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 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...
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Episode 29 - New Employees, New Products, USDA Bee Die Off Study and Lots of Honeybee Hotline
Beekeeping Buddies
Around the Yard: Expanding Products: Riverview Road Apiary adds some employees and new products! Pollen Tasting: Luke and Steve try some locally collected pollen and let you know how it is. How to Harvest and Prepare Pollen: Luke and Steve talk about pollen collection and preparation. Nectar Flow: Nectar is coming in so fast it's difficult to keep up. Swarm Captures: Ideas for catching swarms and how we go about it this busy season. In the News: USDA Concludes Cause of Dieoffs in 2024/2025: Luke and Steve review study on what happened to the US bees this last...
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Episode 28 - Hold On Because Here We Go! Spring flow is on and the bees are off!
Beekeeping Buddies
Welcome to Episode 28 of Beekeeping Buddies. The podcast where Steve and Luke talk about beekeeping in the Central Illinois area. Around the Yard: Purchasing Hives: Steve buys some hives from a local beekeeper who is chasing her dreams! Queen Hatching Experience: Steve finds a unique experience working the club beehives, and some lessons learned. Oops: Luke makes a mistake with one of his hives! Nectar Flow: Nectar is coming in so fast it's difficult to keep up. Swarm Captures: Ideas for catching swarms and how we go about it this busy season. In the News: Bumblebees Have a...
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Episode 27 - Swarms, Splits, Market Sales and more!
Beekeeping Buddies
Welcome to Episode 27 of Beekeeping Buddies. The podcast where Steve and Luke talk about beekeeping in the Central Illinois area. Around the Yard: Swarms: Luke and Steve continue to pick up swarms! Splits: It's that time of year to make your splits. Luke and Steve discuss how we do that. Moving Bees to Clover Farm: Luke and Steve discuss moving some bees. Steve's Purchasing Adventures: What is involved when buying someone's hives? In the News: Honeybee Losses: Will beekeeping have to change with the times? Droning On: Hive Checks: What we are seeing in our hives. Queen...
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Episode 26 - Nucs Pickup and Delivery, Queen Orders, Cutouts, Splits, and OA Strips and more!
Beekeeping Buddies
Welcome to Episode 26 of Beekeeping Buddies. The podcast where Steve and Luke talk about beekeeping in the Central Illinois area. Around the Yard: Nuc Pickup and Dispersion Adventure: Luke and Steve pick up some nucs! House Cutout: What happens to bees where they are not supposed to be? In the News: Honeybee Losses: Honeybee losses hit the mainstream! Droning On: Hive Checks: What we are seeing in our hives. Queen Grafting: Queen grafting classes. Tune in to Episode 26 for all this and more as we delve into the world of beekeeping in Central Illinois, providing...
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