Beekeeping Today Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Judging Honey Shows With Stephanie Slater (328) Apr 07, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of Beekeeping Today Podcast, certified honey judge Stephanie Slater joins Jeff and Becky to demystify the art and science of honey shows. From understanding how entries are judged to tips on preparing award-winning honey, Stephanie shares her journey from entering her first show in 2019 to becoming Wisconsin's first certified judge through the American Honey Show Training Council.

Stephanie discusses what makes a honey show entry stand out—from reading the rules (yes, seriously!) to selecting high-quality jars, preventing bubbles, and even traveling with honey safely. She shares insights into the Black Jar competition (hint: it's all about flavor), gives pro tips for preparing entries, and explains why feedback from judges is so important for improving and learning.

The conversation also explores the steps required to become a certified honey judge, including training, stewarding, judging exams, and why these standards matter to elevate honey and beekeeping as a whole.

Whether you're new to honey competitions or considering becoming a judge yourself, this episode is packed with guidance, encouragement, and a healthy dose of enthusiasm.

If you've ever thought, "I could enter my honey," or "What do judges look for?"—this is the episode for you!

Websites from the episode and others we recommend:

American Honey Show Training Council: https://www.honeyshowusa.com
Stephanie's Website: https://www.awardwinninghoney.com/
Honey Bee Health Coalition: https://honeybeehealthcoalition.org
The National Honey Board: https://honey.com

Honey Bee Obscura Podcast: https://honeybeeobscura.com

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Betterbee is the presenting sponsor of Beekeeping Today Podcast. Betterbee's mission is to support every beekeeper with excellent customer service, continued education and quality equipment. From their colorful and informative catalog to their support of beekeeper educational activities, including this podcast series, Betterbee truly is Beekeepers Serving Beekeepers. See for yourself at www.betterbee.com

This episode is brought to you by Global Patties! Global offers a variety of standard and custom patties. Visit them today at http://globalpatties.com and let them know you appreciate them sponsoring this episode!

Thanks to Bee Smart Designs as a sponsor of this podcast! Bee Smart Designs is the creator of innovative, modular and interchangeable hive systems made in the USA using recycled and American sourced materials. Bee Smart Designs - Simply better beekeeping for the modern beekeeper.

Thanks to Dalan who is dedicated to providing transformative animal health solutions to support a more sustainable future. Dalan's vaccination against American Foulbrood (AFB) is a game changer. Vaccinated queens protect newly hatched honeybee larvae against AFB using the new Dalan vaccine. Created for queen producers and other beekeepers wanting to produce AFB free queens.

Retailers offering vaccinated queens and packages: https://dalan.com/order-vaccinated-queens/ More information on the vaccine: https://dalan.com/media-publications/

Thanks toStrong Microbials for their support of Beekeeping Today Podcast. Find out more about their line of probiotics in our Season 3, Episode 12 episode and from their website: https://www.strongmicrobials.com

Thanks for Northern Bee Books for their support. Northern Bee Books is the publisher of bee books available worldwide from their website or from Amazon and bookstores everywhere. They are also the publishers of The Beekeepers Quarterly and Natural Bee Husbandry.

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We hope you enjoy this podcast and welcome your questions and comments in the show notes of this episode or: questions@beekeepingtodaypodcast.com

Thank you for listening!

Podcast music: Be Strong by Young Presidents; Epilogue by Musicalman; Faraday by BeGun; Walking in Paris by Studio Le Bus; A Fresh New Start by Pete Morse; Wedding Day by Boomer; Christmas Avenue by Immersive Music; Red Jack Blues by Daniel Hart; Original guitar background instrumental by Jeff Ott.

Beekeeping Today Podcast is an audio production of Growing Planet Media, LLC

[Bonus] Short - Dr. Dewey Caron, "Honey Bee Communication Dynamics" Apr 02, 2025

Show notes

In this Beekeeping Today Podcast Short, we welcome back Dr. Dewey Caron for a quick yet insightful Audio Postcard on honey bee communication – Bee Scientist to Beekeeper, Beekeeper to Bee, and Bee to Bee. Dr. Caron shares timely advice for beekeepers, from colony assessments to spring preparations. Whether you're a beginner or experienced beekeeper, this short episode is packed with valuable tips to keep your colonies thriving. Tune in for expert insights from one of beekeeping's most respected educators!

Links & Resources:

Beekeeping Today Episode with Dr. Priya Basu: https://beekeepingtodaupodcast.com/309
Pollen Database and Missouri State: https://www.msstate.edu/newsroom/article/2021/10/msu-scientist-building-pollen-database-improve-bee-nutrition-asks-citizens
Couvillon, M.J. et al. 2015. Honey bee foraging distance depends on month and forage type. Apidologie 46:61-70.
BD Ohlinger, R Schürch, MR Silliman, TN Steele, & MJ Couvillon (2022). Dance-communicated distances support nectar foraging as a supply-driven system. Biol Letters 18 (8), 20220155

Brought to you by Betterbee – your partners in better beekeeping.

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Univ. of Montana Beekeeper Education with Dr. Scott Debnam (327) Mar 31, 2025

Show notes

Online beekeeping education has come a long way—and the University of Montana is leading the way. In this episode, Jeff and Becky talk with Dr. Scott Debnam, head beekeeper and lead instructor for UM's Online Master Beekeeping Program, about how the program has evolved over the past 12 years and why it continues to grow.

Scott shares how the program balances science-based instruction with practical application. Rather than prescribing a one-size-fits-all approach, students learn honey bee biology and colony ecology so they can make informed decisions that fit their goals, values, and local conditions.

The program's three levels—apprentice, journeyman, and master—are structured to build experience over time, with engaging lectures, moderated forums, and even student-led research. Students come from across the U.S. and over 25 countries, and their questions, experience, and feedback shape the program's dynamic learning environment.

Scott's enthusiasm for teaching and his love for bees are front and center in this conversation, which highlights the value of structured learning, community interaction, and lifelong curiosity in becoming a better beekeeper.

Websites from the episode and others we recommend:

University of Montana Beekeeper Education: https://www.umt.edu/bee/
Beekeeper's Academy: https://www.thebeekeepersacademy.com/
Honey Bee Health Coalition: https://honeybeehealthcoalition.org
The National Honey Board: https://honey.com

Honey Bee Obscura Podcast: https://honeybeeobscura.com

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Retailers offering vaccinated queens and packages: https://dalan.com/order-vaccinated-queens/ More information on the vaccine: https://dalan.com/media-publications/

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We hope you enjoy this podcast and welcome your questions and comments in the show notes of this episode or: questions@beekeepingtodaypodcast.com

Thank you for listening!

Beekeeping Today Podcast is an audio production of Growing Planet Media, LLC

[Bonus] Simon Mildren - Micro Honey Harvester Mar 25, 2025

Show notes

Welcome to today's Beekeeping Today Podcast Short. We're excited to have Simon Mildren, founder and CEO of HiveKeepers, an Australian agtech company revolutionizing the beekeeping industry. Simon, a firefighter turned beekeeper, has been instrumental in developing innovative solutions for both hobbyist and commercial beekeepers. In this bonus episode, we'll be discussing HiveKeepers' latest innovation—the Micro Honey Harvester.

This compact device simplifies the honey extraction process, allowing beekeepers with 1-5 hives to harvest pure honey in less than five minutes. The Micro Honey Harvester eliminates the need for uncapping, bulky extractors, and extensive filtering, making the process efficient and mess-free.

HiveKeepers has launched a Kickstarter campaign to bring this product to market, aiming to raise $1 million to support production and distribution. The campaign has garnered positive feedback from the beekeeping community, with many expressing excitement about the potential impact of this innovation.

Join us as we dive into the development of the Micro Honey Harvester and how Simon aims to transform honey harvesting for beekeepers worldwide.

Links and resources mentioned in today's BTP Short:

HiveKeepers website with Kick Starter Details: https://www.hivekeepers.com

Brought to you by Betterbee – your partners in better beekeeping.

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FlowHive's SuperLifter with Creator Cedar Anderson (326) Mar 24, 2025

Show notes

Beekeeping has evolved significantly over the years, and few innovations have sparked as much conversation as the Flow Hive. In this episode, Jeff and Becky welcome back Flow Hive co-founder, Cedar Anderson, who shares exciting updates on their latest innovation—the Superlifter. Designed to make hive inspections easier and more accessible for beekeepers of all experience levels, the Superlifter allows for effortless lifting of heavy honey supers, reducing strain on beekeepers' backs and improving hive management.

Cedar shares the journey behind this invention, including years of prototyping and refining the design. With a simple, easy-to-use system, the Superlifter works with any Langstroth hive—making it a game-changer for beekeepers who struggle with heavy lifting. Jeff and Becky discuss how this tool could revolutionize hive inspections, especially for beekeepers with physical limitations.

Beyond product development, Cedar dives into Flow Hive's commitment to education and sustainability, including the Billions of Blossoms initiative, which has already resulted in the planting of over 1.5 million trees to restore pollinator habitats. The team at Flow Hive continues to expand its educational offerings through TheBeekeeper.org, helping both new and experienced beekeepers improve their skills.

Join us for this insightful conversation about the intersection of innovation, sustainability, and making beekeeping more accessible to all. Whether you use a Flow Hive or a traditional Langstroth setup, this episode offers valuable insights into how technology and creative problem-solving can enhance your beekeeping experience.

Websites we recommend:

FlowHive Website: https://www.honeyflow.com/
Billions of Blossoms Initiative: https://honeyflow.com/pages/blossoms
Online Beekeeping Courses: https://thebeekeeper.org
Honey Bee Health Coalition: https://honeybeehealthcoalition.org
The National Honey Board: https://honey.com

Honey Bee Obscura Podcast: https://honeybeeobscura.com
2 Million Blossoms - The Podcast: https://2millionblossoms.com

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Retailers offering vaccinated queens and packages: https://dalan.com/order-vaccinated-queens/ More information on the vaccine: https://dalan.com/media-publications/

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We hope you enjoy this podcast and welcome your questions and comments in the show notes of this episode or: questions@beekeepingtodaypodcast.com

Thank you for listening!

Beekeeping Today Podcast is an audio production of Growing Planet Media, LLC

Predicting Honey Bee Foraging with AI - Davidson Fellow Vince Wu (325) Mar 17, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of Beekeeping Today Podcast, Jeff and Becky welcome an extraordinary young researcher, Vince Wu, a high school senior and Davidson Fellow Scholarship winner. Vince's groundbreaking research combines artificial intelligence and honey bee foraging behavior, using radio frequency identification (RFID) tracking and deep learning models to predict how weather influences bee foraging activity.

Vince's project, which started as a personal exploration of beekeeping and science, turned into a sophisticated study that gathered over 50,000 data points. He tracked individual foraging flights across three hives using RFID tags and monitored concurrent weather conditions to build predictive models. His findings provide insight into how sunlight, temperature, and other environmental factors influence honey bee foraging.

Before diving into Vince's research, Dr. Dewey Caron shares another insightful audio postcard, this time focusing on winter colony losses and the importance of performing necropsies on deadouts. He explains how beekeepers can better understand colony mortality by examining key indicators such as starvation, small winter clusters, and Varroa mite infestations. Dewey also discusses recent survey results on colony losses, highlighting the ongoing challenges beekeepers face in maintaining healthy colonies.

If you've ever wondered how technology is shaping the future of beekeeping and pollination science, this is an episode you won't want to miss!

Websites we recommend:

Davidson Page about Vince's Project: https://www.davidsongifted.org/gifted-programs/fellows-scholarship/fellows/current-and-past-fellows/2024-fellows/2024-davidson-fellow-vince-wu/
Vince's Full Paper on the IEEE Xplore Page: https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10233527
Honey Bee Health Coalition: https://honeybeehealthcoalition.org
The National Honey Board: https://honey.com

Honey Bee Obscura Podcast: https://honeybeeobscura.com
2 Million Blossoms - The Podcast: https://2millionblossoms.com

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Retailers offering vaccinated queens and packages: https://dalan.com/order-vaccinated-queens/ More information on the vaccine: https://dalan.com/media-publications/

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We hope you enjoy this podcast and welcome your questions and comments in the show notes of this episode or: questions@beekeepingtodaypodcast.com

Thank you for listening!

Beekeeping Today Podcast is an audio production of Growing Planet Media, LLC

Raising Package Bees & Queens with Ray Olivarez (324) Mar 10, 2025

Show notes

Spring is here, and if you haven't thought about your packages and queens yet, it's time to act! In this episode, Beekeeping Today Podcast welcomes Ray Olivarez of Olivarez Honey Bees (OHB) to discuss the intricacies of raising high-quality queens and packages. Ray shares the fascinating journey of his family's multi-generational beekeeping business, the logistics of safely transporting thousands of package bees across the country, and the meticulous selection process that ensures strong, productive colonies.

From the challenges of breeding mite-resistant bees to the latest advancements in bee transport and health, this episode dives deep into what it takes to deliver robust packages and queens to beekeepers nationwide. Ray also discusses OHB's work with Saskatraz, Golden West, and Project Apis m. (VSH) breeding programs, as well as the newly available Dalan vaccinated queens aimed at preventing American Foulbrood (AFB).

Whether you're a seasoned beekeeper or a beginner, you'll gain valuable insights into what goes into producing and transporting high-quality package bees and queens. Join us for this engaging conversation and get a behind-the-scenes look at one of the most respected queen and package producers in the industry!

Tune in now and learn how to start your season with the best bees possible!

Websites we recommend:

Olivarez Honey Bees: https://www.ohbees.com/
BTP Episode with Randy Oliver: https://beekeepingtodaypodcast.com/318
Honey Bee Health Coalition: https://honeybeehealthcoalition.org
The National Honey Board: https://honey.com

Honey Bee Obscura Podcast: https://honeybeeobscura.com
2 Million Blossoms - The Podcast: https://2millionblossoms.com

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Retailers offering vaccinated queens and packages: https://dalan.com/order-vaccinated-queens/ More information on the vaccine: https://dalan.com/media-publications/

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We hope you enjoy this podcast and welcome your questions and comments in the show notes of this episode or: questions@beekeepingtodaypodcast.com

Thank you for listening!

Beekeeping Today Podcast is an audio production of Growing Planet Media, LLC

Upscaling #5 - Lessons Learned with Ritchie Schaefer (323) Mar 03, 2025

Show notes

Scaling a beekeeping operation comes with unique challenges and opportunities, and in this episode of Beekeeping Today Podcast, Minnesota beekeeper Ritchie Schaeffer shares his firsthand experience moving from hobbyist to sideliner. Starting in 2018 with just a few hives, Ritchie built B2B Honey into a successful business by seizing market opportunities, developing key relationships, and staying adaptable in the ever-changing world of beekeeping.

In this conversation, Ritchie discusses the challenges of almond pollination, the advantages and struggles of transitioning to indoor wintering, and how he markets his honey to restaurants, distilleries, and direct consumers. He also highlights the growing demand for specialty honey products like creamed and hot honey, the importance of diversifying hive locations, and the hard-earned lessons that helped him refine his approach to beekeeping as a business.

Throughout the discussion, Ritchie emphasizes the critical role of strategic planning, risk management, and maintaining strong bee health in an operation's success. Whether you're considering expanding your own beekeeping business or simply curious about what it takes to move beyond hobbyist beekeeping, this episode is full of valuable insights from someone who has navigated the process firsthand.

Websites we recommend:

Ritchie's Website: https://www.b2bhoney.net/
Honey Bee Health Coalition: https://honeybeehealthcoalition.org
The National Honey Board: https://honey.com

Honey Bee Obscura Podcast: https://honeybeeobscura.com
2 Million Blossoms - The Podcast: https://2millionblossoms.com

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Dalan is dedicated to providing transformative animal health solutions to support a more sustainable future. Dalan's vaccination against American Foulbrood (AFB) is a game changer. Vaccinated queens protect newly hatched honeybee larvae against AFB using the new Dalan vaccine. Created for queen producers and other beekeepers wanting to produce AFB free queens.

Retailers offering vaccinated queens and packages: https://dalan.com/order-vaccinated-queens/ More information on the vaccine: https://dalan.com/media-publications/

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We hope you enjoy this podcast and welcome your questions and comments in the show notes of this episode or: questions@beekeepingtodaypodcast.com

Thank you for listening!

Beekeeping Today Podcast is an audio production of Growing Planet Media, LLC

[Bonus] Short - Colony and USDA Losses with AHPA's President Steve Coy Feb 25, 2025

Show notes

The U.S. beekeeping industry is facing a crisis. Honey bee losses have skyrocketed, with commercial beekeepers reporting an average of 62% colony losses since June, as reported by Project Apis m. At the same time, critical USDA bee research programs are being cut, raising concerns about how quickly the industry can recover.

In this Beekeeping Today Podcast BONUS episode, Jeff Ott and Becky Masterman sit down with Steven Coy, president of the American Honey Producers Association (AHPA) and co-owner of the Coy Bee Company, to discuss the severity of the losses and what they mean for beekeepers, pollination services, and food production.

Steven explains how these losses compare to historical averages and why this year's numbers are particularly alarming. He discusses the impact on pollination services for almonds, apples, blueberries, and other crops that depend on honey bee colonies.

The episode also addresses recent cutbacks at USDA bee research labs and the consequences of losing key scientists and support staff. Steven emphasizes the need for beekeepers to stay engaged and take action by reporting their losses through surveys, advocating for industry support, and contacting policymakers.

The discussion highlights ways beekeepers can navigate this crisis, including participating in the ELAP program for commercial beekeepers, staying informed through the American Honey Producers Association, and supporting ongoing research initiatives. While the challenges ahead are significant, Steven remains hopeful that with patience, persistence, and industry-wide cooperation, solutions can be found.

Links & Resources:

Project Apis m.: https://www.projectapism.org
American Honey Producers Assn: https://ahpanet.com
USDA ELAP Information: https://www.fsa.usda.gov/resources/programs/emergency-assistance-livestock-honeybees-farm-raised-fish-elap

Brought to you by Betterbee – your partners in better beekeeping.

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Upscaling from Hobbyist to Sideliner - The Business (322) Feb 24, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of the Upscaling from Hobbyist to Sideliner series, we explore the business side of beekeeping with two beekeepers who successfully made the leap. Hosts Jeff Ott and Becky Masterman are joined by Tara Dawn Chapman of Two Hives Honey in Austin, Texas, and Jay Williams of Williams Honey Farm in Tennessee.

Tara and Jay share their personal journeys—both of which began outside of agriculture—detailing their challenges, missteps, and the pivotal moments that shaped their businesses. From scaling their apiaries to diversifying their revenue streams, they offer practical advice for beekeepers looking to turn their passion into a sustainable business. One of the biggest lessons they emphasize is that beekeeping businesses don't have to rely solely on honey sales. Both guests discuss the role of agribusiness opportunities, including hive tours, honey tastings, VIP yard management, and B2B partnerships. They highlight the importance of branding, marketing, and pricing honey appropriately, noting that storytelling and quality presentation can dramatically increase a product's perceived value.

Throughout the conversation, they reflect on the pitfalls of trying to do everything at once and why finding a niche is key. They explain how agritourism can supplement income, even in regions with inconsistent honey flows, and share insights on hiring employees in a beekeeping business. The discussion also covers state and federal grants that beekeepers can apply for to expand operations, and why pricing honey at premium rates is often more sustainable than undercutting the market.

If you're thinking about expanding your beekeeping beyond the hobbyist level, this episode is packed with insights, strategies, and real-world advice from beekeepers who have successfully made the transition.

If you're looking to make honey harvesting more manageable and efficient, this episode provides the guidance you need to take the next step.

Websites we recommend: