In every thriving colony, there is one bee whose influence reaches nearly every aspect of colony survival, productivity, temperament, and resilience: the honey bee queen.For many beginning beekeepers, queens can seem mysterious. They are larger th…
Earlier this week, I had the privilege of visiting one of the most historically significant landmarks in American beekeeping: the A.I. Root Company in Medina, Ohio. For anyone who’s kept bees for more than a season—or cracked open an old…
I’m often asked why we run so many episodes focused on varroa mites—guests, shorts, and even… blogs. I understand the question. As a beekeeper and content creator with a platform devoted to the news, information, and entertainment…
The idea came to me almost instantly—one of those moments where the podcast producer part of my brain took over: We need to create a BTP Shorts series covering every available varroa treatment option. After all, when you flip through any bee s…
We face change every day – in life and in the bee yard. Some good, some not so much… some with little immediate consequence. The real challenge is how we respond. This past spring, change came in big, unexpected ways for me and my bees.…
I have to admit, my gateway insect to the world of beekeeping wasn’t the honey bee. It wasn’t even the ants I followed as they made their way through my mother’s rose garden, although ants’ social behavior fascinated me. No, …
As beekeepers, we know that robbing happens—probably more often than we think. It’s those little "petty thefts" that happen every day, as bees from neighboring colonies test the defenses of nearby hives. If feral colonies were scattered …
IntroductionEmbarking on beekeeping can be an incredibly rewarding experience, but it's not without its challenges. To ensure your first year as a beekeeper is a success, it's crucial to prepare properly and be informed about the realities of beek…
Baby, it’s getting warm out there!We recently received a voicemail from a listener who asked about the impact of unseasonably warm temperatures on beekeeping management. She is not alone in noticing advanced colony growth this year. A …
In 2020, the late Kim Flottum, Jim Tew, and I launched an innovative podcast series focused on the fundamentals of beekeeping. This four-part series was among the first podcasts to comprehensively address what newcomers to beekeeping need to know. C…
I'm still buzzing with excitement from my weekend at the North American Honey Bee Expo in Louisville, Kentucky. It was an extraordinary event, and our booth, conveniently located right next to our key sponsor, Betterbee, was at the heart of the acti…
It is with profound sadness and a heavy heart that I share the news of the passing of Kim Flottum, a cherished friend, esteemed cohost, devoted husband, and father. After a courageous battle with cancer, Kim left us, leaving behind a legacy enriched…
As the leaves turn and the temperatures drop, it's tempting to think that beekeeping takes a seasonal hiatus, but that couldn't be further from the truth. In fact, the fall and winter are golden opportunities for beekeepers to expand their knowledge…
Forgive me if I am oversharing, but I do not enjoy winter. Especially January gets to me. The holidays are over and I find the cold, grey days tiresome. Everything starts to take on the appearance of the landscape in an old black and white photo.&nb…
Now that Fall is here, honey is harvested and most of us are buttoning up our colonies for the winter, what is a beekeeper to do with all that new-found time?There is lots you can do: Get caught up on all your reading by gather up your scattered b…
Some of you may remember this past spring, I joined Bee Informed Partnership’s 2022 Sentinel Apiary Program. As part of this program, I sent in monthly samples from four of my beeyard colonies from May through October. I also collected pollen …
I suppose I am like most beekeepers. I like bees. I like to watch them and marvel at their beauty – in function and form. I can (and have) spent hours just watching them.I also like to tinker. I am not over the top, but I like gadgets and ex…
A new report released in early March by the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) looks at the causes, impacts and solutions of climate change. It gives the clearest indication to date of how a warmer world is affecting all living th…
One of the articles I wrote long ago for Bee Culture was about woodenware (Bee Culture, "Wooden World," February 1992, pp 80-87). You know, the frames - both deep and medium, hive bodies, honey supers, inner covers and telescoping covers. I didn&rsq…
The serious ethanol industry began in the 1970s when petroleum-based fuel became expensive and environmental concerns involving leaded gasoline created a need for an octane additive. It was soon obvious that corn was a good choice for ethanol produc…
It is that time of year in many parts of the country where the bees will start to get out on the sunny days, make a quick flight and get back into the cluster before they get too cold. As the Winter wanes, you may see some colonies have this activit…
I was intrigued by one result of the huge climate change conference held a bit ago in Scotland. That is, the concept of “Net 0”. Each participant presented promises of reducing CO2 and other warming gas emissions to “Net 0” b…
