Libsyn Directory

Listener Beekeeping Questions (369)

Release Date: 01/26/2026

Beekeeping Today Podcast

Listener questions drive some of the most practical and wide-ranging conversations on Beekeeping Today Podcast, and this episode is packed with thoughtful questions from beekeepers at every stage. Jeff and Becky work through a full slate of listener submissions covering mentorship, overwintering decisions, feeding practices, hive tools, monitoring systems, and a few persistent beekeeping myths. The episode opens with a listener question about mentorship—how to make it effective, sustainable, and rewarding for both mentors and new beekeepers. Jeff and Becky discuss setting expectations,...

Bonus: Bee Science with Dewey — Clustering and Winter Survival (BSD-1)

Beekeeping Today Podcast

In this inaugural episode of Bee Science with Dewey Caron, PhD, Dewey takes a close look at one of the most fundamental — and often misunderstood — aspects of honey bee winter biology: clustering. Why do honey bees form a winter cluster, and what actually determines whether a colony survives until spring? Dewey explains how clustering is not simply about staying warm, but about energy efficiency, colony organization, and collective behavior. He walks listeners through how cluster size, food placement, colony population, and environmental conditions interact throughout the winter months....

Cold-Climate Beekeeping and Winter Feeding Insights with Etienne Tardif (368)

Beekeeping Today Podcast

In this episode of Beekeeping Today Podcast, Jeff Ott and Becky Masterman welcome back cold-climate beekeeper and data-driven researcher Etienne Tardif, joining the conversation from Canada’s far north. Etienne keeps bees in the Yukon—well above the 60th parallel—where winter temperatures routinely reach extremes few beekeepers ever experience. The discussion begins with a listener question about queen genetics and whether mating across multiple bee lines can combine desirable traits like winter hardiness, rapid spring buildup, and large populations. Becky explores the realities of bee...

[Bonus] North American Honey Bee Expo 2026, Day 3 (Saturday)

Beekeeping Today Podcast

Join us for a special series of episodes recorded live from the floor of the North American Honey Bee Expo in Louisville, KY, January 8–10, 2026. Jeff and Becky bring you the latest beekeeping insights, trends, and innovations directly from one of the biggest beekeeping events of the year. Tune in as we chat with industry leaders, researchers, and beekeepers from across the country. Whether you’re attending in person or catching up from home, these episodes will keep you connected to the hive buzz at NAHBE! Stay tuned for insights into the hottest topics in beekeeping, new product...

[Bonus] North American Honey Bee Expo 2026, Day 2 (Friday)

Beekeeping Today Podcast

[Bonus] North American Honey Bee Expo 2026, Day 1 (Thursday)

Beekeeping Today Podcast

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

Beekeeping Today Podcast

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...

End of Year Wrap-Up: Lessons from 2025 and Looking Ahead (366)

Beekeeping Today Podcast

As the year comes to a close, Jeff Ott and Becky Masterman are joined by Dr. David Peck for a wide-ranging end-of-year conversation reflecting on the highs, lows, and lessons of beekeeping in 2025. From disruptive winter losses and evolving varroa pressures to promising new tools and treatments on the horizon, this episode takes a clear-eyed look at where beekeeping stands today. The discussion opens with a listener question about siting bee yards, sparking a thoughtful exploration of how to evaluate apiary locations and approach landowners about hosting colonies. Drawing on real-world...

Holiday Special with Jim Tew - The Promise of Bees (365)

Beekeeping Today Podcast

This Holiday Special episode of Beekeeping Today Podcast brings together Jeff Ott, Becky Masterman, and Dr. Jim Tew from Honey Bee Obscura, for a warm, thoughtful conversation about bees, beekeeping, and reflection during Christmas week. With a special Santa Claus opener returning for another year, the episode sets a festive tone before settling into practical winter-season observations and the deeper meaning beekeeping brings this time of year. Jim shares insights into what honey bees are doing right now in winter clusters, how beekeepers can read subtle signs of life without opening hives,...

[Bonus] Short - Hive Debris Analysis with Dr. Dewey Caron

Beekeeping Today Podcast

In this December Beekeeping Today Short, Dr. Dewey Caron offers a fascinating look at what our bees communicate through something we often ignore: hive debris. This episode continues Dewey’s ongoing monthly exploration of honey bee communication—bridging bee science, beekeeper decisions, and the bees’ own intricate signals. Drawing from his upcoming American Bee Journal review and the new book Bottom-Up Beekeeping by Ray Baxter, Dewey explains how debris boards can reveal far more than mite counts. From colony size and cluster position to brood activity, queen events, moisture...

More Episodes

Listener questions drive some of the most practical and wide-ranging conversations on Beekeeping Today Podcast, and this episode is packed with thoughtful questions from beekeepers at every stage. Jeff and Becky work through a full slate of listener submissions covering mentorship, overwintering decisions, feeding practices, hive tools, monitoring systems, and a few persistent beekeeping myths.

The episode opens with a listener question about mentorship—how to make it effective, sustainable, and rewarding for both mentors and new beekeepers. Jeff and Becky discuss setting expectations, encouraging hands-on learning, and building confidence without overwhelming volunteers.

From there, the conversation moves into common beginner challenges, including surviving a rough season, dealing with small hive beetles in warmer climates, and improving queen-finding skills without unnecessarily stressing colonies. Jeff and Becky emphasize regional context, local support, and learning from both success and failure.

Several feeding-related questions follow, including overwintering with honey supers, the use of fondant as insurance feed, and whether supplemental feeding can contaminate honey supers. Becky offers clear guidance on keeping brood nests intact, avoiding supplemental feed when honey supers are present, and making peace with sacrificing honey for colony survival when necessary.

The episode also tackles practical yard questions, like how to stop losing hive tools and whether electronic hive monitoring systems make sense for smaller apiaries. Jeff and Becky share real-world strategies and tools that simplify inspections and improve efficiency.

Finally, they address one of the more unusual questions circulating in beekeeping circles—feeding bananas to bees—exploring where the idea came from, what limited research suggests, and why caution and timing matter.

It’s a wide-ranging, honest, and practical episode shaped entirely by the questions beekeepers are asking right now.

Websites from the episode and others we recommend:

Beekeeping Today Podcast Bananas for Bees: https://www.beekeepingtodaypodcast.com/bananas-for-bees-with-katharina-davitt-s3-e25/
Research articles mentioning bananas:
- https://doi.org/10.3389/frbee.2024.1386799
- https://www.researchgate.net/profile/El-Kkazafy-Taha/publication/281578975_Importance_of_banana_Musa_sp_Musaceae_for_honeybee_Apis_mellifera_L_Hmenoptera_Apidae_in_Egypt/links/560fe06a08ae6b29b49a8220/Importance-of-banana-Musa-sp-Musaceae-for-honeybee-Apis-mellifera-L-Hmenoptera-Apidae-in-Egypt.pdf

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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