Beekeeping Today Podcast

• [Bonus] Short - Dewey Caron: Condensing vs. Ventilating Hives

  In this October Beekeeping Today Podcast Short, Dr. Dewey Caron returns from Apimondia in Copenhagen and the Washington State Beekeepers Association Conference with another Audio Postcard—this time exploring the long-debated topic of condensing vs. ventilated hives. Dewey discusses three levels of communication central to his monthly series: bee scientist to beekeeper, beekeeper to bee, and bee to bee. Drawing on the work of Dr. Tom Seeley and Derek Mitchell of the University of Leeds, he examines how wild colonies regulate temperature and moisture in tree cavities compared to modern Langstroth hives. Listeners will hear Dewey explain the difference between a condensing hive—which retains heat and manages moisture through top insulation—and a ventilated hive, which uses airflow and upper vents to remove humidity. He walks through the pros and cons of each, including the energy cost to bees, honey consumption, and overwintering success. The episode concludes with fascinating insights into heater bees, as first described by Jürgen Tautz, showing how worker bees actively warm brood cells during cold months. Dewey ties it all together with his signature reminder: there’s no single right way to keep bees—only the approach that works best for you and your colonies. Links and references mentioned in this episode: Hesbach, W. (2020). The Condensing Colony. American Bee Journal, 160(2), 170–180. Seeley, T. D. (2019). The Lives of Bees: The Untold Story of the Honey Bee in the Wild. Princeton University Press. Radcliffe, R. W. & Seeley, T. D. (2022). Thinking Outside the Box: Temperature Dynamics in a Tree Cavity, Wooden Box, and Langstroth Hives With or Without Insulation. American Bee Journal, 162(8), 893–898. Mitchell, D. (2016). Ratios of Colony Mass to Thermal Conductance of Tree and Man-Made Nest Enclosures of Apis mellifera: Implications for Survival, Clustering, Humidity Regulation, and Varroa destructor. International Journal of Biometeorology, 60(5), 629–638. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-015-1057-z Mitchell, D. (2017). Honey Bee Engineering: Top Ventilation and Top Entrances. American Bee Journal, 157(8), 887–889. ISSN 0002-7626. Mitchell, D. (2023). Honeybee Cluster—Not Insulation but Stressful Heat Sink. Journal of the Royal Society Interface, 20:20230488. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsif.2023.0488 Tautz, J. (2008). The Buzz About Bees: Biology of a Superorganism. Springer. 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 ** As an Amazon Associate, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases Copyright © 2025 by Growing Planet Media, LLC

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• Regional Beekeepers Fall Roundtable 2025 (355)

  In this special Beekeeping Today Podcast roundtable, Jeff Ott and Dr. Becky Masterman gather an inspiring group of regional beekeepers from across the U.S. to share how their colonies fared through the 2025 season and what they’re doing to prepare for winter. Joining the table are Ang Roell (They Keep Bees, Massachusetts), Bonnie Morse (Bonnie Bee & Company, California), Duane Combs (Arizona Beekeepers LLC), Jay Williams (Williams Honey Farm, Tennessee), and Paul Longwell (Washington). Each regional voice brings a unique perspective on this year’s challenges—heat and drought in the Southwest, unpredictable blooms in the Pacific Northwest, and extended broodless periods complicating Varroa management across the country. In response to listener Brian Schmitz’s question, “What does your overwintering hive look like?”, these experienced beekeepers describe how their hive setups differ by region—from Ang’s double-deeps and Warre hives with insulation and mountain camp feeding, to Jay’s “3:2” ratio overwintering in wrapped medium supers, to Duane’s Arizona colonies managing through both heat and rain cycles. Later, they discuss what didn’t go as planned—queen mating failures, volatile weather, and high mite counts—and what they’re most looking forward to in 2026. From germplasm banking and bee breeding projects to bee meditation programs and rare honey production, this lively conversation captures the diversity and innovation within today’s beekeeping community. Websites from the episode and others we recommend: Honey Bee Obscura Podcast: https://honeybeeobscura.com Project Apis m. (PAm): https://www.projectapism.org Honey Bee Health Coalition: https://honeybeehealthcoalition.org The National Honey Board: https://honey.com Honey Bee Obscura Podcast: https://honeybeeobscura.com   Copyright © 2025 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!  Thanks to Bee Smart Designs as a sponsor of this podcast! Bee Smart Designs is the creator of innovative, modular and interchangeable hive systems made in the USA using recycled and American sourced materials. Bee Smart Designs - Simply better beekeeping for the modern beekeeper. Give your bees a boost with HiveAlive! Proven to increase bee health, honey yield, and overwinter survival, HiveAlive’s unique formula includes seaweed, thyme, and lemongrass, making it easy to feed. Choose from HiveAlive’s Fondant Patties, High-Performance Pollen Patties, or EZ Feed Super Syrup—ready-to-use options for busy beekeepers. Buy locally or online. 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 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. _______________ We hope you enjoy this podcast and welcome your questions and comments in the show notes of this episode or: [email protected] Thank you for listening!  Podcast music: Be Strong by Young Presidents; Epilogue by Musicalman; Faraday by BeGun; Walking in Paris by Studio Le Bus; A Fresh New Start by Pete Morse; Wedding Day by Boomer; Christmas Avenue by Immersive Music; Red Jack Blues by Daniel Hart; Original guitar background instrumental by Jeff Ott. Beekeeping Today Podcast is an audio production of Growing Planet Media, LLC ** As an Amazon Associate, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases Copyright © 2025 by Growing Planet Media, LLC

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• [Bonus] Short: Varroa Treatments - Death By Varroa

  In this Beekeeping Today Podcast Short, Jeff and Becky continue their special series on Varroa treatments and control strategies with Dr. David Peck of Betterbee. In this installment, they explore one of the hardest realities of beekeeping—what it looks like when colonies die from Varroa infestations and associated viruses. David explains that “death by Varroa” isn’t just a winter loss—it’s a collapse that can happen in late summer or fall when mite levels and viruses overwhelm a colony. Together, the hosts discuss how to recognize parasitic mite syndrome (PMS)—or “snot brood”—and how it can mimic foulbrood, misleading even experienced beekeepers. Listeners will learn how to identify mite frass on brood cells, recognize signs of deformed wing virus, and understand how unchecked mite populations can devastate even strong, productive colonies. David shares practical field advice, from using robbing screens to prevent mite drift, to understanding why late-season treatments often come too late to save an infected colony—but can still protect neighboring hives. This sobering yet vital episode underscores why Varroa management is non-negotiable for healthy beekeeping. Links & Resources: Honey Bee Health Coalition: https://honeybeehealthcoalition.org/resources/varroa-management/  Betterbee Pest Management Resource Page: https://www.betterbee.com/instructions-and-resources/pest-management.asp 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 Copyright © 2025 by Growing Planet Media, LLC

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• Fall Management Tips with Jim Tew (354)

  Fall is one of the most critical times in the beekeeping calendar, and in this episode Jeff and Becky welcome Jim Tew of Honey Bee Obscura for a lively and practical discussion about preparing colonies for winter. The conversation starts with a listener's question about quilt boxes—what to put in them, how they work, and whether wood shavings, insulation, or even moisture boards are best. Jim, Jeff, and Becky share their own experiences and lessons learned about managing moisture and heat in the hive, with some humorous nods to past beekeeping misadventures. From there, the group dives into fall priorities: ensuring colonies have adequate food reserves, considering when and how to feed syrup or fondant, and combining weak colonies before winter. Becky shares her “Frankenstein hive” approach, Jim reflects on decades of overwintering practices, and Jeff offers perspective from the damp Pacific Northwest. The trio also debate ventilation, moisture management, and whether or not to requeen this late in the season. As always, the discussion mixes science, experience, and a touch of humor—reminding beekeepers that fall is the last big chance to set colonies up for survival. The episode wraps with a look ahead to January’s North American Honey Bee Expo in Louisville, where Jim, Jeff, and Becky will be together at the Beekeeping Today Podcast booth. This is a timely, information-packed conversation for anyone wondering what to do in the final weeks before winter truly sets in. Websites from the episode and others we recommend: Using Quilt Boxes on Betterbee: https://www.betterbee.com/instructions-and-resources/quilt-boxes.asp Honey Bee Obscura Podcast: https://honeybeeobscura.com Project Apis m. (PAm): https://www.projectapism.org Honey Bee Health Coalition: https://honeybeehealthcoalition.org The National Honey Board: https://honey.com Honey Bee Obscura Podcast: https://honeybeeobscura.com   Copyright © 2025 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!  Thanks to Bee Smart Designs as a sponsor of this podcast! Bee Smart Designs is the creator of innovative, modular and interchangeable hive systems made in the USA using recycled and American sourced materials. Bee Smart Designs - Simply better beekeeping for the modern beekeeper. Give your bees a boost with HiveAlive! Proven to increase bee health, honey yield, and overwinter survival, HiveAlive’s unique formula includes seaweed, thyme, and lemongrass, making it easy to feed. Choose from HiveAlive’s Fondant Patties, High-Performance Pollen Patties, or EZ Feed Super Syrup—ready-to-use options for busy beekeepers. Buy locally or online. 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 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. _______________ We hope you enjoy this podcast and welcome your questions and comments in the show notes of this episode or: [email protected] Thank you for listening!  Podcast music: Be Strong by Young Presidents; Epilogue by Musicalman; Faraday by BeGun; Walking in Paris by Studio Le Bus; A Fresh New Start by Pete Morse; Wedding Day by Boomer; Christmas Avenue by Immersive Music; Red Jack Blues by Daniel Hart; Original guitar background instrumental by Jeff Ott. Beekeeping Today Podcast is an audio production of Growing Planet Media, LLC ** As an Amazon Associate, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases Copyright © 2025 by Growing Planet Media, LLC

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• [Bonus] Short: Varroa Treatments - Non-Chemical Means

  In this Beekeeping Today Podcast Short, Jeff and Becky are joined once again by Dr. David Peck of Betterbee to explore non-chemical strategies for managing varroa mites. While miticides remain the backbone of many treatment programs, non-chemical approaches can play a valuable role in integrated pest management—if used wisely. David highlights proven practices like drone brood removal, which exploits the mite’s preference for drone cells, and brood interruption techniques, including splits, swarming, and strategic queen caging. The discussion also covers screened bottom boards, powdered sugar dusting, CO₂ exposure, and heat treatments—with an emphasis on what works, what doesn’t, and why. Listeners will learn how combining these non-chemical strategies with timed miticide applications can improve overall mite control while reducing chemical dependence. As David stresses, success comes down to careful timing, strong recordkeeping, and understanding the biology of both honey bees and varroa mites. This episode reminds beekeepers that there’s no silver bullet—only thoughtful management, tailored to season and colony conditions. Links & Resources: Honey Bee Health Coalition: https://honeybeehealthcoalition.org/resources/varroa-management/  Betterbee Pest Management Resource Page: https://www.betterbee.com/instructions-and-resources/pest-management.asp 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 Copyright © 2025 by Growing Planet Media, LLC

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