VDACS offering free beehive-assembly equipment

The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is offering free equipment for assembling new beehives to Virginia residents. Applications for the department's 2024 Beehive Distribution Program are being accepted now through Sept. 6 here.

A random drawing will be held to choose which qualified recipients will receive the equipment. To be eligible, applicants must be residents of Virginia and 18 years or older. Businesses, non-profit organizations, and government agencies are not eligible to apply. Multiple people with the same mailing and/or physical address can apply, but only three beehive units will be given out per household in the same fiscal year (July 1 to June 30).

Those who receive units must assemble them and start a beehive with a colony of honey bees within one year. Honey bees and equipment for managing the hives, such as personal safety equipment or honey processing equipment, are not provided by VDACS.

For details, contact the VDACS Office of Plant Industry Services at (804) 786-3515 or vabees@vdacs.virginia.gov.