Grove City College Bee Project – Dr. Tracy Farone, DMV
Dr. Tracy Farone, DMV, professor of biology Grove City College, PA shares some of her insights with PCBA. The Grove City College Bee Project is a team of students led by Dr. Farone providing educational resources for bee medicine and research with the goal of highlighting pollinator and honey bee health topics (especially in PA), bee research and to connect and provide community outreach to beekeepers and veterinarians. Many of our members may recognize her work from the monthly articles “Bee Vet,” in Bee Culture Magazine, since August 2020.
1. Over the years, your main fields of studies have included infectious diseases, public health, tick-borne diseases, and honey bee health. What are some of your proudest accomplishments with the GCC Bee Project? What are you most looking forward to exploring next?
I have the privilege of working at a teaching college. Therefore I have very little pressure to apply for government grants, so I am free from much of the politics and money exchange that unfortunately governs much of the scientific community, My job is to spend my time teaching my students (and the community through outreach) how to learn to think for themselves, be able to analyze scientific information, and fall in love with the beauty of creation all at the same time. The study of apiculture has been a wonderful application of this. Being involved in the education of our next generation has by far been the accomplishment of which I am most proud. Specific accomplishments include: 1) Various publications, scientific papers, guidelines, and book chapters my students and I have produced. 2) The building of the campus apiary. 3) Dozens of invitations, over the last few years, to honey bee and veterinary conferences to speak on topics of common concern. 4) Our charity outreaches. Donating our honey to local groups and food banks, providing honey bee educational programs to local schools, all with the help of my students.
What’s next … I have a “Bee Vet” book in its initial stage publication…Stay tuned.
2. You and your team are engaged with the Honey Bee Veterinary Consortium. With your experience as a veterinarian with medical bee knowledge and animal science expertise, would you share a little bit about the benefits you have observed when veterinarians and beekeepers collaborate? Is there anything specific you would like beekeepers to know about veterinarians with apiculture experience?
Honey bees are one of the most important agricultural animals from an economic and food security aspect. I believe they deserve the status of animal and a doctor to take care of them. I think honey bees and their keepers deserve more recognition for their industry, but honey bees are different from other animals, so we need to be careful not to regulate them in ways that do not make sense in the industry. Honey bees have a lot of disease problems and I think veterinarians, with honey bee knowledge, can and should come alongside the industry to achieve common sense solutions to the health challenges honey bees are facing. Comprehensive honey bee health goes well beyond the awkward, FDA arranged marriage with the VFD stuff. I have seen some very positive interactions start to grow with beekeeping associations and veterinary associations, like the HBVC and American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), working together and providing more and more opportunities for educational interactions and collaborations over the last five years.
3. In addition to the GCC project site Home | Grove City College Research & Teaching Apiary (gccbeeproject.com) what are some on-line, science-based animal health resources you would recommend to our club’s beekeepers?
I think the Honey Bee Health Coalition (HBHC) is an awesome resource. Check out their info on Varroa management. USDA resources on honey bees are good and free as well.
Massachusetts Beekeepers Association - the voice of Beekeepers across the Commonwealth
Consider joining the Massachusetts Beekeepers Association. Annual dues: $15 for individuals or $25 for families. Membership includes the following benefits:
• 4 newsletters a year
• 2 meetings a year with speakers (researchers, academics, practitioners) from around the country
• Free registration for meetings (lunch is a separate cost)
• Annual honey competition (honey and products from the hive)
Massachusetts Beekeepers Association Spring 2024 Meeting
The Essex County Beekeepers Association is hosting this year’s Mass Bee Spring 2024 Meeting. The meeting will be held on Saturday March 16th @ 8 am—3:30 pm at the historic Topsfield Fairgrounds, 207 Boston Street, Topsfield, MA. Registration required Massachusetts Beekeepers Association, Inc. - Massachusetts Beekeepers Association Spring 2024 Meeting (wildapricot.org).
About Us
The Plymouth County Beekeepers Association (the “PCBA”), is a non-profit organization established in 1977. We are dedicated to the support of local agriculture and to educating the public about beekeeping through our school and participation in local fairs and festivals.
PCBA focuses on education, agriculture, and stewardship through many of the public outreach programs the club participates in and provides throughout the year. We have members who speak at schools, community centers, and professional meetings.
Website: plymouthcountybeekeepers.org
Location: 228 High Street, Hanson, MA, USA
