Episode 10 - End of July Bee Farm updates, hive-o-rama, and struggles with small hive beetle
Release Date: 07/25/2024
Episode 39 - Fall preparation, late fall cutouts, how to price and install an observation hive
Beekeeping Buddies
This week we dig into some of the most important tasks heading into the colder months. We cover practical fall preparation, what to expect with late-season cutouts, and how to price and install an observation hive for schools, businesses, and homeowners. Whether you’re tightening up your hives for winter or planning new educational opportunities for next year, this episode offers clear, experience-based guidance you can put to work right away. Listen now and stay ahead of the season. North American Honeybee Expo: Discord Server: Randy Oliver Mite Calculator Calendar: ...
info_outline
Episode 38 - Fall has crept in, spooky Halloween Beekeeping Stories, Chunk Comb and our Honeybee Hotline!
Beekeeping Buddies
It’s the Beekeeping Buddies Halloween Special! Luke and Steve dive into the spookier side of beekeeping from bees starting WW3, to the mornful swarm, frakenbees and more! We’ll talk about our fall preparations and some interesting chunk comb we were able to sample, and answer some Honeybee Hotline questions. We hope you'll tune in as our buddy this episode! North American Honeybee Expo: Discord Server: Randy Oliver Mite Calculator Calendar: How RRA Makes Fondant: The American Bee Journal: Project Apis m. Bee Survey Video 2025: Project Apis m....
info_outline
Episode 37 - Beekeeping Buddies Finds a Buddy With 628 Dirt Rooster!
Beekeeping Buddies
We have broken 4,000 listens and want to thank everyone for taking some time to listen to us talk about our passion, honey bees. For this episode we take a break from the normal format of the show to interview a Beekeeping Buddy of our own, Randy McCaffrey better known as the 628 Dirt Rooster! We talk about beekeeping, how different areas do things, and learn the important lesson of how hobby beekeeping is a way... of... life! We hope you all enjoy this special episode and thanks again for being a buddy! 628 Dirt Rooster Youtube: North American Honeybee Expo: Discord Server: Randy...
info_outline
Episode 36 - Feeding for winter, details on fall feeding, measuring hives, nucs 2026, new varroa treatment, managing robbing, fall festivals, and cutouts
Beekeeping Buddies
Around the Yard: Dry Midwest Fall: Fall is here, the hot and dry have not gone away. Details on Fall Feeding: Recipe for Luke's fall feed is: 4.5 lbs sugar, 0.5 lbs pollen sub, 7 oz water mixed together with a mixer of some sort and put into ziplock baggie. How to Know if to Feed: Steve and Luke talk about how we measure hives to know if they need feed. Start Thinking of Nucs: Luke and Steve suggest you start thinking about nucs for 2026. In the News Vandescona Mite Treatment: dsRNA treatment for mites?! Honeybee Hotline: Stick Up Your Hands!: How to manage robbing. Again?: How long to...
info_outline
Episode 35 - Dry Fall, Another Strange Cutout, Luke returns from Spain, Varroa makes it to Spain, HMF correction, Honeybee Hotline Questions, What to do with honey frames
Beekeeping Buddies
Around the Yard: Dry Midwest Fall: Fall is mostly here, but is sure is dry. Details on Another Cutout: Luke and Steve have another fall cutout. Luke Returns From Spain: Luke goes to Spain... and finds few pollinators? Steve and Luke Review Spainish Honey: We review some honey from Spain I brought back. In the News Varroa Mites make it to S. Australia: Varroa mites are now spreading to S. Australia. HMF Correction: Luke has a short correction to HMF. Honeybee Hotline: Bee Identification: Variation inside a honeybee hive. Comb Color: Why is there different comb colors? What to do with a...
info_outline
Episode 34 - Cooler Weather Preparation, Honey Harvest for Summer, Open Feeding, Working with the USDA, Another Strange Cutout... and Important Bee News!
Beekeeping Buddies
Around the Yard: Cooler Weather: Fall has started peeking around the corner. What do we do? Honey Harvest for Summer: Luke and Steve take the last of our summer honey. Open Feeding: Is it the time for open feeding yet? Illinois USDA: Luke and Steve are working with the USDA... providing small hive beetles. In the News Newly Engineered Yeast Makes Better Pollen: Honeybee Disease Impacts Flight: It appers that different diseases impact how far our honeybees will fly. Honeybee Hotline: Can You Feed Maple Syrup: We talk about if this is a problem! Taking Honey Leaving Deep and...
info_outline
Episode 33 - Pulling Honey, Fall Prep, News from Luke, and Lots of Honeybee Hotline
Beekeeping Buddies
Around the Yard: Pulling Honey: Luke and Steve talk about the struggles of staying cool in the bee yard. Fall Prep: Is it already time to feed our bees for winter? What treatments do we use? In the News Big News From Luke Honeybee Hotline: How Long Does a Field Bee Spend Away: We talk mabout when to treat, what we are treating with, and how useful are the new OA boards? Queen Introduction Problem: Our tips and tricks on introducing a new queen. Laying Worker vs New Queen: How do you tell the difference between a laying worker and a newly mated queen? Doomed to Always...
info_outline
Episode 32 - Staying Cool in the Bee Yard, Time to Feed?, Hive Treatment, Queen Introduction, Problems Running a Beekeeping Management Business
Beekeeping Buddies
Around the Yard: Staying Cool: Luke and Steve talk about the struggles of staying cool in the bee yard. Time to Feed?: Is it already time to feed our bees for winter? Honeybee Hotline: Hive Treatments: We talk mabout when to treat, what we are treating with, and how useful are the new OA boards? Queen Introduction: Our tips and tricks on introducing a new queen. Droning On: Extracting Honey: Luke and Steve are busy getting ready to extract honey. Problems Running a Beekeeping Business: Luke shares some of his struggles running a beekeeping business. Tune in to Episode 32 for...
info_outline
Episode 31 - Raising Virgin Queens, Luke Goes to the Purdue Queen Rearing Course, How We Go Through Hives, Hive Cutouts, Extracting
Beekeeping Buddies
Around the Yard: Virgin Queen Raising: Luke and Steve talk about raising some virgin VSH Queens. Purdue Queen Rearing: Luke takes the Purdue queen rearing course. Going Through Hives: Luke and Steve talk about how we go through hives. In the News: Hive Cutout: Luke and Steve talk about their first cutout 11 years ago! Droning On: Extracting Honey: Luke and Steve are busy getting ready to extract honey. Master Beekeeper Course: Luke talks more about the master beekeeper course. Flow Hives: Luke and Steve talk about our flow hives. Tune in to Episode 31 for all this and more...
info_outline
Episode 30 - Honey Extracted, Grafting, Virgin Queens, Adding Supers, Inspector Visits, Honeybee Hotline, Field Day, and Around the Yard
Beekeeping Buddies
Around the Yard: Harvesting Honey:Luke and Steve have harvested honey. Grafting: Luke continues to graft! Queens Obtained: Queens purchased from Kobe Apiary for the Dalan Animal Vaccine Adding Supers: Continues to add supers to hives. Inspector Visits: Our local inspector came to visit Luke! In the News: Field Day: What is a club field day and should your local club have one? Droning On: Purdue Queen Grafting: Luke is headed to Purdue to check out some queen grafting. Hive Cutouts: Luke and Steve have some more cutouts coming up. Beekeeping Insurance: Luke is finally...
info_outlineWelcome to Episode 10 of Beekeeping Buddies. The podcast where Steve and Luke talk about beekeeping in the Central Illinois area.
Around the Yard:
- Harvesting Honey: We’ll discuss the best practices for harvesting honey in Central Illinois, including timing and techniques to ensure a successful yield, and how much we've gotten so far.
- Beekeeping Tours: Sharing our recent experiences and insights from our beekeeping tours.
- Queen Rearing: An update about our first real year of queen rearing in our apiaries.
- Hive Cutouts: Our thoughts and experiences on a cutout of a tree that a storm knocked down.
In the News:
- Hiveorama: Steve will plan on being at this small, but awesome conference located in St. Louis, Missouri.
Honeybee Hotline:
- Small Hive Beetle Problems: We answer viewer questions on how to deal with small hive beetles and slimed hives.
- How to Approach Apitourism: Want to teach people about bees? Maybe host a honey tasting? We cover how we set up our events!
- How to Store Frames: What we do to store our frames for winter.
Droning On:
- Mite Checks: As we prepare for winter, we'll discuss the importance of mite checks and the methods we use to keep our hives healthy.
- Winter Treatments: An overview of the treatments we recommend to ensure your bees are well-protected against the cold months ahead.
- Feeding Hives: Strategies and an experiment for feeding your hives to build up their strength and resources for the upcoming season.
Tune in to Episode 10 for all this and more as we delve into the world of beekeeping in Central Illinois, providing you with practical advice, the latest news, and answers to your burning questions.
Hiveorama - https://hiveorama.square.site/
Sustainable Beekeepers of Michigan - https://sbgmi.org/queenportal
Eventbrite - www.eventbrite.com
Riverview Road Apiary - www.riverviewroadapiary.com
Honey Tasting and Farm Tour - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/honey-tasting-and-apiary-honeybee-farm-tour-tickets-926940553147?aff=ebdssbdestsearch