Bonus Episodes

Dr. Dewey Caron explores whether honey bees should be considered domesticated and what centuries of bee breeding have done to honey bee genetics. He examines genetic bottlenecks, commercial queen production, genotype-environment interactions, COLOSS research on locally adapted bees, and several U.S. efforts to select for mite resistance and regional adaptation.

Stephanie Slater shares practical advice for safely transporting honey show entries by car, shipping, and air travel. Learn how experienced competitors protect honey and beeswax, manage TSA restrictions, pack checked luggage, prepare for bubbles and fill-line problems, and assemble a competition cleanup kit. Plus, Stephanie talks with 2026 Wisconsin Honey Queen Emily Skala and previews upcoming honey shows.

Jeff Ott and Becky Masterman begin a new BTP Short series exploring artificial intelligence for beekeepers. They discuss practical uses for AI—from organizing inspection records and mite data to finding research and assisting with writing—along with its significant limitations. Jeff also shares what happened when he asked AI to count Varroa mites from IPM board photographs.

Dr. Dewey Caron explores smoker use and wildfire smoke in this installment of Bee Science. Learn why he describes smoke as changing bee behavior, how he approaches fuel and hive inspections, and what alternatives to a smoker can offer. Dewey also discusses wildfire losses, bee navigation, native bee habitat, and unanswered questions about ash exposure before closing with ten points on smoke and fire safety.

Dr. David Peck joins Jeff and Becky to discuss Api-Bioxal RTU, a ready-to-use oxalic acid dribble for Varroa management. They cover dosage, application, broodless versus brood-right colonies, repeat treatments, shelf life, storage, temperature considerations, and how RTU differs from homemade oxalic acid dribbles.

Jeff Ott visits Premier Bee Products in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, for a firsthand look at how foundation, frames, and hive bodies are manufactured. Premier founder Jeff Johnson discusses the company’s approach to product development, the Propolis Hive, dovetail woodenware, and how ideas from researchers, other industries, and beekeepers make their way into the bee yard.

Stephanie Slater explores how to prepare pollen for honey show competition. Learn what judges look for, how to collect, dry, clean, store, and present pollen, why color diversity matters, and how to achieve the proper fill level. Stephanie also shares lessons from her own competition experience and spotlights several upcoming fall honey shows.

Adam Hickman of Foxhound Bee Company joins Jeff and Becky for a behind-the-scenes look at The Rivals of Amziah King, starring Matthew McConaughey. Adam served as a bee wrangler and beekeeping consultant on the film, helping create authentic scenes using live honey bees. He shares how his team staged a cutout, prepared colonies with young nurse bees for the actors, created McConaughey’s memorable bee-covered-arm scene, and helped filmmakers get the details of beekeeping right.

What can we learn simply by listening to a honey bee colony? Dr. Dewey Caron explores the science of sound in the hive, including how bees produce and detect vibrations, the distinctive sound of queenless colonies, vibroacoustic communication during the waggle dance, predator-warning signals, and what young bees learn by following experienced dancers. Dewey also traces acoustic hive monitoring from Eddie Woods’ early Apidictor to today’s sophisticated digital and machine-learning systems. This is Part One of a two-part exploration of honey bee sounds.

Dr. Dewey Caron explains the remarkable dance language of honey bees, exploring how scout bees communicate food location, distance, direction, and resource quality through the round dance, sickle dance, and waggle dance. Along the way, he highlights the pioneering work of Karl von Frisch and the continuing discoveries that deepen our understanding of honey bee communication.

Stephanie Slater returns with a busy summer update, sharing highlights from the Heartland Apicultural Society conference, a youth beekeeping camp, and preparations for upcoming honey judging events. This month’s featured topic explores how to create award-winning beeswax exhibits, including proper wax handling, candle preparation, common mistakes to avoid, and practical tips that judges look for in competition entries. Stephanie also spotlights upcoming honey shows in Colorado and South Carolina and offers encouragement for first-time exhibitors.

The Honey Bee Health Coalition just released the 9th edition of the Varroa Management Guide. For many beekeepers, this guide has become the go-to reference for cutting through misinformation and focusing on proven, research-backed practices. With this latest edition, the Coalition has made meaningful updates that reflect the increasing difficulty of controlling Varroa, even when best practices are followed.

Kamon Reynolds joins Jeff Ott and Becky Masterman to discuss plans for the 2027 North American Honey Bee Expo, including expanded educational programming, new presentation tracks, and a formal call for speaker proposals. The conversation also highlights the Beginning Beekeeping Short Course being developed with Beekeeping Today, attendance growth, international outreach, and the Expo’s mission to connect, educate, and inspire beekeepers of all experience levels.

In this episode of Bee Science, Dr. Dewey Caron discusses one of the most important late-summer management tasks: removing honey supers and preparing honey for harvest. Dewey reviews the advantages and disadvantages of bee escape boards, fume boards, bee blowers, and bounce-and-brush techniques while also covering robbing prevention, brood in supers, honey moisture testing, and proper post-harvest handling. The result is a practical guide to protecting both honey quality and colony health as the season transitions toward fall.

Stephanie Slater discusses preparing for the upcoming honey show season, shares major news about the new American Honey Judges Association, explains how Black Jar Honey Tasting Contests bring beekeepers together, and offers practical advice on one of the most overlooked keys to success in honey competitions: carefully reading the rules before entering.

The Heartland Apicultural Society returns to Michigan State University May 30–31, 2026, bringing together beekeepers from across the region for two days of education, networking, and hands-on learning. In this Beekeeping Today Podcast Short, Jeff Ott and Becky Masterman welcome Ana Heck of Michigan State University and Dr. Robyn Underwood of Penn State University to preview the upcoming conference and explain why this event offers something valuable for everyone from beginning beekeepers to expe...

In this Bee Science with Dewey, Dewey explores the rapid growth of honey bee colonies in spring and the management decisions beekeepers face during this critical season. Dewey discusses how pollen availability, weather, and nutrition drive brood production and colony expansion, while also increasing the risk of swarming and varroa mite reproduction. The episode reviews current research on protein supplementation, including studies from the University of Guelph, the USDA, and Washington State University, highlighting how supplemental feeding can support stronger spring buildup and improved overwintering success. Dewey also examines brood breaks, swarm prevention, colony evaluation methods, and the importance of balancing growth with pest management. Throughout the discussion, Dewey emphasizes practical observation and individualized colony management, reminding beekeepers that no two colonies—or spring seasons—are exactly alike.

Stephanie Slater shares expert tips on selecting and preparing jars for honey shows, along with updates on upcoming events and judging opportunities.

Dr. Sammy Ramsey joins this BTP Short to discuss his work on National Geographic’s Secrets of the Bees. From science to storytelling, he shares how the series reveals new insights into honey bee behavior, Varroa resistance, and the emotional connection between humans and bees.

Honey show insights, black jar judging, and bee lab outreach from the University of Minnesota highlight this final Midwest Honey Bee Expo short.

Dr. Dewey Caron explains how to build an effective Varroa management plan using IPM principles, early-season control, and the right combination of treatment tools.

Recorded at the Midwest Honey Bee Expo, this episode features SimplKomb and BRB Feeder discussing comb honey production and innovative hive feeding solutions.

Live from the Midwest Honey Bee Expo, Jeff and Becky talk with David Burns, BroodMinder, and Hive Butler about beekeeping insights, tools, and innovations shaping the industry.

Stephanie Slater launches a new monthly series on honey shows, sharing how to get started, why they matter, and how competitions like the Black Jar Contest help beekeepers improve their craft.