apiculture Data & Policy

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• As of 2024, there are about 17,000 registered beehives in the state of Vermont.  Most of these hives are owned by hobbyists that keep 1-20 hives.  The remainder are commercial apiaries owning 100-3,000+ beehives, often spread across several local locations.  
• According to the Vermont Beekeepers Association, Vermont is the largest honey producing state in the Northeast.  
• According to the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food, and Markets (VAAFM), a single beehive produces an average of 70lbs of honey in a single year.  According to the National Honey Board, the national average wholesale price for 1lb of honey is $2.03.
• Beginning in the 1950s, beehives began to be affected by the parasite Varroa Destructor, which without proper management will lead to the transition of viruses from colony to colony and ultimately to complete colony collapse.  The Varroa Mite has wreaked havoc on the number of beekeeping hobbyists and to the overuse of pesticides in treating colonies. This has also led to increased costs for commercial apiaries.  
• Varroa mite infestation is currently the leading management problem for Vermont's beekeepers.  
• Many beekeepers, me included, utilize IPM (Integrated Pest Management) to holistically reduce mite and disease loads.  Oten, IPMs include managing natural cycles of hive buildup with mite reduction methods.  The goal of IPMs is to prevent the need for chemical treatment of hives, or drastically reduce it.

I support policies that reasonably protects and preserves pollinator habitats, reduces harmful practices, and incentivizes potential hobbyists to become educated beekeepers.  Honeybees and pollinators are integral to our food chains, and integral to Vermont's apple trees.