Libsyn Directory

Bee Health, Research, and Real-World Beekeeping with Dr. Jeff Pettis (367)

Release Date: 01/05/2026

Beekeeping Today Podcast

Mateo Kaiser joins Jeff and Becky to discuss how Bee Swarmed is changing the way beekeepers find and collect swarms. Built to connect the public with local beekeepers quickly, the platform helps remove the chaos that often surrounds swarm calls and replaces it with real-time alerts, cleaner communication, and better outcomes for both bees and beekeepers. The conversation begins with a timely Hive IQ question about swarm prevention and colony expansion. Jeff and Becky talk through the challenge of managing strong spring colonies, when to divide, and why waiting too long can cost both bees and...

2026 Midwest Honey Bee Expo – Part 3

Beekeeping Today Podcast

Honey show judging and beekeeper education take center stage in this final installment from the 2026 Midwest Honey Bee Expo. In this Beekeeping Today Podcast Short, Jeff Ott and Becky Masterman bring together conversations from the show floor, featuring Stephanie Slater and members of the University of Minnesota bee lab. Stephanie shares what it takes to organize a successful honey show, from publishing rules months in advance to building categories that encourage broad participation. With entries nearly doubling from the previous year, the Midwest Honey Bee Expo honey show continues to grow,...

Varroa Management Planning: Tools and Strategies (Bee Science)

Beekeeping Today Podcast

In this Bee Science Short, Dr. Dewey Caron continues his series on integrated pest management (IPM) for Varroa mites, focusing on the critical step of selecting and applying the right tools at the right time. Dewey emphasizes a simple but essential message: have a plan. Effective Varroa control begins with understanding pest levels, assessing risk, and determining when intervention is necessary based on economic injury levels (EIL). From there, beekeepers must choose appropriate management tools to keep mite populations below damaging thresholds. The episode highlights the importance of...

Varroa Management Guide Update with Dewey Caron (380)

Beekeeping Today Podcast

In this episode of Beekeeping Today Podcast, Jeff Ott and Becky Masterman welcome Dr. Dewey Caron for a wide-ranging discussion on Varroa management, beekeeping education, and the evolving work of the Honey Bee Health Coalition. Dewey shares his journey from academic entomology to a “retirement” filled with teaching, research, and extension work across the Pacific Northwest. Now based in Oregon, he continues to educate beekeepers through presentations, writing, and his monthly Bee Science series on the podcast. A central focus of the episode is Dewey’s work with the Honey Bee Health...

Midwest Honey Bee Expo Interviews: Comb Honey Innovation and Feeding Solutions (Part 2)

Beekeeping Today Podcast

In this Beekeeping Today Podcast Short, Jeff Ott and Becky Masterman continue their live coverage from the 2026 Midwest Honey Bee Expo, featuring two conversations focused on innovation in comb honey production and hive feeding systems. The episode begins with Mick and Madison Fry, creators of SimplKomb, a comb honey production system designed to simplify harvesting while reducing waste. Their approach integrates production and packaging into a single cassette that fits standard medium frames, allowing bees to build comb directly within the final retail container. The result is a cleaner...

Terra Vera Update: Hive Health, Biosecurity, and Varroa Control (379)

Beekeeping Today Podcast

In this episode of Beekeeping Today Podcast, Jeff Ott and Becky Masterman welcome back Dr. Jeff Pettis and Carlos Perea of Terra Vera for an update on their evolving approach to honey bee health—one that goes beyond traditional varroa control. The discussion begins with a listener question on varroa management in top bar hives, highlighting the complexity of applying existing treatments across different hive configurations. From there, the conversation shifts to Terra Vera’s oxidant-based technology, which mimics natural immune responses found in mammals and honey bees. Carlos explains how...

[Bonus] Short - Midwest Honey Bee Expo Interviews: Beekeepers and Innovations (Part 1)

Beekeeping Today Podcast

In this special Beekeeping Today Podcast Short, Jeff Ott and Becky Masterman record live from the floor of the Midwest Honey Bee Expo, bringing listeners a series of conversations with beekeepers, educators, and innovators shaping today’s beekeeping community. The episode captures the energy of the expo, where hundreds of beekeepers gather to learn, connect, and share ideas. From practical hive management to emerging technologies and equipment, these conversations highlight the diversity of perspectives and experiences within beekeeping. Jeff and Becky begin with David Burns, a well-known...

[Bonus] Short - Winning Honey with Stephanie Slater

Beekeeping Today Podcast

In this Beekeeping Today Podcast Short, Stephanie Slater launches a new monthly series focused on honey shows, judging, and the art of presenting hive products. Stephanie begins by sharing how she got started in beekeeping, tracing her journey from attending an Earth Day presentation to becoming an active honey show competitor and judge. Her story sets the stage for a series designed to make honey shows more accessible to beekeepers at all levels. This first episode focuses on the value of entering honey shows. Stephanie explains how competition raises quality standards, helps beekeepers...

AHB Swarming with Chip Taylor and Gard Otis (378)

Beekeeping Today Podcast

In this episode of Beekeeping Today Podcast, Jeff Ott and Becky Masterman welcome back Dr. Chip Taylor and Dr. Gard Otis for a deep dive into Africanized honey bee swarming behavior—and what it reveals about honey bee biology. The conversation begins with a listener question on comb rotation and foundation use, offering practical spring management tips for replacing old brood frames and encouraging new comb building. From there, the discussion shifts to swarming—one of the most important reproductive behaviors in honey bees. Drawing on decades of research in South and Central America, Chip...

Bonus – Introducing Stephanie Slater: Honey Shows and Judging

Beekeeping Today Podcast

In this short episode, we introduce Stephanie Slater and preview a new recurring segment focused on honey shows and judging. Stephanie joins the Beekeeping Today Podcast to share her background in beekeeping, with particular experience in participating in and judging honey shows. This area of beekeeping—often overlooked by many—plays an important role in evaluating honey quality, presentation, and craftsmanship. In this introduction, Stephanie discusses her involvement in honey shows and offers a glimpse into what goes into judging entries, from visual appearance to handling and...

More Episodes

In this episode of Beekeeping Today Podcast, Jeff Ott and Becky Masterman welcome back one of the most influential voices in modern honey bee health research, Dr. Jeff Pettis. A longtime USDA-ARS scientist and former president of Apimondia, Jeff Pettis joins the show to reflect on decades of research while offering a candid look at how he actually keeps bees today.

The conversation begins with updates on Jeff’s transition away from Apimondia leadership and into a more focused phase of consulting, mentoring, and hands-on beekeeping. He shares insights from his ongoing work with Tropilaelaps mites, including what recent international research tells us about detection, sampling methods, and treatment options—knowledge that may prove critical if this pest ever establishes in North America.

Listeners also hear a rare and refreshing perspective as Jeff opens up about his own beekeeping practices. From using organic acids for varroa management, to feeding strategies, winter preparation, and even his simple “brick system” for hive management, this episode bridges the gap between laboratory science and real-world decision making in the apiary.

The discussion rounds out with reflections on the current state of honey bee research, the importance of sustained public investment in science, and why experience in the bee yard still matters—no matter how many papers you’ve published.

This is a thoughtful, practical, and occasionally humorous conversation that reminds us why good science and good beekeeping belong together.

Websites from the episode and others we recommend:

North American Honey Bee Expo (NAHBE): https://https://www.nahbexpo.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

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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 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

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.

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.

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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; Original guitar background instrumental by Jeff Ott.

Beekeeping Today Podcast is an audio production of Growing Planet Media, LLC

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