Épisodes

  • The Honey Bee and Climate Change with Dr. Gloria DeGrandi-Hoffman (406)

    The Honey Bee and Climate Change with Dr. Gloria DeGrandi-Hoffman (406)
    Oct 12 2026
    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/3Vuipui Honey Bee Health Coalition: https://honeybeehealthcoalition.orgProject Apis m. (PAm): https://www.projectapism.orgThe National Honey Board: https://honey.comHoney 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
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    52 min
  • Winning at Honey with Stephanie: Getting Your Entries to the Show

    Winning at Honey with Stephanie: Getting Your Entries to the Show
    Oct 7 2026
    You've spent hours preparing your honey show entries—but how do you get them safely to the judging table? This month on Winning at Honey with Stephanie, Stephanie Slater tackles the challenges of transporting competition entries by car, shipping, and air travel. She shares her own techniques along with advice from experienced honey judges who regularly travel with competition honey. You'll learn how to protect jars and delicate beeswax entries, why temperature matters, what to include in a competition cleanup kit, and how to prepare for the inevitable bubbles and honey above the fill line after a flight. Stephanie also discusses TSA liquid restrictions, checked luggage, shipping mishaps, spare honey, fresh lids, and even a clever hotel-room trick for encouraging bubbles to rise. Before getting on the road, Stephanie talks with 2026 Wisconsin Honey Queen Emily Skala about the Honey Queen program, youth involvement in beekeeping, honey shows, and Emily's plans to compete for the American Honey Queen title in January. Finally, the Honey Show Spotlight looks at upcoming competitions around the country and previews the American Honey Show at the 2027 American Beekeeping Federation Conference in Galveston, Texas. Whether you're driving across town or flying across the country, careful transportation is part of preparing an award-winning entry. Blue skies and blue ribbons! Websites mentioned: Honey Show USA - https://honeyshowusa.com/ Wisconson State Fair Honey Show - https://wistatefair.com/competitions/honey-products/ American Beekeeping Federation - https://abfnet.org/Honey For Good - https://honeyforgood.org/Good Food Awards - https://goodfoodfdn.org/ Wisconsin Honey Producers Honey Queen Program - https://wihoney.org/honey-queen/ American Beekeeping Federation Honey Queen Program - https://abfnet.org/american-honey-queen-program/ Missouri State Beekeepers Assn Honey Show - https://www.mobees.org/events/beeconf2026/ ______________ 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
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    27 min
  • American Honey, Russian Bees, and the Work of the AHPA with Steven Coy (405)

    American Honey, Russian Bees, and the Work of the AHPA with Steven Coy (405)
    Oct 5 2026
    Steven Coy returns to Beekeeping Today for a wide-ranging conversation about the challenges facing American beekeepers—and the role genetics may play in building more resilient colonies. Steven is president of the American Honey Producers Association and a longtime commercial beekeeper and Russian honey bee breeder. He begins by explaining how the AHPA represents commercial beekeepers through advocacy, Farm Bill work, anti-dumping efforts, and programs such as ELAP. He also discusses the proposed Honey Integrity Act and why the industry wants a federal standard of identity for honey. The conversation also examines declining U.S. honey production, imported honey, consumer confidence, and efforts to encourage consumers to buy American honey and support domestic beekeepers and pollination agriculture. In the second half, Steven takes Jeff and Becky inside his Mississippi operation and nearly three decades of experience with Russian honey bees. He discusses Varroa resistance, wintering, brood production, honey production, defensive behavior, and why resistant stock still requires thoughtful mite management. Steven also makes the case for evaluating genetics at the apiary level, explaining why mite drift and surrounding colonies can mask the advantages of resistant stock. Websites from the episode and others we recommend: American Honey Producers Association: https://ahpanet.comRussian Honey Bee Breeders: https://www.russianhoneybeebreeders.org Steven's Book about Russan Honey Bees at Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Vuipui Honey Bee Health Coalition: https://honeybeehealthcoalition.orgProject Apis m. (PAm): https://www.projectapism.orgThe National Honey Board: https://honey.comHoney 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,...
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    1 h et 3 min
  • Norroa: A New RNAi Approach to Varroa Control

    Norroa: A New RNAi Approach to Varroa Control
    Oct 2 2026

    Norroa brings a very different approach to Varroa management. In this installment of the Beekeeping Today Podcast Varroa Treatment Series, Jeff Ott and Becky Masterman welcome Dr. David Peck of Betterbee to explain how this new treatment works and, just as importantly, when it may—or may not—fit into a beekeeper's management plan.

    Unlike treatments designed to quickly kill mites, Norroa uses RNA interference, or RNAi, to disrupt reproduction in female Varroa mites. The active ingredient, vadescana, is delivered in sugar syrup pouches that bees consume and incorporate into brood food, where reproductive mites can be exposed.

    That means timing matters. Norroa requires actively reared open brood and is intended to hold mite populations down over time rather than rescue a colony already experiencing dangerously high mite and virus pressure.

    David also explains pouch placement, treatment timing, monitoring challenges, cost considerations, and why local nectar flows, dearth periods, colony development, and mite pressure all matter when deciding whether Norroa belongs in your Varroa management program.

    Websites from the episode and others we recommend:

    • Beekeeping Today Episode with Greenlight Technology's Adam Pachl: https://www.beekeepingtodaypodcast.com/357-norroa-varroa-management/

    • 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
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    23 min
  • Nutrition, Microbiomes, and Colony Health with the Carl Hayden Lab Team (404)

    Nutrition, Microbiomes, and Colony Health with the Carl Hayden Lab Team (404)
    Sep 28 2026
    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.orgProject Apis m. (PAm): https://www.projectapism.orgThe National Honey Board: https://honey.comHoney 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 *...
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    1 h et 2 min
  • AI in the Bee Yard: Getting Started with AI for Beekeepers

    AI in the Bee Yard: Getting Started with AI for Beekeepers
    Sep 23 2026

    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
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    19 min
  • The U.S. Beekeeping Survey: Colony Losses, Varroa, and Better Data (403)

    The U.S. Beekeeping Survey: Colony Losses, Varroa, and Better Data (403)
    Sep 21 2026
    What can nearly two decades of beekeeper-reported data tell us about colony health—and what can it not tell us? In this episode, Jeff Ott and Becky Masterman welcome Dr. Geoff Williams, Dr. Nathalie Steinhauer, and Dr. Agostina Giacobino to discuss the 2026 U.S. Beekeeping Survey and its continuity after the closure of the Bee Informed Partnership. The team explains why annual colony-loss rates function much like a mortality or turnover measure rather than a direct count of the nation's living colonies. Preliminary 2025–26 results suggest losses improved from the exceptionally difficult previous two years, yet the national annual estimate remained near 40 percent. One in three responding commercial beekeepers reported losing more than half their colonies—sobering numbers even in a comparatively better year. Nathalie and Agostina describe how consistent questions make long-term comparisons possible, while new dashboards help beekeepers, researchers, inspectors, and extension professionals explore management trends. The conversation highlights increased adoption of Varroa monitoring and treatment, growing commercial use of oxalic acid amid concerns about amitraz resistance, and a central lesson: successful Varroa control is a season-long system of prevention, monitoring, timing, and multiple tools—not a search for one magic product. The guests also walk through the survey calendar, state participation, rapid preliminary reporting, and why both summer and winter losses matter. More than 2,300 respondents represented roughly 10 to 13 percent of U.S. colonies in the latest survey, but stronger state-level participation remains an important goal. Before the interview, Becky answers a HiveIQ listener question about how quickly pulled honey supers should be extracted. Websites from the episode and others we recommend: Preliminary Results from the 2025-2026 US Beekeeping Survey: Honey Bee Loss and Management: https://apiaryinspectors.org/US-beekeeping-survey-25-26 Honey Bee Health Coalition: https://honeybeehealthcoalition.orgProject Apis m. (PAm): https://www.projectapism.orgThe National Honey Board: https://honey.comHoney 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...
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    56 min
  • Bee Science with Dewey Caron: Honey Bees and Smoke

    Bee Science with Dewey Caron: Honey Bees and Smoke
    Sep 16 2026
    Why do we smoke honey bees—and how much smoke do they really need? In this installment of his Bee Science mini-series on Beekeeping Today, Dr. Dewey Caron sends an audio postcard from Portland, Oregon, during a wildfire smoke advisory. He uses the smoky skies as a starting point for a discussion of the beekeeper's smoker, the behavior of honey bees, and the challenges wildfire brings to the bee yard. Dewey's central message about smoker use is simple: use it sparingly. He walks through lighting a smoker, choosing fuel that produces cool, white smoke, keeping it working throughout an inspection, and directing smoke where it helps move bees away from fingers and hive equipment. He also describes ways to reduce unnecessary disturbance as frames are removed and the colony is closed. The conversation then turns to what smoke actually does. Dewey explains why he describes smoke as changing bee behavior rather than simply calming bees. He discusses alarm odor, bees retreating from smoke, and honey-stomach filling, while identifying the proposed wildfire escape response as a theory. Liquid smoke, water, sugar water, and inspections without a smoker each get a look, along with their limitations. Wildfire smoke raises a different set of questions. Dewey reflects on Oregon's 2020 fires, threats to apiaries, and the difficulties of caring for surviving colonies. He discusses native bee nesting habitat, changes in post-fire forage, and how smoky skies can interfere with the polarized-light patterns honey bees use to navigate. He also considers research on ash exposure and emphasizes how much remains unknown about its effects on flower visitors. To close, Dewey offers ten points covering smoker safety, inspection decisions, evacuation preparedness, defensible space, supplemental feeding, clean water, documentation, and habitat recovery. Throughout, the emphasis is on thoughtful smoker use and avoiding additional stress on colonies during smoke events. Notes and references: Reynolds, Kamon. What is best bee smoker fuel? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_vqphnp04w Garvey, K.K. 2020. The Bee People, The Bees, and The Fires. UCANR Bug Squad. https://ucanr.edu/blog/bug-squad/article/bee-people-bees-and-fires Andony Melathopoulos, Brooke Edmunds and Jim Rivers. Reviewed 2024. How do Wildfires affect bees? https://extension.oregonstate.edu/forests/fire/how-do-wildfires-affect-bee Tan, Y.Q., Dion, E. and Monteiro, A., 2018. Haze smoke impacts survival and development of butterflies. Scientific Reports, 8(1), pp.1-10. Detweiler, A.J. and Fitzgerald, S.A., 2006. Fire-resistant plants for home landscapes: Selecting plants that may reduce your risk from wildfire. OSU Extension Catalog PNW 590 Evangelista, C., Kraft, P., Dacke, M., Labhart, T. and Srinivasan, M.V., 2014. Honeybee navigation: critically examining the role of the polarization compass. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 369(1636), p.20130037. ______________ 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
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    25 min