Honeybees in the News 

April 2024: Survey--Massachusetts Beekeepers. If you keep honeybee hives in Massachusetts, consider filling out the Bee Aware Honey Bee Health Survey.

April 2024: NYS recruiting Apiary Inspectors. NYS Agriculture and Markets has open positions for Apiary Inspectors. To learn more and apply see links in this brochure.

January 2024: NY Bee Wellness publishes Autumn 2023 Survey Results. In the latest newsletter from NY Bee Wellness, read about beekeeping and honeybee health trends in New York, including causes of mortality and techniques beekeepers use to better protect their hives.

January 2024: Governor Hochul signed the NYS Birds & Bees Protection Act.  After many years of advocacy and debate, the NYS Legislature in 2023 passed the "Birds and Bees Protection Act" and sent it to the Governor. Upon further negotiations, on 22 December 2023 Governor Hochul signed the Act, with "chapter amendments," paving the way to an eventual (2027) and partial ban on the class of pesticides known as neonicotinoids. The NYS Legislature will further study and amend the Act. According to the Governor's Office, "Legislation S.1856-A/A.7640 is a proactive measure to protect pollinators by restricting the use of neonicotinoid pesticides on certain seeds, outdoor ornamental plants, and turf. It allows sufficient time for innovative research on alternatives and the development of more cost-effective products that are less harmful to the environment. After this period, the use of neonicotinoids will be subject to science-based evaluations and waiver provisions to assist farm and agriculture operations in the transition to this new program." 

December 2023: Will Governor Hochul sign the NYS Birds & Bees Protection Act before end of session?  The NYS Legislature voted to pass the Birds and Bees Protection Act (A.7640/S.1856A). This first-in-the-nation state law now awaits the Governor's signature... 

April-October 2023: Northeast+NY Honey Bee Update: Lunch and Learn Series.

Hear what's new from local apiary inspectors, via Zoom. Flyer. Dates are posted in CAB's calendar.

April 2023: Invitation to Hands-on Queen School in Montague, MA

Supported by a grant from Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (NESARE), They Keep Bees is offering a two-weekend course focused on raising and caring for honeybee queens. For more information, download their letter of invitation. Course meeting dates are May 27th-28th and July 1st-2nd, in Montague, MA, near Greenfield, MA.

March 2023: Update regarding oxalic acid treatment, from Joan Mahoney, New York State Apiculturist. NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC) has informed beekeepers that, “the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) has determined that the 2ee for extended release oxalic acid did not fall within the guidelines set by Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act  (FIRFA (2ee).” NYS Ag & Markets urges, “all beekeepers, when applying miticides to their hives, to read and abide by the label.” Click here to download related letters from NYS DEC and US EPA.

Joan L. Mahoney, State Apiculturist Joan.Mahoney (at) agriculture.ny.gov, Division of Plant Industry, NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets, 4 Stewart Ave, Westhampton Beach, NY 11978 http://www.agriculture.ny.gov  and  https://beekeepers.agriculture.ny.gov/registration

January 19, 2023: NYS Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli-- State Department of AG and Markets Should Improve Pollinator Protection Program: Honey Bee Colonies Vital to New York’s Agricultural Economy. Press release. 

Times Union article (with comments from CAB member Paul McPhail): New York agency could do more to protect honeybees, audit says: Honeybees are responsible for a large number of crops' pollination. But diseases, parasites and pesticides could threaten that.

January 4, 2023: USDA conditionally approves first vaccine for queen honeybees, to prevent American Foulbrood Disease.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture granted a conditional license to Dalan Animal Health for a vaccine to treat queen honeybees, to prevent the transmission of American Foulbrood Disease to honeybee larvae. To see the NY counties where American Foulbrood Disease has been found, download NYS Agriculture and Market's 2022 map of reported cases. 

January 1, 2023:  New York State and counties offer bare root tree, shrub and perennial plants for conservation and pollinators

The annual opportunity for NYS residents to economically purchase bare root stock for trees, shrubs and plants has arrived! Provide steady sources of food for your honeybees by planting a variety of locally-appropriate flora. Order now; pick up in April. Nearby sources include: Albany County Soil and Water Conservation District Tree and Shrub Program; Columbia County Soil and Water Conservation District Tree & Shrub Sale;  Rensselaer County Soil and Water Conservation District Online Tree & Shrub Sale Shop; and, NYS Spring Seedling Sale.