Episode 25 - Spring is Here... sort of, Feeding Still?, Process of Getting Nucs, Better Mite Treatment Schedule, Honeybee Hotline, Droning On
Release Date: 04/10/2025
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: ...
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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....
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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 25 of Beekeeping Buddies. The podcast where Steve and Luke talk about beekeeping in the Central Illinois area.
Around the Yard:
- Spring Weather: Cold weather keeping you out of your hives?
- Feed or Not: Should we be feeding still?
- Speaking to Groups: How and when do we talk about bees?
- First Dandelions!
- Getting Nucs: What is the process of getting 50 nucs of bees?
In the News:
- Tariffs: How will the tariffs impact beekeepers?
- Pollination Services: Do farmers understand pollination requirements?
- North American Honeybee Expo: Luke shares some details about the Expo
Honeybee Hotline:
- Electrical Flower Discharge: Bees can see electrical charges?
- Survival Rates and Treating with Oxalic Acid: Should we be changing the way we treat or bees?
Droning On:
- Sneaking in Hive Checks: Find some nice warm weather to check your hives.
- Classes and Nuc Pickup: We talk about nuc pickup and classes.
Tune in to Episode 25 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 buzzing questions.
Randy Oliver Mite Calculator Calendar: https://scientificbeekeeping.com/randys-varroa-model/
Canadian Beekeeper Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TqtT4YA7zs
How RRA Makes Fondant: https://youtu.be/CAiOF3onmBQ
The American Bee Journal: https://americanbeejournal.com/
Project Apis m. Bee Survey Video 2025: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOCis4ZPfp8
Project Apis m. Website: https://www.projectapism.org/events/i8yr94doxarjvh453lchfhr0xf3bvq
Riverview Road Apiary Nucs: https://riverviewroadapiary.com/products/spring-2025-nuc
Heart of Illinois Beekeeping Club: https://hoibees.org/
Dalan Animal Health Queens: https://bluetoad.com/publication/?m=5417&i=830245&p=38&ver=html5
Beekeeping Buddies Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/beekeepingbuddies/
Fruit and Vegetable Pollination Handbook: https://www.ars.usda.gov/arsuserfiles/20220500/onlinepollinationhandbook.pdf