Beekeeping Today Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Big Bee Data with Dr. Erica Shelley (S6, E34) Feb 05, 2024

Show notes

In this week's episode of Beekeeping Today Podcast, we're excited to have Dr. Erica Shelley, CEO and founder of Best For Bees, rejoin us. Best For Bees is at the forefront with their innovative ProtectaBEE hive entrances, designed for multifunctional use, including a groundbreaking method for applying a fungal powder to combat varroa mites.

We delve into the potential of Metarhizium, a widely recognized fungus, for its arthropod- and insect-killing properties. Our discussion highlights ongoing research, in partnership with institutions like Washington State University, aimed at identifying the optimal Metarhizium strain for varroa mite treatment. The ProtectaBEE system offers a novel delivery method, enhancing the effectiveness of this biocontrol strategy.

Furthermore, Erica introduces the concept of "Big Bee Data," a visionary approach leveraging beekeeper-collected data—from management apps to sensors and online forms—to shift from reactive to predictive colony management. This episode explores the challenges and solutions in refining this model to aid beekeepers in more effective bee management.

Leave comments and questions in the Comments Section of the episode's website.

Links and websites mentioned in this podcast:

Best For Bees - https://bestforbees.com
BTP Episode with Nectar Technologies - https://www.beekeepingtodaypodcast.com/precision-beekeeping-with-nectar-technologies-max-cherney-nico-coallier-s6-e03/

Honey Bee Obscura Podcast: http://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 Strong Microbials for their support of Beekeeping Today Podcast. Find out more about heir 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; Walking in Paris by Studio Le Bus; A Fresh New Start by Pete Morse; Wedding Day by Boomer; Christmas Avenue by Immersive Music; Original guitar background instrumental by Jeff Ott

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

Davidson Fellow 2023 Scholarship Recipient: Anna Yang - Queen Assessment (S6, E33) Jan 29, 2024

Show notes

In this episode we're excited to introduce Anna, a Stanford University freshman and hobby beekeeper from Campbell, California. With a passion for honey bees and a background in engineering and science, Anna has embarked on an intriguing journey to address the decline in bee populations, focusing on the critical issue of queen failure.

Anna's innovative research led her to the concept of "queen roar," a unique sound bees make when their queen is missing. Leveraging her engineering skills, Anna developed a three-pronged approach to monitor queen acceptance and rejection within the hive. This approach includes:

1. An acoustic-based IoT device for data collection.

2. Gathering high-quality and diverse data sets.

3. Developing machine learning models for accurate queen assessment.

Despite facing challenges in her research, Anna's determination and inventive spirit shone through. Her efforts resulted in the collection of over 7,000 data points, achieving an impressive 91.8% accuracy rate in detecting queen presence.

Her remarkable paper, titled "Smart Bee Colony Monitor: Internet of Things Device & Fusion Convolutional Neural Network for Queen Assessment," not only showcases her talent but also earned her a $10,000 scholarship through the Davidson Institute Fellowship Scholarship program, a testament to her contribution to the field of beekeeping and STEM.

Join us in this episode to delve into Anna's fascinating research and her contributions to understanding and improving honey bee queen assessment. This is a shining example of how STEM programs are inspiring and supporting gifted students in the United States. Tune in to learn more about the cutting-edge intersection of beekeeping, technology, and science.

Leave comments and questions in the Comments Section of the episode's website.

Links and websites mentioned in this podcast:

Anna's Page on the Davidson Institute 2023 Fellow Page: https://www.davidsongifted.org/gifted-programs/fellows-scholarship/fellows/current-and-past-fellows/2023-fellows/2023-davidson-fellow-anna-yang/

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

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Betterbee is the presensting 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

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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

Almond Pollination and Bee Hero with CEO, Omer Davidi (S6, E32) Jan 22, 2024

Show notes

In this episode, we delve into a pivotal event in the North American beekeeping calendar: the annual migration of over two million honey bee colonies to California's almond orchards. This massive movement, spanning mid-February to mid-March, marks the beginning of the beekeeping year.

Coordinating this migration demands meticulous planning and collaboration between beekeepers and almond growers. It's a race against time, with the almond bloom not waiting for any delays. Beekeepers face the challenge of ensuring their colonies are both robust and healthy for this critical period.

Our special guest today is Omer Davidi, CEO and co-founder of BeeHero. This innovative company is revolutionizing beekeeping with in-hive sensors that monitor colony health. These sensors provide vital data, aiding beekeepers in making informed decisions and reducing the need to open hives unnecessarily.

BeeHero also plays a unique role in bridging the gap between beekeepers and growers. They take the helm in representing beekeepers for pollination contracts, using detailed data from their sensors to negotiate with growers. This service is especially beneficial for beekeepers who prefer focusing on beekeeping rather than the marketing and contracting aspects of the business.

Backyard beekeepers, take note! Although you might think these large-scale operations don't impact you, they actually play a crucial role. The success of these almond orchard bees lays the foundation for the country's package and nuc business, influencing beekeepers nationwide.

Join Jeff and Becky as they explore BeeHero's business model and its potential benefits for beekeepers involved in pollination. Tune in to gain valuable insights into this fascinating aspect of beekeeping!

Leave comments and questions in the Comments Section of the episode's website.

Links and websites mentioned in this podcast:

BeeHero Website: https://www.beehero.io
Almond Board Page on Pollination: https://www.almonds.com/almond-industry/orchard-management/pollination

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

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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

Charlie Linder: From Backyard to Commercial Beekeeper (S6, E31) Jan 15, 2024

Show notes

Every hobbyist beekeeper eventually contemplates scaling up to a commercial operation with thousands of hives. Our podcast guest, Charlie Linder, embraced this challenge and has been forging ahead ever since.

Initially, Charlie's beekeeping business centered on honey production. However, facing declining wholesale honey prices and competition from imported honey, he pivoted to pollination services. Now managing over 5,000 colonies, Charlie still feels like a novice compared to beekeepers with over 10,000 hives.

Currently, Charlie is preparing his colonies ready to go into almond pollination mid-February. The almond orchards lure in over 2-million colonies from all over the USA in what is considered the largest single bee migration in the world (of course… via four colonies to a pallet on a semi). The pallets of bees get dropped off in the dark, settled in place in the low glow of head and taillights, smoke and cloud of confused and disoriented bees.

In six weeks, this process is reversed. The bees are transported again, undergoing grading, splitting, and preparation for other crop pollinations, as well as for package and nuc sales.

Apart from running his bee operation, Charlie serves on the American Beekeeping Federation's board of directors. Contrary to popular belief, the ABF's efforts extend beyond commercial beekeeping. The Federation vigilantly addresses national issues to ensure honey bees and their keepers aren't adversely affected by ill-informed legislative actions. Today, Charlie talks specifically about the proposed transfer of miticide regulation from the EPA to the FDA, a move that could delay critical varroa mite treatments.

Listen to today's episode as Jeff and Becky talk with Charlie Linder, a backyard turned commercial beekeeper!

Leave comments and questions in the Comments Section of the episode's website.

Links and websites mentioned in this podcast:

EPA Advisory on Pesticides Targeting Varroa: https://www.epa.gov/pesticides/epa-issues-advisory-pesticides-used-control-varroa-mites-beehives-including-coordinated
EPA Q&A on EPA and FDA Oversight: https://www.epa.gov/pesticides/questions-and-answers-regarding-epafda-whitepaper-modern-approach-epa-and-fda-product
American Beekeeping Federation Legislative Issues and Updates: https://abfnet.org/legislation-advocacy/

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

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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

Educating Honey Bee Veterinarians with Meghan Milbrath and Eva Reinicke (S6,E30) Jan 08, 2024

Show notes

In this episode, Dr. Eva Reinicke, DVM, of Northfield, Minnesota joins Becky and guest cohost, Dr. Meghan Milbrath, assistant professor at Michigan State University. One focus of Meghan's MSU bee lab is honey bee medicine training for veterinary practitioners. Her expertise is perfect for chatting with Eva who has been practicing honey bee medicine since 2018.

Honey bees are an emerging specialty for Veterinarians. Meghan and Eva have used the antibiotic access restrictions imposed by the 2017 Veterinary Feed Directive to support the honey bee industry. Eva has set up a honey bee practice to support beekeepers. In addition to providing access to needed antibiotics, she describes how veterinarians can help beekeepers diagnose disease and monitor pests.

Listeners will learn about advanced disease diagnosis and the tools that other livestock industries use to detect pathogens. Eva describes the need and opportunity for more research and governmental support for the honey bee industry from the perspective of a veterinary health care practitioner. Also, this episode addresses how biosecurity is different in honey bee management as compared to other livestock animals.

Join this conversation to learn why honey bees need as many professionals as possible to help take care of them. This episode explores how veterinarians' contribution to honey bee health is growing and where the potential opportunities for improving honey bee care exist. Veterinary care for honey bees is not just limited to access to antimicrobials!

Leave comments and questions in the Comments Section of the episode's website.

Links and websites mentioned in this podcast:

Michigan State University Pollinator Initiative -https://pollinators.msu.edu/programs/bees-need-vets/index.aspx
University of Minnesota Bee Squad - https://beelab.umn.edu/bee-squad/outreach-programs
Veterinary Feed Directive - https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/one-health/antimicrobial-use-and-antimicrobial-resistance/veterinary-feed-directive-basics
Dr. Reinicke's Honey Bee Practice -https://northlandhoneybeevet.wordpress.com/about/
Dr. Declan Schroeder's Virology Lab - https://vetmed.umn.edu/bio/college-of-veterinary-medicine/declan-schroeder
Honey Bee Veterinary Consortium -https://www.hbvc.org/
Beekeeping Today Podcast episode with the Honey Bee Veterinary Consortium - https://beekeepingtodaypodcast.com/s3,e15/

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

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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

NAHBE Update - Saturday, January 6, 2024 - Bonus #2 Jan 07, 2024

Show notes

Recorded live from the Beekeeping Today Podcast booth at the North American Honey Bee Expo in Louisville, Kentucky, Jeff prepared this update from special guests who stopped by the booth and from the floor, on the last day of the Expo

Included in this special episode are:

Cliff Struhl - Bee Smart Designs
Aaron and John - Pierco
The Roses (attendees)
Deb Klugher (attendee)
Josh Cowen - Cowen Manufacturing
Matt Shaw - Premier Manufacturing, Propola Hives
James Wilkes, Max Runzel - Hive Tracks
Victor Croker, HiveIQ

Listen to this bonus episode to hear short, quick, updates from these folks who stopped by and learn of their latest updates, recorded live from the vendor trade floor at the North American Honey Bee Expo.

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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

NAHBE Update - Friday, January 5, 2024 - Bonus #1 Jan 06, 2024

Show notes

Recorded live from the Beekeeping Today Podcast booth at the North American Honey Bee Expo in Louisville, Kentucky, Jeff prepared this update from special guests who stopped by the booth.

Included in this special episode are:

Attending beekeepers
Dr. Erica Shelley - Better For Bees
Anna Kaur and John Turpin - StrongMicrobials
Dr. Larry Connor - Wicwas Press

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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

New Year's Archive Special: Two Queen Honey Production (S6, E29) Jan 01, 2024

Show notes

Happy New Year! As we embark on a new year, often marked by resolutions, we're excited to present a New Year's Archive Special. Join Jeff and Becky as they revisit Jeff's and Kim's insightful interview with Colorado beekeeper Tom Theobald, in 2021. While Tom might not be the inventor of the two-queen colony management system for increasing honey yields, his refinements to the technique are remarkable. If boosting honey production is on your 2024 agenda, this episode is for you!

Tom ran a modest commercial beekeeping operation in Colorado during the late 1970s, managing around 200 colonies. He began experimenting with two-queen colonies early on. The underlying biology of this method is fascinating and effective, as Tom demonstrates, but it does entail more physical labor. His most productive hives consisted of three deeps for brood and seven mediums for honey storage. While an average strong colony in his region typically produced about 70 pounds of honey per season, Tom's two-queen colonies impressively averaged between 240 and 270 pounds!

The method's benefits extend beyond substantial honey yields. These colonies begin the season with the previous year's queen and introduce a new queen in early spring. At season's end, the newer queen usually takes precedence, ensuring a proven queen for the following year. Additionally, the enlarged foraging population of these colonies amasses an extensive pollen reserve, vital for the next season's buildup.

Despite its advantages, two-queen honey production is becoming a rarity, largely due to the labor intensity, precise timing, and deep understanding of local nectar flows required. However, the rewards can be significant, particularly in areas with abundant forage and minimal varroa mite or pesticide issues.

Have you experimented with two-queen colonies? We're eager to hear about your experiences! Share your thoughts in the episode comments.Links and websites mentioned in this podcast:

Our First Season Interview with Tom about Neonicotinoids: https://beekeepingtodaypodcast.com/tom-theobold-the-problem-with-neonics
Honey Bee Obscura Podcast: http://honeybeeobscura.com

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Happy New Year from all our fantastic sponsors!

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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

Podcast Family Holiday Gathering (S6, E28) Dec 25, 2023

Show notes

Merry Christmas from Beekeeping Today Podcast! If you're tuning in on this festive day, we're glad to have you with us. The holiday season is a cherished time for family and friends, and though we dearly miss our beloved colleague, Kim Flottum, we're here to bring some warmth and reflection to your day.

In this Holiday episode, Becky and Jeff are delighted to be joined by Jim Tew of Honey Bee Obscura podcast and Kirsten Traynor from the 2-Million Blossoms podcast. Together, we'll reminisce about the beekeeping adventures and lessons of 2023, sharing insights and stories that resonate with beekeepers at all levels.

As you celebrate this joyous time, we hope our conversation adds to the spirit of your day. Thank you for inviting us into your holiday moments. We extend our heartfelt wishes to you, your loved ones, and, of course, your buzzing companions. Happy Holidays and a wonderful New Year to our beekeeping community!

Leave comments and questions in the Comments Section of the episode's website.

Links and websites mentioned in this podcast:

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

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Happy Holiday from all our fantastic sponsors!

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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

A Winter Quilt of Guests (S6, E27) Dec 18, 2023

Show notes

Welcome to this week's episode where we've woven together a rich tapestry of stories and expertise to enrich your winter days and nights with the fascinating world of bees.

Ed Colby: High-Altitude Beekeeping Tales

We start with our regular contributor, Ed Colby, a seasoned beekeeper from Colorado's Western Slopes. Ed's bees thrive in the high altitudes of Aspen, Glenwood Springs, and surrounding mountain towns. A familiar voice in the beekeeping community, Ed is well-known for his column "The Bottom Board" in Bee Culture magazine. In this episode, he shares a heartwarming story of spreading holiday cheer and honey in the ski town of Aspen. Join us as Ed brings his unique perspective as a Regional Beekeeper, along with excerpts from his book, "A Beekeeper's Life: Tales From The Bottom Board".

Anandamayi Baker: Empowering Young Minds with "Bee-Coming Strong"

Next, we delve into the imaginative world of Anandamayi Baker's latest children's book, "Bee-Coming Strong". Aimed at 6-10 year-olds, this enchanting tale follows Jazianzza, a bee who learns to navigate life's hurdles with bravery and benevolence. Anandamayi's storytelling not only captivates young readers but also imparts valuable lessons about overcoming prejudice and fear. Discover how this book can be a delightful addition to your family's reading list.

Jonna Sanders: Navigating the Winters with AŽ Hives

Rounding off our episode, we welcome back AŽ hive specialist Jonna Sanders to address a listener query from Trevor L. in British Columbia. Jonna, who last joined us in October 2021, revisits the unique characteristics of the Slovenian AŽ hive compared to the Langstroth hive. She'll delve into key management strategies for winter and respond to Trevor's question about feeding AŽ colonies during the colder months.

Wrap yourself in this episode's "Winter Quilt of Guests" and join us for an enlightening journey into the world of beekeeping. Your winter days are about to get a whole lot warmer with these fascinating stories and insights!

Leave comments and questions in the Comments Section of the episode's website.

Links and websites mentioned in this podcast: