Growing Planet Media

·

Channel · 3 Shows

Hobbies

Hobbies

Updated Weekly
Hobbies

Hobbies

Updated Weekly
Hobbies

Hobbies

Updated Biweekly

Nov 2

AI in the Bee Yard with Joe Meyer

Artificial intelligence is moving quickly into everyday life—but what does that actually mean for beekeepers? In this episode, Jeff and Becky welcome Minnesota beekeeper and queen rearer Joe Meyer for a practical discussion about AI, recordkeeping, computer vision, and the tools that may soon become part of the bee yard. Joe begins with his own beekeeping background, including queen rearing and a shared-worker mating system he has been experimenting with. Then the conversation turns to AI and one of the most persistent problems in beekeeping: keeping useful colony records while wearing gloves, a veil, and working quickly through an apiary. Joe explains why voice-first tools may offer a better solution and how AI models can use beekeeping context to make transcription more accurate. He also distinguishes between conversational AI and specialized tools built for tasks such as counting Varroa mites or organizing inspection data. The discussion includes the limitations of today's chatbots, Jeff's unsuccessful experiment asking AI to count mites from photographs, and Joe's own work with computer vision. Most importantly, Joe argues that AI should assist rather than replace the beekeeper. The goal isn't a robot making decisions—it's better tools for memory, organization, research, and learning while keeping human judgment firmly in the process. Websites from the episode and others we recommend: Honey Bee Health Coalition: https://honeybeehealthcoalition.org Project Apis m. (PAm): https://www.projectapism.org The National Honey Board: https://honey.com Honey Bee Obscura Podcast: https://honeybeeobscura.com Copyright © 2026 by Growing Planet Media, LLC ______________ ______________ ______________ 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! As a beekeeper, you want products that benefit you and your bees. When you choose Premier Bee Products, you choose hive components that are healthier for bees and more productive for you. Because we believe that in beekeeping, details make all the difference. Premier Bee Products: Better for bees. Better for beekeepers. Use promo code PODCAST for 10% off your next online order. Thanks to Strong 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 HiveIQ is revolutionizing the way beekeepers manage their colonies with innovative, insulated hive systems designed for maximum colony health and efficiency. Their hives maintain stable temperatures year-round, reduce stress on the bees, and are built to last using durable, lightweight materials. Whether you're managing two hives or two hundred, HiveIQ's smart design helps your bees thrive while saving you time and effort. Learn more at HiveIQ.com. We'd like to thank Vita Bee Health for supporting the podcast. Vita provides proven tools for controlling Varroa—from Apistan and Apiguard to the new VarroxSan extended-release oxalic acid strips—helping beekeepers keep stronger, healthier colonies. 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. Thanks to Bee Culture, the Magazine of American Beekeeping, for their support of Honey Bee Obscura. Available in print and digital at www.beeculture.com _______________ 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; Bolero de la Fontero by Rimsky Music; Perfect Sky by Graceful Movement; I'm Not Running Away This Time by Max Brodie; Original guitar background instrumental by Jeff Ott. Beekeeping Today Podcast is an audio production of Growing Planet Media, LLC ** As an Amazon Associate, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases Copyright © 2026 by Growing Planet Media, LLC
6d ago · Bonus

Winning At Honey: White Cards and the 2027 NAHBE Honey Show

A great honey show entry deserves more than great presentation—it also needs to give the judge the information required to evaluate it properly. In this installment of Winning at Honey, Stephanie Slater explains the often-overlooked white card used in many honey show categories. From recipes and production methods to botanical names, directions for use, inventories, and historical information, Stephanie walks through what judges need and why clear, readable documentation matters. Then the Honey Show Spotlight heads to Louisville for the 2027 North American Honey and Beeswax Championship. Stephanie talks with North American Honey Bee Expo creator Kamon Reynolds about moving the Honey Show into the main lobby, Wednesday early check-in, expanded viewing time, new VIP awards, the addition of a Jun category, and continued support from Hilco. Stephanie closes with practical check-in advice for competitors, information about introductory honey judge training, and a friendly challenge for Becky Masterman to finally enter the honey cocktail category. Websites mentioned: American Honey Judges Association - https://honeyshowusa.com/ Wisconsin Honey Producers - https://wihoney.org/ Wisconsin State Fair - https://wistatefair.com/competitions/honey-products/ Illinois State Beekeepers Association - https://www.ilsba.com/ Midwest Honey Bee Expo - https://www.midwesthoneybeeexpo.com/ North American Honey Bee Expo - https://www.nahbexpo.com/ ______________ Brought to you by Betterbee – your partners in better beekeeping. 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 _______________ 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; Bolero de la Fontero by Rimsky Music; Perfect Sky by Graceful Movement; Original guitar background instrumental by Jeff Ott. Beekeeping Today Podcast is an audio production of Growing Planet Media, LLC ** As an Amazon Associate, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases Copyright © 2026 by Growing Planet Media, LLC
5d ago

Condensing Hives with Anne Frey

For generations, many northern beekeepers have been taught that winter colonies need upper ventilation to allow warm, moisture-laden air to escape. But what if that familiar advice is working against the bees? In this episode of Honey Bee Obscura, Dr. Jim Tew welcomes Anne Frey to explain the condensing hive concept and why it has caused Jim to reconsider some long-held wintering practices. Anne explains that a condensing hive isn't a special piece of equipment. Instead, the concept relies on substantial insulation above the colony while allowing the hive walls to remain cooler. Moisture produced by the bees can then condense on those walls rather than on the ceiling, where water might drip back onto the cluster. They also discuss eliminating—or greatly reducing—the traditional upper entrance, the role of elevated CO2 in lowering winter metabolism, and why moisture inside the hive isn't automatically harmful. In fact, bees may use condensed water to help consume stored honey. Anne adds an important practical caution: without an upper exit, dead bees, snow, or ice can block the lower entrance. Her own approach leaves a very small upper opening as insurance. Jim and Anne close by considering insulating quilts, warmer climates, and whether top insulation might even help colonies during summer heat. ______________________ Thanks to Betterbee for sponsoring today's episode. 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 We'd like to thank Vita Bee Health for supporting the podcast. Vita provides proven tools for controlling Varroa—from Apistan and Apiguard to the new VarroxSan extended-release oxalic acid strips—helping beekeepers keep stronger, healthier colonies. Thanks to Bee Culture, the Magazine of American Beekeeping, for their support of Honey Bee Obscura. Available in print and digital at www.beeculture.com ______________________ Honey Bee Obscura is brought to you by Growing Planet Media, LLC, the home of Beekeeping Today Podcast. Music: Heart & Soul by Gyom, All We Know by Midway Music; Christmas Avenue by Immersive Music; original guitar music by Jeffrey Ott Episode artwork created by Jeff Ott with ChatGPT by OpenAI. (Jim's regular cartoonist, John Martin, is on vacation and will be back!) Copyright © 2026 by Growing Planet Media, LLC
Oct 26

2027 North American Honey Bee Expo with Kamon Reynolds

The North American Honey Bee Expo returns January 7–9, 2027, and Kamon Reynolds joins Jeff and Becky with a preview of what beekeepers can expect in Louisville. This year's Expo expands to three full days of education, with more than 70 hours of presentations, a larger trade show, new vendors, workshops, the North American Honey Bar, microscopy sessions, and plenty of opportunities to meet the people developing the equipment, technology, and ideas shaping modern beekeeping. Kamon shares some of the speakers and topics planned for 2027, from queen rearing and commercial beekeeping to top-bar hives, honey shows, overwintering, microscopy, mite resistance, and ways smaller operations can increase their income. A major addition this year is Beekeeping Foundations, a seven-session beginner program being developed by Jeff and Becky. The course will combine classroom instruction with the unique hands-on opportunities available throughout the Expo trade floor, giving new beekeepers a chance to see and handle the equipment and concepts they're learning about. Kamon also joins Jeff and Becky for a Hive IQ listener question about late-season queens, discussing mating challenges, fall colony strength, and why maintaining spare nucs can provide valuable insurance against queen failure. Whether you're brand new to beekeeping or have decades of experience, Kamon's goal remains the same: create an event that educates, connects, and inspires beekeepers. Websites from the episode and others we recommend: North American Honey Bee Expo: https://www.nahbexpo.com Honey Bee Health Coalition: https://honeybeehealthcoalition.org Project Apis m. (PAm): https://www.projectapism.org The National Honey Board: https://honey.com Honey Bee Obscura Podcast: https://honeybeeobscura.com Copyright © 2026 by Growing Planet Media, LLC ______________ 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! As a beekeeper, you want products that benefit you and your bees. When you choose Premier Bee Products, you choose hive components that are healthier for bees and more productive for you. Because we believe that in beekeeping, details make all the difference. Premier Bee Products: Better for bees. Better for beekeepers. Use promo code PODCAST for 10% off your next online order. Thanks to Strong 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 HiveIQ is revolutionizing the way beekeepers manage their colonies with innovative, insulated hive systems designed for maximum colony health and efficiency. Their hives maintain stable temperatures year-round, reduce stress on the bees, and are built to last using durable, lightweight materials. Whether you're managing two hives or two hundred, HiveIQ's smart design helps your bees thrive while saving you time and effort. Learn more at HiveIQ.com. We'd like to thank Vita Bee Health for supporting the podcast. Vita provides proven tools for controlling Varroa—from Apistan and Apiguard to the new VarroxSan extended-release oxalic acid strips—helping beekeepers keep stronger, healthier colonies. 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. Thanks to Bee Culture, the Magazine of American Beekeeping, for their support of Honey Bee Obscura. Available in print and digital at www.beeculture.com _______________ 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; Bolero de la Fontero by Rimsky Music; Perfect Sky by Graceful Movement; I'm Not Running Away This Time by Max Brodie; Original guitar background instrumental by Jeff Ott. Beekeeping Today Podcast is an audio production of Growing Planet Media, LLC ** As an Amazon Associate, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases Copyright © 2026 by Growing Planet Media, LLC
Oct 12

The Honey Bee and Climate Change with Dr. Gloria DeGrandi-Hoffman

How is a changing climate reshaping the way honey bee colonies grow, forage, and survive winter? Dr. Gloria DeGrandi-Hoffman returns to Beekeeping Today Podcast to discuss her new book, The Honey Bee and Climate Change, and what nearly four decades of honey bee research have taught her about the connections among climate, nutrition, Varroa, and colony survival. Gloria explains how unusually warm fall and winter weather can keep bees flying later in the year, changing colony age structure while extending opportunities for Varroa mites to move among colonies. At the same time, heat and drought can alter flowering periods and reduce both the quantity and nutritional quality of pollen and nectar available to bees. The conversation explores the annual nutritional cycle of the colony, the differences between summer and winter bees, and why fall pollen can be so important for successful overwintering. Gloria also discusses research into cold-storage overwintering as one possible response to increasingly unpredictable fall conditions. Finally, Jeff, Becky, and Gloria look at what beekeepers can do now: improve access to diverse forage, monitor and control Varroa carefully, consider mite-resistant stock, and recognize that yesterday's reliable management calendar may not always fit tomorrow's conditions. Websites from the episode and others we recommend: Gloria's book on Climate Change and Honey Bees at Amazon: https://amzn.to/3VJdANQ Honey Bee Health Coalition: https://honeybeehealthcoalition.org Project Apis m. (PAm): https://www.projectapism.org The National Honey Board: https://honey.com Honey Bee Obscura Podcast: https://honeybeeobscura.com Copyright © 2026 by Growing Planet Media, LLC ______________ 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! As a beekeeper, you want products that benefit you and your bees. When you choose Premier Bee Products, you choose hive components that are healthier for bees and more productive for you. Because we believe that in beekeeping, details make all the difference. Premier Bee Products: Better for bees. Better for beekeepers. Use promo code PODCAST for 10% off your next online order. Thanks to Strong 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 HiveIQ is revolutionizing the way beekeepers manage their colonies with innovative, insulated hive systems designed for maximum colony health and efficiency. Their hives maintain stable temperatures year-round, reduce stress on the bees, and are built to last using durable, lightweight materials. Whether you're managing two hives or two hundred, HiveIQ's smart design helps your bees thrive while saving you time and effort. Learn more at HiveIQ.com. We'd like to thank Vita Bee Health for supporting the podcast. Vita provides proven tools for controlling Varroa—from Apistan and Apiguard to the new VarroxSan extended-release oxalic acid strips—helping beekeepers keep stronger, healthier colonies. 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. Thanks to Bee Culture, the Magazine of American Beekeeping, for their support of Honey Bee Obscura. Available in print and digital at www.beeculture.com _______________ 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; Bolero de la Fontero by Rimsky Music; Perfect Sky by Graceful Movement; I'm Not Running Away This Time by Max Brodie; Original guitar background instrumental by Jeff Ott. Beekeeping Today Podcast is an audio production of Growing Planet Media, LLC ** As an Amazon Associate, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases Copyright © 2026 by Growing Planet Media, LLC
1d ago

HiveTracks, AI, and Smarter Beekeeping Records

Keeping good colony records has always sounded easier than it actually is. Gloves, propolis, weather, time pressure, and multiple colonies can quickly turn detailed notes into a few marks on a brick—or nothing at all. In this episode, Jeff and Becky welcome back HiveTracks founder Dr. James Wilkes and co-founder Max Rünzel for an update on how the longtime beekeeping platform is changing. HiveTracks now allows beekeepers to talk through an inspection while the app converts those observations into organized colony records. James and Max explain how voice input, photographs, weather, bloom data, land use, and colony history can provide the context needed to make AI tools more useful to individual beekeepers. They also look ahead to what Max calls "community intelligence": using regional information to help beekeepers recognize changing conditions such as earlier swarming, shifts in bloom timing, or other seasonal signals. The conversation explores why an AI tool with access to your actual colony history may provide more relevant guidance than a general-purpose chatbot—and why the beekeeper still needs to remain an active part of every decision. James and Max also discuss HiveTracks' growing work beyond managed honey bees, including habitat monitoring and broader pollinator health. Also in this episode, Becky answers a Hive IQ listener question about the research behind the honey bee propolis envelope. Websites from the episode and others we recommend: HiveTracks: https://hiveTracks.com Honey Bee Health Coalition: https://honeybeehealthcoalition.org Project Apis m. (PAm): https://www.projectapism.org The National Honey Board: https://honey.com Honey Bee Obscura Podcast: https://honeybeeobscura.com Copyright © 2026 by Growing Planet Media, LLC ______________ Beekeeping Today: A Practical, Seasonal Guide for Beginning Beekeepers Whether your goal is to harvest honey, support local pollination, or simply enjoy a fascinating new hobby, Beekeeping Today (Lyons Press |On Sale 01/19/2027) provides a solid foundation for anyone interested in keeping honey bees. Available for preorders now! ______________ ______________ 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! As a beekeeper, you want products that benefit you and your bees. When you choose Premier Bee Products, you choose hive components that are healthier for bees and more productive for you. Because we believe that in beekeeping, details make all the difference. Premier Bee Products: Better for bees. Better for beekeepers. Use promo code PODCAST for 10% off your next online order. Thanks to Strong 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 HiveIQ is revolutionizing the way beekeepers manage their colonies with innovative, insulated hive systems designed for maximum colony health and efficiency. Their hives maintain stable temperatures year-round, reduce stress on the bees, and are built to last using durable, lightweight materials. Whether you're managing two hives or two hundred, HiveIQ's smart design helps your bees thrive while saving you time and effort. Learn more at HiveIQ.com. We'd like to thank Vita Bee Health for supporting the podcast. Vita provides proven tools for controlling Varroa—from Apistan and Apiguard to the new VarroxSan extended-release oxalic acid strips—helping beekeepers keep stronger, healthier colonies. 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. Thanks to Bee Culture, the Magazine of American Beekeeping, for their support of Honey Bee Obscura. Available in print and digital at www.beeculture.com _______________ 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; Bolero de la Fontero by Rimsky Music; Perfect Sky by Graceful Movement; I'm Not Running Away This Time by Max Brodie; Original guitar background instrumental by Jeff Ott. Beekeeping Today Podcast is an audio production of Growing Planet Media, LLC ** As an Amazon Associate, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases Copyright © 2026 by Growing Planet Media, LLC
Oct 21 · Bonus

Bee Science with Dewey Caron: Honey Bee Domestication

Have humans truly domesticated the honey bee? In this Bee Science Short, Dr. Dewey Caron looks at that question through the history of honey bee breeding and the growing interest in locally adapted stock. Dewey explains that honey bees don't fit neatly into the same domestication category as cattle, chickens, or dogs. Managed colonies can swarm and survive as feral populations, yet generations of beekeepers have clearly selected for traits such as gentleness, hygienic behavior, productivity, and appearance. He then traces changes in bee breeding from imported Italian bees and early queen-rearing systems to hybrid lines and today's commercial queen industry. A major focus is genetic diversity and genotype-environment interaction: the idea that bee stock adapted to one environment may perform differently somewhere else. Dewey reviews COLOSS research in Europe in which locally adapted colonies showed better survival, strength, and productivity than non-local stock under the conditions tested. BSD-11 - Domestication He closes with examples of U.S. efforts to maintain or develop locally adapted, mite-resistant, and survivor stock — and leaves beekeepers with an ongoing question: should we continue moving selected genetics widely, or place greater emphasis on bees adapted to local conditions? Notes and references: Cobey, Susan, W.S, Sheppard and Dave Tarpy, 2011. Status of Breeding Practices and Genetic Diversity in Domestic U.S. Honey Bees. IN Honey Bee Colony Health, Chapter 4. CRC (Routledge). Meixner, M. D., Büchler, R., Costa, C., Francis, R., Hatjina, F., Kryger, P., Uzunov, A. & Carreck, N. L. (2014) Honey bee genotypes and the environment, Journal of Apicultural Research, 53:2,183–187, https://doi.org/10.3896/IBRA.1.53.2.01. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.3896/ Meixner, M.D., Büchler, R., Costa, C., Andonov, S., Bienkowska, M., Bouga, M., Filipi, J.,Hatjina, F., Ivanova, E., Kezic, N., Kryger, P., Le Conte, Y., Panasiuk, B., Petrov, P., Ruottinen, L., Uzunov, A., Wilde, J. (2015) Looking for "the Best Bee". An experiment about interactions between origin and environment of honey bee strains in Europe. Amer. Bee J, June 663–666. https://bluetoad.com/publication/?m=5417&i=257867&p=66&ver=html5 Büchler, R., Uzunov, A., Costa, C., Meixner, M., Le Conte, Y., Mondet, F., Kovačić, M., Andonov, S., Carreck, N.L., Dimitrov, L., Basso, B., Bienkowska, M., Dall'Olio, R., Hatjina, F., Wirtz, U. (2022) EurBeST—a pilot study testing varroa resistant bees under commercial beekeeping conditions. American Bee Journal 162(2):213. https://doi.org/10.2762/470707. https://bluetoad.com/publication/?m=541 Cecilia Costa, Marina Meixner, Norman Carreck, Aleksandar Uzunov and Ralph Büchler 2025. Sustainable Honey Bee Breeding: A Scientific Guide for Future Beekeeping. Springer Thomas D. Seeley, David R. TARPY, Sean R. Griffin, Angela Carcione and Deborah A. Delaney. 2015. A survivor population of wild colonies of European honeybees in the northeastern United States: investigating its genetic. Apidologie (2015) 46:654–666. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13592-015-0355-0 Sustainable Beekeepers Guild of Michigan https://sbgmi.org/queenportal ______________ Brought to you by Betterbee – your partners in better beekeeping. 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 _______________ 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; Bolero de la Fontero by Rimsky Music; Perfect Sky by Graceful Movement; Original guitar background instrumental by Jeff Ott. Beekeeping Today Podcast is an audio production of Growing Planet Media, LLC ** As an Amazon Associate, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases Copyright © 2026 by Growing Planet Media, LLC
Sep 28

Nutrition, Microbiomes, and Colony Health with the Carl Hayden Lab Team

What does honey bee health look like when researchers examine it from the inside out? In this episode, Jeff and Becky welcome three scientists from the USDA-ARS Carl Hayden Bee Research Center in Tucson, Arizona: Dr. Vanessa Corby-Harris, Dr. Kirk Anderson, and Dr. Mark Carroll. Their work spans insect physiology, nutrition, microbiomes, chemical ecology, Varroa, and the complicated ways multiple stressors influence colony health. Vanessa explains why nutrition is one of the areas where beekeepers can directly influence colony health and how researchers use biomarkers—including the honey bee fat body—to connect individual bee physiology with brood production and colony performance. Kirk describes research comparing colonies placed in diverse Conservation Reserve Program forage with colonies working canola and sunflower landscapes, then discusses a more recent case involving Varroa, amitraz resistance, viruses, nutrition, and agricultural exposure. Mark explores another layer: how young workers interpret colony conditions and how pheromones such as β-ocimene may influence brood rearing during nutritional stress. Together, the conversation shows why understanding colony health increasingly means looking beyond any single stressor—and why nutrition, physiology, microbes, pesticides, pathogens, and mites often need to be considered together. Also in this episode, Jeff and Becky answer a Hive IQ listener question about preparing plastic foundation for bees. Websites from the episode and others we recommend: Carl Hayden Honey Bee Research Lab: https://www.ars.usda.gov/pacific-west-area/tucson-az/carl-hayden-bee-research-center/ Honey Bee Health Coalition: https://honeybeehealthcoalition.org Project Apis m. (PAm): https://www.projectapism.org The National Honey Board: https://honey.com Honey Bee Obscura Podcast: https://honeybeeobscura.com Copyright © 2026 by Growing Planet Media, LLC ______________ 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! As a beekeeper, you want products that benefit you and your bees. When you choose Premier Bee Products, you choose hive components that are healthier for bees and more productive for you. Because we believe that in beekeeping, details make all the difference. Premier Bee Products: Better for bees. Better for beekeepers. Use promo code PODCAST for 10% off your next online order. Thanks to Strong 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 HiveIQ is revolutionizing the way beekeepers manage their colonies with innovative, insulated hive systems designed for maximum colony health and efficiency. Their hives maintain stable temperatures year-round, reduce stress on the bees, and are built to last using durable, lightweight materials. Whether you're managing two hives or two hundred, HiveIQ's smart design helps your bees thrive while saving you time and effort. Learn more at HiveIQ.com. We'd like to thank Vita Bee Health for supporting the podcast. Vita provides proven tools for controlling Varroa—from Apistan and Apiguard to the new VarroxSan extended-release oxalic acid strips—helping beekeepers keep stronger, healthier colonies. 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. Thanks to Bee Culture, the Magazine of American Beekeeping, for their support of Honey Bee Obscura. Available in print and digital at www.beeculture.com _______________ 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; Bolero de la Fontero by Rimsky Music; Perfect Sky by Graceful Movement; I'm Not Running Away This Time by Max Brodie; Original guitar background instrumental by Jeff Ott. Beekeeping Today Podcast is an audio production of Growing Planet Media, LLC ** As an Amazon Associate, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases Copyright © 2026 by Growing Planet Media, LLC
Sep 23 · Bonus

AI in the Bee Yard: Getting Started with AI for Beekeepers

Artificial intelligence is rapidly finding its way into everyday tools—but where does it fit in the bee yard? In this Beekeeping Today Podcast Short, Jeff Ott and Becky Masterman begin exploring how beekeepers can put AI to practical use without treating it as an unquestioned authority. Jeff and Becky discuss using AI to organize colony inspection notes, create spreadsheets for mite monitoring, analyze data, help locate research and extension resources, and assist with projects such as grant applications. They also address the other side of the equation: AI can sound convincing while providing inaccurate information, invent sources, misinterpret images, or claim capabilities it does not actually have. Jeff shares his own experiment asking AI to identify and count Varroa mites from photographs of IPM boards—with decidedly mixed results. Their takeaway is straightforward: use AI as an assistant, much like a student or intern. Ask questions, challenge the answers, request sources, and verify important information yourself. And this is only the beginning. Websites from the episode and others we recommend: Honey Bee Health Coalition: https://honeybeehealthcoalition.org Project Apis m. (PAm): https://www.projectapism.org The National Honey Board: https://honey.com Honey Bee Obscura Podcast: https://honeybeeobscura.com Copyright © 2026 by Growing Planet Media, LLC ______________ 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 _______________ 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; Bolero de la Fontero by Rimsky Music; Perfect Sky by Graceful Movement; I'm Not Running Away This Time by Max Brodie; Original guitar background instrumental by Jeff Ott. Beekeeping Today Podcast is an audio production of Growing Planet Media, LLC ** As an Amazon Associate, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases Copyright © 2026 by Growing Planet Media, LLC
Oct 19

Live from the Pacific Northwest Beekeeping Conference: Varroa, Invasives, and Winter Prep (407)

Recorded live at the Pacific Northwest Beekeeping Conference in Wenatchee, Washington, this episode brings together five experienced voices for a fast-moving discussion of some of the biggest issues facing beekeepers today. Jeff Ott moderates a panel featuring Adam Pachl, Dr. David Peck, Dr. Brandon Hopkins, Kamon Reynolds, and Fred Dunn. The conversation begins with a familiar question: after nearly 40 years of Varroa in the United States, are we actually making progress? The panel looks at resistant stock, improved management strategies, RNAi technology, and the reality that Varroa will likely remain part of beekeeping for years to come. The discussion then turns to invasive pests and the importance of vigilance in port states such as Washington, including Tropilaelaps and invasive hornets. Panelists emphasize that local clubs and individual beekeepers can play an important role in early detection and monitoring. Audience questions bring practical issues to the forefront: creating brood breaks, queen caging, pheromones, warm winters, mite-treatment choices, amitraz resistance, oxalic acid, and the limitations of current Varroa monitoring methods. The panel closes with one simple challenge: go home, look carefully at your colonies, prepare them for winter, and keep learning from the bees. Websites from the episode and others we recommend: Honey Bee Health Coalition: https://honeybeehealthcoalition.org Project Apis m. (PAm): https://www.projectapism.org The National Honey Board: https://honey.com Honey Bee Obscura Podcast: https://honeybeeobscura.com Copyright © 2026 by Growing Planet Media, LLC ______________ 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! As a beekeeper, you want products that benefit you and your bees. When you choose Premier Bee Products, you choose hive components that are healthier for bees and more productive for you. Because we believe that in beekeeping, details make all the difference. Premier Bee Products: Better for bees. Better for beekeepers. Use promo code PODCAST for 10% off your next online order. Thanks to Strong 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 HiveIQ is revolutionizing the way beekeepers manage their colonies with innovative, insulated hive systems designed for maximum colony health and efficiency. Their hives maintain stable temperatures year-round, reduce stress on the bees, and are built to last using durable, lightweight materials. Whether you're managing two hives or two hundred, HiveIQ's smart design helps your bees thrive while saving you time and effort. Learn more at HiveIQ.com. We'd like to thank Vita Bee Health for supporting the podcast. Vita provides proven tools for controlling Varroa—from Apistan and Apiguard to the new VarroxSan extended-release oxalic acid strips—helping beekeepers keep stronger, healthier colonies. 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. Thanks to Bee Culture, the Magazine of American Beekeeping, for their support of Honey Bee Obscura. Available in print and digital at www.beeculture.com _______________ 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; Bolero de la Fontero by Rimsky Music; Perfect Sky by Graceful Movement; I'm Not Running Away This Time by Max Brodie; Original guitar background instrumental by Jeff Ott. Beekeeping Today Podcast is an audio production of Growing Planet Media, LLC ** As an Amazon Associate, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases Copyright © 2026 by Growing Planet Media, LLC

Bringing you the best of honey bee and pollinator podcast audio!