PITTSBURGH – June 20, 2016 – The Pennsylvania State Beekeepers Association (PSBA) is kicking off National Pollinator Week (June 20-16) with the launch of its Bee Friendly PA Program, an effort designed to recognize communities throughout the Commonwealth for their efforts in supporting honeybee health through legislation, education, pest management, green space care and “Honeybee health is critical to supporting agriculture and gardening,” said Charles Vorisek, PSBA president. “With 40 percent of bee colonies failing each year, it’s important for communities to help support local beekeepers in order to sustain pollination. Our goal is to encourage discussions about bee-friendly legislation, community education about the importance of bees and how cities and towns can support best practices in pest management, bee-friendly green space and community support for local beekeepers.”
Town managers who are interested in applying for Bee Friendly Community status can download an application from beefriendlypa.org. Applications will be reviewed by a PSBA committee on a rolling basis. The program is sponsored by Country Barn Farm, the Beaver Valley Area Beekeeping Association and Yakim’s Apiary.
Examples of best practices in the category of legislation include balancing community concerns with non-restrictive permitting for beekeepers, reasonable or no-cost permits, and roadway management that allows the growth of native plants. Communities using pollinator-friendly pest management solutions and green building and wastewater solutions that encourage plant growth will be considered favorably in those two categories. Other categories that will be considered are education – both community and school – and community support, which could be in the form of promoting local honey or hosting community apiaries or beekeeping clubs, as examples.
About PSBA
For 110 years, PSBA’s mission is to support beekeepers, advocate for research and educate the public. The association is made up of beekeepers from beginners to commercial beekeepers and honey packers from all 67 counties in Pennsylvania. Primary interests are the promotion of the scientific study of honeybees and honey production as well as a review of proposed legislation that may affect apiculture or honey production in Pennsylvania.