For almost a decade, I’ve had the privilege as apiarist to work with state universities, bee associations, beekeepers and volunteers to create a greater apiculture infrastructure for Kentucky. I’m particularly pleased with the USDA Honey Bee Well being Survey database that began in Kentucky in 2015, offering a panel of knowledge to beekeepers about viruses, mites, spores and in some instances, pesticides. One other milestone is the Pollinator Stakeholder Plan that created a communication instrument between applicators and beekeepers (this month is a perfect time to enroll earlier than farmers begin purposes! It’s free and nameless!). Right here is the hyperlink: Microsoft Phrase – PollinatorHandout.docx (kyagr.com)

On Feb. 23, I stepped down as state apiarist and started a brand new thrilling chapter with Kentucky State College on Feb. 26 because the supervisor of the Newbie Beekeeping program: Kentucky State College | Small-Scale Farm Grant Program (kysu.edu)

I hope that a lot of you’ll keep contact with me as most of the grants and tasks I labored on at Kentucky Division of Agriculture can simply switch to Kentucky State College.

– Tammy Horn Potter tamara.potter@kysu.edu