinner, Jerry Hayes will speak on "The Rise, Fall and Resurrection of Beekeeping” and will take questions. Saturday's presentations will cover Varroa knowledge gaps and misperceptions, the impact of poor nutrition, Nosema, small hive beetles, and will offer more Q&A time. Hayes was the chief of The Apiary Section for the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Affairs for many years, responsible for the regulatory health of 350,000 honey bee colonies in the state. Jerry joined Monsanto Corporation in 2012 to become their BeeLogicsTM Commercial Lead for the BioDirect Business Unit, and presented at the VSBA 2007 Summer Meeting. Pre-registration is required. Pricing and more details are posted at http://halifaxbeekeepers.org/index.php/upcoming-events, and you can register online there. If you wish to pay by check or money order, or have questions, contact Jim Zeigler ([email protected] ) or call him at (434) 376-4490. Submitted by Jim Zeigler Program Coordinator

Something happened this past November that has not occurred as far back as I can remember. I missed the Fall VSBA meeting. No, I was not in an accident on the way to the meeting. I was not transferred to another position. I have not retired, although that prospect is becoming more appealing. Prior to the VSBA meeting my son, Sam, was sequestered on Parris Island, S.C., going through the physical and mental drills of boot camp. Poor planning on the part of the Marines -- his battalion’s graduation coincided with the VSBA meeting date. While many of you were enjoying the fall colors in the Valley, my family and I watched about 400 recruits receive their Eagle, Globe, and Anchor. Following the graduation ceremony, PFC Sam received the news of his pending promotion to Uncle Sam. Yes, the graying of what remains of my hair will be fully appreciated next spring as I take on a new role as a grandparent. I have an opportunity to pass on the joys, and tribulations, of beekeeping to yet another generation. Upon my return to Virginia I learned of a drainage problem in our agency’s storage facility. Most of the equipment was on pallets, so there was limited damage. But one set of items was affected. Several years ago, a beekeeper in Stafford County gave me his collection of American Bee Journals and Gleanings in Bee Culture that date back to the 1940s. Many of the issues went to the library at Virginia State University. But the older issues were kept in our storage facility. On occasion I would peruse the writings of these journals. Unfortunately, these were damaged in the ‘flood.’ As I was cleaning up the mess that was once a treasure trove of information and insight I tried taking one last look at the issues of beekeeping’s past. I marveled at the design of a ‘new’ long box that was nearly identical to the one John Adams presented to me last year. I mused over discussPlease see Apiarist’s Report, page 3

January 2016

Virginia State Beekeepers’ Association

page 2

Apiarist’s Report, continued …


ions for controlling foulbrood with sulphur and other ‘new’ drugs knowing that rules governing the judicious use of antibiotics are looming on our horizon. I chuckled at the debates over ways of wintering bees that are ongoing still. We might be in an age of social media and instant messaging, but we face the same problems. This got me to thinking about ICE. This is not a reference to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement or International Congress of Entomology. No, ICE is an acronym for Ignorance, Confusion, and Ego. We either haven’t learned what we should, don’t understand what we have learned, or are under the misconception that we know everything. I place myself in the middle, with a hand on one and a foot in the other. We often think we know what is going on in our hives and how things should be arranged. The truth is, there are 30,000 to 60,000 individuals in each of our hives with a different understanding of how things should be done. They keep building burr comb to fill in excessive gaps in the nest. We keep scraping, ignoring the reason bees keep building burr comb. They rotate comb every five to 10 years. We keep using the same brood and honey frames decade after decade, increasing exposure to contaminants in the comb and risk of disease. They replace the colony’s queen every two to three years. We … well, let’s just say there are some who think they still have the original queen in their hive five to 10 years later. As we enter a new year, don’t slip on the ICE. Make a resolution to listen to, and to learn from, your bees. You and your bees will be more satisfied and productive in the long run. Like our bees, we should look, smell and feel our way through hive management for the best options. And don’t be afraid to ask your bees their opinion. They have a painful way of letting us know what they like, or rather, don’t like.

www.virginiabeekeepers.org

President Pam Fisher 1st Vice President Rusty Foltz

2nd Vice President 804-672-8408 Robert Stapleton [email protected] Secretary 540-222-5430 Deb Parker [email protected] Treasurer 434-823-8600 Ian Henry [email protected] Meeting Comm. Chair 540-854-0410 Deb Parker [email protected] Legislative Chair 540-291-2538 Lannie Ballard [email protected] State Apiarist 804-786-3515 Keith Tignor [email protected] Newsletter Editor 757-897-2987 Pam Burton [email protected] DEADLINE for next VSBA newsletter: March 14, 2016 Submit to the editor; add “VSBA” to the subject line

State-Managed Pollinator Protection Plan

Public hearings scheduled In June 2014, a Presidential Memorandum called attention to the issue of pollinator health and directed federal efforts to reverse pollinator losses and help restore populations to healthy levels. Specifically, the memo directed the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to engage state agencies in developing state pollinator protection plans as a means of mitigating the risk of pesticides to bees and other managed pollinators. As the state lead agency in charge of pesticide regulations in Virginia, the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Service (VDACS) has embarked on developing the framework for a State Managed Pollinator Protection Plan (Plan), which will be drafted in consultation with relevant stakeholders, industry groups and other state agencies. VDACS currently supports a number of pollinator protection activities, including promoting

Submitted by Keith Tignor Virginia State Apiculturist

January 2016

757-620-0945 [email protected] 540-303-1660 [email protected]


Please see Plan, page 4

page 3

Plan, continued … Best Management Practices (BMP) for beekeepers and the proper application of pesticides. To further enhance its pollinator protection activities, VDACS is coordinating the development of a voluntary Plan. The Plan is limited to managed pollinators not under contracted pollination services at the site of application. The term “managed pollinators” includes any species of pollinators that are managed by humans for pollination purposes or the production of honey, beeswax or other products for commercial or noncommercial purposes. It is anticipated that mitigating the risk of pesticides to managed pollinators will also reduce the risk to native bees and other pollinators. This proactive plan will focus on the voluntary implementation of BMPs through enhanced communication and coordination between agricultural producers, pesticide applicators, landowners and beekeepers as a means to further protect pollinators. Development of a successful Plan requires the input and cooperation of all stakeholders. VDACS will hold seven public meetings at various locations throughout Virginia to provide both an overview of the EPA’s guidance to state agencies in developing state pollinator protection plans and to identify specific elements that should be addressed in Virginia’s Plan. These listening sessions and other avenues of communication will provide an opportunity for input and public comment from a broad range of stakeholders on the critical elements of Virginia’s Plan. The meetings will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the following service areas: Warrenton: Tuesday, Jan.26, John Barton Payne Community Room, 2 Courthouse Square, Warrenton. Roanoke: Thursday, Jan. 28, South County Library, 6303 Merriman Road, Roanoke. South Hill: Monday, Feb. 1, Southern Piedmont Agriculture Research and Extension Center (AREC), 2375 Darvills Road, Blackstone. Charlottesville: Wednesday, Feb. 3, Virginia Department of Forestry, 900 Natural Resources Drive, Charlottesville. January 2016

Richmond: Thursday, Feb. 4, Tuckahoe Area Library, 1901 Starling Drive, Henrico. Suffolk: Monday, Feb. 22, Tidewater Agriculture Research and Extension Center (AREC), 6321 Holland Road, Suffolk. Eastern Shore: Wednesday, Feb. 24, Painter Agriculture Research and Extension Center (AREC), 33446 Research Drive, Painter. Individuals are encouraged to participate in the development of Virginia’s Plan by attending these meetings or submitting comments and suggestions to VDACS. For further details and information on the Plan, contact the VDACS Office of Pesticide Services at (804) 786-3798 or email comments to [email protected].

2016 4-H Essay Contest

Bees and Pollination: How Important Is It? That’s the topic of the 2016 4-H Essay Contest. Know a 4-H’er who should enter? Here’s what he or she needs to know: Now more than ever, people are asking “What will happen if the bees are gone?” Your paper should research and help answer this question. Survey your community to see what is being done to help honey bees. Include your state in our survey to see if there is a wildflower planting program available or any other program that could aid the honey bee. The scope of your research is an essential judging criterion, accounting for 40 percent of your score. The number of sources consulted, the authority of the sources and the variety of the sources are all evaluated. Personal interviews with beekeepers and others familiar with the subject are valued sources of information and should be documented. Sources which are not cited in the endnotes should be listed in a “Resources” or “Bibliography” list.


Please see 4-H Contest, page 5 page 4

4-H Contest, continued … Note that “honey bee” is properly spelled as two words, even though many otherwise authoritative references spell it as one word. Cash prizes of $100 (1st place), $50 (2nd place) and $25 (third place) will be awarded to three top state winners, who will move on to national competition and compete for cash prizes of $750 (1st place), $500 (2nd place) and $250 (3rd place.) Each winner will receive an appropriate book about honey bees, beekeeping, or honey. Rules: 1. The contest is open to active 4-H Club members only. 4-H’ers who have previously placed first, second or third at the national level are not eligible; other state winners are eligible to re-enter.

5. The state winner will be announced on March 4 and the national winner will be announced the week of May 2. 6. All national entries become the property of the sponsor, the Foundation for the Preservation of Honey Bees, Inc., and may be published or used as it sees fit. No essay will be returned. The national winners’ essays will appear in an issue of the American Beekeeping Federation’s newsletter. 7. Email state entries by the deadline (Feb. 12) to: [email protected] with VA. 4-H Beekeeping Essay Contest in the subject line. All entries received will be promptly acknowledged; if you have not received an acknowledgment after three business days, please re-submit. Thank you for supporting the contest!

2. Requirements (failure to meet any single requirement disqualifies the essay) – 

Preparation for National Judging: ELECTRONIC SUBMISSIONS ONLY, double spaced, 12-pt. Times or similar type style, following standard manuscript format. Submit as a Microsoft Word compatible document.



Write on the designated subject only.

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All factual statements must be referenced with bibliographical-style endnotes.

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A brief biographical sketch of the essayist, including date of birth, gender, complete mailing address, and telephone number must accompany the essay.

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Length – the essay proper: 750-1000 words.



The word count does not include the endnotes, the bibliography or references, nor the essayist’s biographical sketch – which should be on a separate page. 3. Essays will be judged on (a) scope of research – 40 percent (b) accuracy – 30 percent (c) creativity – 10 percent (d) conciseness – 10 percent and (e) logical development of the topic – 10 percent.

SVBA Event

Bush to Speak at BRCC The Shenandoah Valley Beekeepers Association will host beekeeper and author Michael Bush on Saturday, March 12, at the Blue Ridge Community College in Weyer's Cave, where the VSBA Fall Meeting is held. Subjects covered in Bush’s talk will include a year in a treatment-free apiary, realistic expectations, swarm prevention and overwintering nucs. Seating will be limited, so register early. Details and a link to online registration may be found on the SVBA website, http://shenvalleybeekeepers.org/upcoming-events/. Videos from Bush’s seminar held last April are linked from this page. Find out more about Michael Bush on his website, http://bushfarms.com/bees.htm.

4. Essayists should forward essays to the state judging team postmarked by Feb. 12. The winner of the state contest will be forwarded to the national competition before March 1. January 2016


Submitted by Bill Theiss SVBA President

page 5

VSBA Fall Meeting, Nov. 7, 2015

Meeting Minutes President Pam Fisher opened the meeting at 9:04 a.m. by welcoming all attendees and thanking the Shenandoah Beekeepers Association for hosting the meeting. Pam asked attendees to join Shenandoah Beekeepers and the VSBA officers at the ribbon cutting for the new Blue Ridge Community College apiary at 4:45 p.m. above the Plecker parking lot. Dr. David Tarpy, Associate Professor of Entomology and Extension Apiculturist at North Carolina State University, gave the first presentation on “Better Queens, Better Colonies.” Dr. Ernesto Guzman, Professor and Director of the Honey Bee Research Centre in the School of Environmental Sciences at the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada, gave his presentation “Basis of Selective Breeding for the Honey Bee.” At 11:29 a.m. the Business Meeting was called to order by President Pam Fisher. Treasurer Ian Henry reported that VSBA current had $39,786.16 in its account. Pam Fisher informed the membership that the 2019 Apimondia Conference would be held September 9-12, 2019 in Montreal. The United States did not get approval to host, in part due to the lengthy visa process for international attendees. Katy Ciola Evans with the University of Delaware’s Entomology and Apiculture Program made a donation request of $1,500 to assist in covering the costs for outreach materials, travel and salary associated with a study evaluating the effect of mid-summer splits on varroa mite reduction and colony productivity. A motion was made and seconded to donate $1,500 to this study. The motion was approved by membership.

to the membership at the June 18, 2016 Business Meeting. VSBA has a new webmaster and Pam asked each club to review their club’s information on the VSBA website and to advise the Board if information needed to be updated. Since membership had voted in 2014 to host the Eastern Apiculture Society meeting in 2018, EAS representative Ann Zudekoff had a table in the vendor area for individuals to volunteer for the hosting committee and to obtain more information. Members were reminded of the local representatives meeting with the VSBA board at 1 p.m. in the board room. The business meeting adjourned at 11:42 am. Dr. Ernesto Guzman’s second presentation was “Microbes, Natural Oils and Nutraceuticals to Sustainably Control Parasites in Honey Bee Colonies.” The last presentation was by Dr. David Tarpy, covering “The Queen & Disease Clinic at NCSU.” Frank Walker updated attendees on the Master Beekeeping Program. The meeting concluded at 4:27 p.m. Submitted by Deb Parker VSBA Secretary

Winners of the SVBA Christmas gift basket raffle 

Stanley Bright from Middlebrook



Maunda Hartbarge from Lexington

The president informed membership that the VSBA Executive Committee was working towards acquiring 501 (c) (3) status. Article IV, Section I of the VSBA Bylaws will have to be changed for final approval. This will be brought January 2016


Submitted by Sue McKown

page 6

VSBA Fall Meeting, Nov. 7, 2015

Local Club Reps Hold Meeting The VSBA’s Executive Committee would like to thank all the beekeepers who attended the organizational meeting of the local club representative program. Twenty-six out of 39 clubs sent representatives to the meeting, indicating a profound interest in improving communication between the VSBA and local clubs. Input from local club representatives will be used to guide the VSBA’s future actions. Topics which local reps listed for further discussion include:          

Liability insurance Beekeeper immunity legislation Speakers bureau Advanced training opportunities Local club grants (support and oppose) Master beekeeper program Queen rearing Assistance with local zoning issues Honey judging Honey and hive product promotion

All representatives indicated access to email and a willingness to travel, something we most appreciate. We’ll keep you updated with more information as this program develops. If you have questions about the program or wish to participate as your club’s representative but could not make it to the initial meeting, please contact VSBA President Pam Fisher at 757-620-0945 or [email protected].

Legislative Update The 2016 legislative session convened on Wednesday, Jan. 13. Delegate Richard P. Bell from the 20 District in the Staunton area introduced a bill to amend the Code of Virginia related to limited liability for beekeepers. The bill number is HB535. If this bill passes it will help protect Virginia beekeepers from frivolous lawsuits. th

The language could change as the proposed legislation passes through the General Assembly provided it does not get tabled along the way. If the proposed legislation passes, participation in January 2016

the “limited liability” will be voluntary -- no beekeeper will be required to participate. If HB535 passes, it could take several months for VDACS to accomplish the work required to make the limited liability available to those who want to participate. VDACS’ deadline for that work is November 1, 2016. To see the “Summary as Introduced,” go to http://virginiageneralassembly.gov/ and in the center column under Track a 2016 Regular Session Bill, enter HB535 in the box and click Go, to the right. To see the full text of the proposed legislation, under the FULL TEXT header click on 01/09/16 House: to load the pdf file. Senator Creigh Deeds has also introduced SB356 proposing a “Pollinator Protection Strategy.” The bill can also be viewed on the website as described above. Lannie Ballard Legislative Chairperson

Winter Clusters?

Three New Groups Active VSBA is excited to learn of three beekeeping groups which are now holding meetings around the state: Hillsville, Carroll County. Carroll County Extension Agent Steve Pottorff says a beekeepers group has been meeting since March 2015 at the Carroll County Extension Office, 205 Oak Street in Hillsville. Meetings are held the first Monday of the month at 6:30 p.m. with the goal of providing educational programs and networking opportunities to beekeepers. The group is open to anyone with an interest in bees and beekeeping. For more information, contact the Virginia Cooperative Extension - Carroll County at (276) 7303110 or email [email protected]. Shenandoah County Beekeepers. Club President Scott Currie ([email protected]) says the group meets in the French Brother's Dairy Educational Classroom, 200 North Water St. in Woodstock on the third Thursday of each odd-


Please see Groups, page 8 page 7

Groups, continued …

Summer Splits and Varroa

numbered month at 7 p.m., and meetings are drawing 15 people on average. The club will offer a Practical Beekeeping for Beginners class starting Feb. 4, taught by EAS-certified Master Beekeeper Brenda Kiessling.

Research Project Update

Tri-Cities Beekeepers Club, Hopewell. Organizer Greg Dommert ([email protected]) says the group has agreed to move forward loosely organized as a local club, meeting on the first Monday of every month from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the Hopewell Manufacturing Association Meeting Room at the Maude Langhorne Nelson Library (209 E Cawson St, Hopewell.) The two meetings held so far were attended by 15-20 people. R.D. Radford ([email protected]) is acting as club mentor. Submitted by Pam Burton Newsletter Editor Call for Nominations

VSBA Langstroth Award Did someone help you get started in beekeeping? Is there a local “bee” expert whom others regularly turn to for advice and assistance? Do you know someone who is at every festival, school, and street corner talking about the charms of honey bees? Would your local association not be as successful without that one particular leader? Want to let them know how much you appreciate what they do for you and other beekeepers? The Virginia State Beekeepers Association is soliciting nominations for the L.L. Langstroth Achievement Award. The award recognizes the achievements and contributions of Virginia’s beekeepers in advancing beekeeping. Nominations must be received by VSBA on or before April 1, 2016, to be eligible for consideration. Submissions should include pertinent information on the activities and contributions of the nominee to beekeepers and their community. A list of recommended information is available upon request. For further details on preparing and submitting a nomination, contact Keith Tignor by email at [email protected]. January 2016

Many factors contribute to the recent decline in bee populations including weather, food availability, chemicals and pests, but the parasitic mite, Varroa Destructor, is thought to play the largest role. Chemical control is the most common method of varroa control, but in recent years there has been a push to investigate alternative methods. Research has demonstrated swarming to be an efficient method to control and reduce varroa populations among feral and isolated honey bee populations. It is an exciting find, because splitting is considered a managerial equivalent to swarming and may have similar effects on honey bee pest population dynamics. If proven true, splitting of colonies could provide beekeepers with a practical tool to control varroa populations while decreasing the use of chemicals. Limited research has been conducted in this area, but this is where my project, Evaluation of Summer splits on Varroa Mite Reduction and Colony Productivity, begins. I am investigating the efficacy of colony splitting as a means of controlling varroa populations in a colony. The key element in controlling varroa populations is the broodless period after a colony swarms. Mite reproduction is dependent upon brood availability and during a period of limited or no brood, varroa populations cannot increase and in fact, they could potentially decrease. The bees are busy grooming and removing mites from the hive and with limited or no brood there are no means for the mites to reproduce. I have conducted similar research in previous years with Dr. Deborah Delaney from the University of Delaware to better understand how splitting can play a role in varroa control, but this year was unique because local beekeepers throughout the mid-Atlantic were encouraged to participate in the study. The project extended throughout the mid-Atlantic and lasted from June to October 2015. Participants included eight beekeepers from New


Please see Research, page 9

page 8

Research, continued ….

Looking Ahead to EAS 2016

York, Virginia, Maryland and Delaware who ranged from hobbyists to small-scale beekeepers. Each beekeeper dedicated a minimum of two colonies to the project, a control colony to which swarm prevention was applied and a colony destined to be split. The timing of splits ranged from early June through July. Colony strength was monitored via monthly assessments performed by the beekeeper. The assessments were a means to evaluate the strength and productivity of the hive and included adult bee population, pattern quality, the amount of brood, pollen and carbohydrates (honey plus nectar), and varroa mite numbers (72- hour mite monitoring sticky sheet). There are many factors that play a role in the health and survival of colony, but the project is focusing specifically on varroa number, timing of the split, bee population, brood and carbohydrate amounts. The majority of the data has now been collected, and I am currently assessing the efficacy of splitting using multilevel (mixed) statistical models. Varroa populations in both control and split colonies peaked in early September; brood peaked in August; bee population peaked in July. Carbohydrates peaked in late July and steadily decreased throughout August and into September. Preliminary data suggests that splitting of colonies does impact varroa populations and the timing of the split impacts honey production, but to what depth is still unknown. Winter survival will be a key variable in determining the efficiency of colony splits as a tool to control varroa populations while maintaining a thriving colony. The research has provided a great opportunity to learn more about the relationship between managed honey bee colonies and varroa, while identifying efficient tools to control varroa populations. I greatly appreciate all participants’ time and dedication to the project. I especially want to thank Dr. Deborah Delaney at University of Delaware for her help and support throughout the project, and the Eastern Apicultural Society and Virginia State Beekeepers Association for their financial support.

From here, summer seems like a long way off, but you should be making plans now to attend the Eastern Apicultural Society’s 2016 conference July 25-29 in Stockton, N.J., a short distance west of Atlantic City. Monday through Wednesday will be filled with short courses for all levels of beekeeping experience, while Wednesday through Friday will be packed with talks and workshops, national and local vendors, bee olympics, honey show competition, hands-on bee demonstrations, mead and candle-making, social events, a tour of a large beekeeping operation, and more. Keynote speakers include James Frazier, Dennis vanEngelsdorp, Jeff Pettis and David Tarpy. Not to mention the opportunity to share the comradery, knowledge, and tall tales from more than 600 fellow beekeepers. Affordable dorm rooms will be available, as well as a variety of local motels. Registration opens April 1, but accommodations fill quickly. Check out the EAS website for more information: http://easternapiculture.org/conferences/eas-2016.html We need you!

EAS 2018 to be Held in Va. The location is still to be determined, but we need your help in making the first Eastern Apicultural Society conference in Virginia the best! The site search is on, and we need you to join the planning of how we showcase Virginia to the rest of the beekeeping world. Please contact Ann Zudekoff at [email protected] to be part of this exciting opportunity. Submitted by Ann Zudekoff EAS Virginia delegate

Submitted by Kathleen Ciola Evans

January 2016


page 9

Changing your address? Whether you receive your Commonwealth Buzz by postal mail or email,,, Please notify VSBA when your address changes

Ian D. Henry 5771 Hill Top St. Crozet, VA 22932

ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED

«FIRST_NAME» «LAST_NAME» «DUES_year_paid__yr_expir es» «ADDRESS» «CITY», «STATE» «ZIP»