PolliNation Podcast

Latest Episodes:

134 Jim Cane - Spring Bees Apr 29, 2020

Show notes

You are probably familiar with familiar spring bees like bumble bees and mason bees. In this episode we take a deep dive into the biology and ecology of these bees, as well as some of the weirder spring bee species. We also look into what you can plant to encourage these bees.

133 Kim Patten - Pollinator habitat on working farms Apr 18, 2020

Show notes

Putting habitat into a working farm involves juggling operational constraints and pollinator biology. In this episode we hear about an innovative example of how PNW cranberry growers are attracting and boosting bee populations around their bogs.

132 - Meghan Milbrath - European Foulbrood Mar 31, 2020

Show notes

What is infectious, poorly understand and set to ramp up during the months of April and May? The honey bee disease European foulbrood has been a tremendous problem in Oregon over the last few springs. This week we hear the latest on research and management options for this disease.

131 - Megan O'Rourke - Pasture for beef... and bees? Mar 23, 2020

Show notes

Livestock grazing can be very expansive. Take for instance the 'fescue belt' in the southeastern US, which spans 1,000 miles across. This week we hear from a researcher who is looking to incorporate pollinator plants into pastures, potentially providing benefits to pollinators and increasing the grazing efficiency of cattle at the same time.

130 - Carolyn Breece - Should you keep bees? Mar 02, 2020

Show notes

There has been an explosion in people keeping bees for a hobby. But for many, beekeeping is a bigger commitment than they expected. This week we'll help you figure out if beekeeping for you and what's involved in getting started.

129 - Ron Bitner - Vineyards for Pollinators Feb 26, 2020

Show notes

Idaho and Oregon's Treasure Valley have a deep connection to bee management for alfalfa seed, but in this episode we hear about how that tradition is being transferred to pollinator management in vineyards.

128 – Serkan Ates – Livestock forage plants and bees Feb 16, 2020

Show notes

Some of the best plants for long-tongued bees like bumble bees and honey bees are grown for livestock. We dive deep into these livestock plants and discuss how they can be incorporated into a dual use system that feeds both livestock and bees.

127 – Kirsten Traynor – 2 Million Blossoms Feb 08, 2020

Show notes

There is nothing about browsing though a magazine. There are some great beekeeping magazines, but what's missing is a magazine devoted to pollinators more broadly. Enter 2 Million Blossoms, a new magazine launched in January. We talk to the editor about the magazine and how it aims to fill this gap.

126 – Casey Hale – Bees that are parasites on other bees Jan 27, 2020

Show notes

When you think of a bee you probably think of an insect hard at work growing its nest and pollinating plants. But over 10% of bees are kleptoparasites; bees that don't build their own nests, but are parasites on other bees. In this episode we learn the fundamentals of this highly-evolved and sophisticated way of living.

125 – Lila Westreich – The Secret Life of Mason Bees Jan 20, 2020

Show notes

Many of us put mason bees out in our backyard or farm. But when they leave the nest, do you know where they are going to forage? In this episode we hear how a sleuthing graduate student in Seattle is beginning to piece together a picture of what resources these bees are actually using.

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