Honey Bee Management

I hope you put the hammer to Varroa and struck while the iron was hot—specifically that you took advantage of the treatment window to reduce Varroa numbers significantly during the broodless period. I think it is very important to start … Continued

Welcome back, a new bee season is upon us. March usually marks the start of the beekeeping season. While this winter may have seemed cold to you, the bees also had to put on their coats and hats. One of … Continued

April is generally a happy time in the apiary of most beekeepers. Full of hope, thankfulness, and wonder. Hopefulness for the future season’s success in each of our own endeavors. Health of the honey bees being at the top of … Continued

It is still spring in May, and Oregon spring weather is known for changing quickly. The old saying, “If you do not like the weather, wait a minute” applies. Honey bees are ready for good weather; they want to forage … Continued

June AGAIN . . . a very important beekeeping month. To follow up on my 2021 “Keeping Bees in June” article, I can now confirm that every year is indeed an exception and we can throw out all previous assumptions. … Continued

Rosanna asked me to do the tips again. So I get to write and say hello to everyone again. Hello. Maybe I will see you at our picnic on July 8! I’m writing this on June 9. I used the … Continued

Every month is a busy month for a beekeeper, but August is particularly important. The weather is hot and dry, maybe with the occasional thunderstorm. It feels like the peak of summer, but this critical month is when we need … Continued

This year September finds us with a cornucopia of fruit and vegetables, last year pears and apples on my property were few and far between. Blueberry bushes this year were laden with so much fruit my neighbors put up 70 … Continued

Beekeepers in the Pacific Northwest have experienced an extremely dry summer. Pollen and nectar have been in short supply in many locations. Among the most disappointing things in early spring are hives full of dead bees due to starvation. These … Continued

As we approach late fall and early winter, there are a number of management tasks we should consider. By this time you have done your fall inspection and the bees are settling in for the winter. Combining weak colonies is … Continued