Back to top

2018 Massachusetts Hobbyist Health Survey

MA Hobbyist Health Survey

In 2018, UMass and MDAR collaborated with 40 hobbyist beekeepers across Massachusetts to carry out this beekeeper-initiated project. In early and late summer, we sampled two colonies from each beekeeper for Nosema, Varroa, viruses and pesticides. This survey gives us valuable information about pesticide and disease levels that can inform state-level decision-making.

 

Tips for protecting your hives from pesticides: Protecting Hives from Pesticides

The full report: MA Hobbyist Survey-Full Report

 

Summary of pesticide results (PDF: Pesticide Results Summary):

pesticide summary page 1

 

pesticide summary page 2

 

pesticide summary page 3

 

 

collecting bees for Nosema analysis
sampling equipment
shipping live bees for virus testing
candid photo from the apiary