The growing focus on organic agriculture in the past few several years has benefitted bee populations in several local areas and municipalities, but there is still a long way to go in this fight.
In 2023, the Associated Press reported that nearly half of U.S. honeybee colonies died the previous year. The race to ‘save the honeybees’ prompted famous actor Morgan Freeman to convert his 124-acre ranch into a bee sanctuary.
Bee-killing and plant destroying pesticides have also been in the crosshairs lately. A controversial and highly corrosive Monsanto/Bayer pesticide just had its approval revoked in federal court.
These positive developments belie a situation that has become dire at various points in recent years.
Now, the spotlight is shining on the state of Virginia, where state officials have created a promising plan to help its citizens save the local bee populations.
Virginia Gives Free Beehives to Restore Bee Populations
Virginia had a population of 8.684 million as of July 2022.
The state is rich in diverse natural areas stretching from the Chesapeake Bay to the Appalachian Mountains all the way to its sprawling Atlantic coastline.
The state of Virginia has decided to help its citizens to improve the state’s native lands in one unique way in recent years, by distributing free beehives to state residents as part of a program that has made national news headlines.
The program was created in 2018, took effect in July 2020 and was extended into 2023 and 2024.
“The Beehive Grant Fund was created to promote the establishment of new beehives in the Commonwealth,” a PDF form from the Virginia state government stated.
Virginia Offers Residents Three Beehives Per Year
According to the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the program will provide ‘up to three beehives a year’ to anyone over the age of 18 who applies and qualifies to receive the benefits.
The state organization will register each person as a beekeeper as part of the process.
Beekeeping operations can be complicated. The Virginia Dept. mentions what is needed to become a beekeeper aside from beehives on its website.
“A beehive unit shall consist of two deep hive boxes with frames and foundation, a bottom board, and cover, or a hive of equivalent capacity that has movable frames with combs or foundation that cause the bees to construct brood combs and that may be removed from the hive without injuring other combs,” the department wrote on its website.
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Where to Find More Information
More information on the program can be found by clicking on this link.
Applications for the 2023-2024 Fiscal Year were officially closed as of the original writing of this article in early spring 2024.
Those interest in future beehive applications may contact Keith Tignor, State Apiarist, at 804-786-3515, or by email at VABees@vdacs.virginia.gov.
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