UMass Extension - Pollinators

04/19/2022

Hi beekeepers - Want to learn queen rearing in Western MA this summer? There's one more day to register for in-person Queen School with They Keep Bees in Montague! Click here to learn more:

I love teaching people about bees! Whether at the community or collegiate level, teaching people about bees builds so many beautiful connections.

06/15/2021

Hi beekeepers - don't forget to fill out your 2021 BeeAware Honey Bee Health survey, which MDAR uses to better help beekeepers like you!

Thank you for participating in the BEE AWARE Health Survey by providing feedback on the health of your honey bee colonies! This survey has been created by the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) to serve as a tool for Massachusetts honey beekeepers to share data on colony healt...

03/22/2021

Hi beekeepers - Extension is looking for your help this spring!

In addition to getting your feedback on classes (see post below), we're also conducting a follow-up study to our 2018 Hobbyist health Survey. We're testing for pesticide levels in honey from backyard beekeepers. We'll be testing honey from 40 MA beekeepers, as well as generic grocery-store honey from out-of-state. You can learn more about the project here: https://ag.umass.edu/resources/pollinators/research-projects-at-umass/umass-honey-testing-project

We need your help! If you'd like to submit a honey sample for testing, please start by filling out this interest form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeTxufgm-7rJ2MA8TtQQWEycuzC03BeZ_l30erqA3ann3Whqw/viewform?usp=sf_link

We hope to include all interested beekeepers, though if we receive >40 requests we will select the 40 apiaries representing maximum statewide geographic coverage. Once you fill out the form, we will be in touch to let you know whether there are remaining openings in your part of the state, and to send along more information about sampling protocols.

On behalf of our research team and the honey bees of Massachusetts, thank you for participating in this important research project! As part of a grant from the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR), we will be testing honey from backyard beekeepers around the state for pesticides...

03/22/2021

Hi beekeepers - Extension is looking for your help this spring!

We're writing a grant to offer Intermediate Beekeeping Classes, and we want your feedback! Which topics would you like to see? Fill out the survey here:

We are planning on offering a series of talks in 2022 covering intermediate/advanced bee topics and we want to hear from you! What topics are you most interested in?

02/19/2021

The new Research Buzz article is out! You can find it here: https://ag.umass.edu/sites/ag.umass.edu/files/pdf-doc-ppt/the_research_buzz_spring2021.pdf, and also in the Mass Bee Newsletter: https://www.massbee.org/newsletters/

You can check out past articles here: https://ag.umass.edu/resources/pollinators/honey-bees/education/umass-extension/research-buzz

02/16/2021

There are some exciting bee talks at the SEMAP Ag & Food Conference, which will be taking place virtually this year, Feb 28-March 2! Click here to learn more and register: https://semaponline.org/event/2021-agriculture-and-food-conference/

Keep an eye out for these talks:
"Interconnectivity of Beekeeping, Farmers & Food Access"
Dan Conlon, Warm Colors Apiary

"Planting for the Bees’ Needs"
Anne Averill, UMass Amherst

SEMAP's flagship annual event, the Agriculture & Food Conference, returns this year with the theme Resilient Farming. Whether you’re a professional farmer, a backyard gardener, or just curious about locally grown … 2021 Agriculture & Food Conference Read More »

12/07/2020

Hi Beekeepers - the second MDAR Honey Bee State of the State meeting is tomorrow night! Log on to learn about 2020 Honey Bee Inspection Data and Aerial Mosquito Spray Monitoring. 🐝

Join Us Today! Dec 1st from 5:30-7:30pm for the first in a series of educational programs providing updates on honey bee health in the Commonwealth.

Join Zoom Meeting
https://umass-amherst.zoom.us/j/92908342266?pwd=Y0o4YkxMS3FNSkJDN0U5UWhFbjJQQT09
Meeting ID: 929 0834 2266
Passcode: 087408
One tap mobile: +16468769923,,92908342266 # US (New York)

🐝This event will not be recorded so BEE there or BEE square!🐝

12/01/2020

Hi all - this awesome event will be happening TONIGHT! Join Kim Skyrm and the MDAR apiary team for the first State of the State webinar!

Join Us Today! Dec 1st from 5:30-7:30pm for the first in a series of educational programs providing updates on honey bee health in the Commonwealth.

Join Zoom Meeting
https://umass-amherst.zoom.us/j/92908342266?pwd=Y0o4YkxMS3FNSkJDN0U5UWhFbjJQQT09
Meeting ID: 929 0834 2266
Passcode: 087408
One tap mobile: +16468769923,,92908342266 # US (New York)

🐝This event will not be recorded so BEE there or BEE square!🐝

10/07/2020

Hi all - we are planning bee courses for 2021 and beyond, and we want YOUR input! If you have 5min, please take our short survey: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScUeV-83MNHGvISAyBCHnsJESKlf2BNt0NdgwQjj5-gT7oE2A/viewform?usp=sf_link

Thank you!

We are writing grants to expand our capacity to offer workshops in 2021 and beyond, and we would love your feedback!

09/25/2020

Hi all - the new Research Buzz article is out! In it, I summarize some of the newest and coolest in bee research. You can read it here:https://ag.umass.edu/sites/ag.umass.edu/files/pdf-doc-ppt/the_research_buzz_fall2020.pdf and find past articles here: https://ag.umass.edu/resources/pollinators/honey-bees/education/umass-extension/research-buzz

It is also published as part of the MassBee newsletter, which you can find here: https://www.massbee.org/newsletters/

09/08/2020

Hi Beekeepers - there are a few more open slots to participate in the 2020 USDA National Honey Bee Pest and Disease Survey!

To participate, you need to have 8 or more hives in one location. We would visit your apiary in September or early October to collect virus, varroa and nosema samples from 8 hives. It's an opportunity to get involved with a national monitoring project (while getting free info about your bees!). If you're interested, email [email protected] to find out more.

(We're especially interested in hearing from beekeepers in Worcester County, and southern Berkshire County!)

08/27/2020

We are launching an exciting new project!

UMass Amherst is seeking certified veterinarians who have at least two years of beekeeping experience (backyard or commercial) and are interested in conducting honey bee veterinary visits.

As part of a grant through the Massachusetts Department of Agriculture and in collaboration with Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, we are creating resources and training materials for veterinarians who want to add honey bees to their practice. We are seeking beekeeper-veterinarians to give us feedback on materials, trainings and protocols (while gaining skills to inspect hives).

If you are interested and meet the criteria, email extension educator Hannah Whitehead at [email protected] for more information.