Spartan helmet
8% FUNDED GIVE NOW
  • $370 RAISED OF $5,000 GOAL
  • 5 DONORS

HONOR ROLL

  • Patricia Wolf $20.00
  • David Petro $200.00
  • MARIE MORELAND $20.00
  • Claudia Learned $30.00
  • Susan Dies $100.00

Beekeeping Education and Support Fund

Michigan is an important state for honey bees and beekeeping. Michigan beekeepers produce honey, provide pollination services to fruit and vegetable growers, and sell honey bee colonies to other beekeepers.  

Michigan migratory and commercial beekeepers typically move their honey bee colonies across the United States throughout the year and bring their bees to Michigan for pollination services in the spring and for honey production through the fall. Michigan stationary beekeepers, who keep their bees in Michigan year-round, also provide pollination services and produce local honey. Some stationary beekeepers begin with a small number of colonies as a hobby and then expand their operations over time to create side or full-time beekeeping businesses.  

Honey bees are essential to Michigan agriculture, but beekeepers face many challenges. Large numbers of honey bee colony die each year from diseases and other stressors, making up-to-date information and training essential to beekeeper success. Michigan State University Extension (MSU Extension) aims to increase education for stationary beekeepers. MSU Extension also aims to deliver education to pesticide users, land managers, home gardeners, and the public to support the health of honey bees, other pollinators, and beneficial insects.  

People interested in beginning beekeeping can take MSU’s free online course: Is Beekeeping Right for Me?. Beekeepers can find resources listed on MSU Extension’s webpage: Getting started with beekeeping in Michigan. MSU Extension’s impact and reach are summarized in MSU’s report: Supporting Beekeepers & Protecting Pollinators. 

Your Gift Will Support Michigan Beekeepers and Honey Bees 

Michigan State University (MSU) Extension’s pollinator programs include the following focus areas:  

  • Instruct beekeeping through webinars, in-person presentations and in-hive workshops.  
  • Share pollinator protection best practices with farmers, growers, gardeners, and other pesticide users.  
  • Encourage land managers and home gardeners to grow flowering plants for pollinators.  
  • Support commercial beekeepers through applied research.  
  • Train veterinary practitioners in apiculture and honey bee medicine. 

Project Support 

Funding support will be used to support MSU Extension’s educational and outreach activities to support beekeepers, honey bees, and other pollinators. 

  • Partnership with beekeeping associations: MSU Extension partners with the Michigan Beekeepers Association and local beekeeping clubs to provide education and outreach. 
  • A collection of boxes for bee homesBeekeeping webinars: MSU supports beekeepers throughout the state by offering virtual programming. Webinar recordings are posted to MSU Extension’s webpage for pollinator videos and the Michigan State University Beekeeping YouTube channel. 
  • In-hive beekeeping workshops: MSU maintains honey bee colonies for beekeepers, regulators, and the public to learn hive-handling, colony inspections, seasonal beekeeping management, and specialized beekeeping topics. 
  • Educational presentations and trainings: MSU Extension delivers in-person and virtual educational presentations to beekeepers, pesticide users, land managers, home gardeners, and the public to support the health of honey bees, other pollinators, and beneficial insects. MSU Extension also participates in meetings and fairs with stakeholders. 
  • Educational materials: MSU Extension creates online resources to promote good beekeeping practices and opportunities for the public to support pollinator health. MSU Extension prints and shares educational materials at conferences, workshops, meetings, and fairs. 
  • Professional development: MSU hires and provides professional development to student interns and research technicians. MSU Extension also participates in meetings and conferences to share its work and learn from colleagues. 
  • Supplies and training for first responders: MSU Extension’s Emergency Response to Accidents Involving Livestock program includes supplies and training for first responders to prepare for road accidents involving honey bee colonies. 

Make a Gift by Mail:

University Advancement
Spartan Way
535 Chestnut Road, Room 300
East Lansing, MI 48824

*Make check payable to Michigan State University and write “Appeal 24OOPCF1POLLIN” in the note section.

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