Beekeeping Today Podcast

In this milestone 350th episode of Beekeeping Today Podcast, Jeff Ott and Becky Masterman welcome Vikki Atkinson of Pennsylvania to share her deep experience managing over 100 Top-Bar hives. Vikki walks listeners through the unique design of Top-Bar hives, from follower boards and shims to the angled sides that encourage natural comb building. She explains how handling bars like a “steering...

In this Varroa Treatment Short, Jeff and Becky are joined once again by Dr. David Peck of BetterBee to discuss two thymol-based mite control options: ApiLife Var and Apiguard . Both products rely on the essential oil thymol, but differ in formulation and delivery. ApiLife Var comes as wafers containing thymol along with eucalyptus oil, menthol, and camphor, while Apiguard is a gel tray or...

In this BTP Short, Jeff and Becky welcome back Dara Scott of HiveAlive to share the results of a recent customer survey on overwintering success during the devastating 2024–25 winter. While national losses reported by Project Apis m averaged around 60%, HiveAlive users reported losses less than half that rate—about 23%. Dara explains how HiveAlive’s unique seaweed extract, combined with...

In this episode, Jeff and Becky welcome Dave Mullins of Bee Great, based in Churubusco, Indiana. Dave shares how a hobby with his father in 2014 grew into a dynamic beekeeping business now managing 150 hives, a thriving retail store, and a diverse line of honey and bee-inspired products. From flavored honeys and goat milk soaps to international exports, Bee Great has become a model of creativity...

In this Varroa Treatment Short, Jeff and Becky are joined by Dr. David Peck of BetterBee to discuss HopGuard 3, the latest version of this organically derived mite control option. The conversation covers the product’s evolution from earlier formulations, its active ingredient (hops beta acids), and what makes it safe to use even with honey supers in place. The discussion highlights the...

In this episode, Jeff and Becky welcome Indiana beekeeper Dave McComb to share his journey from inheriting one defensive hive in 2018 to managing over 100 colonies, producing honey, nucs, and queens with remarkable success. Dave explains how he quickly immersed himself in beekeeping education, adopted single-deep hive management, and built an operation known for exceptionally low winter losses....

Dr. Lewis Bartlett returns to Beekeeping Today Podcast to share the latest science on honey bee health, pest management, and the evolving challenges beekeepers face worldwide. In this wide-ranging conversation, Lewis dives into how shifting climates, global trade, and emerging pests are reshaping the landscape for beekeeping. He explores the role of integrated pest management, the importance of...

In this Varroa Treatments short, Jeff Ott and co-host Dr. Becky Masterman welcome Dr. David Peck from Betterbee to discuss formic acid—a powerful tool in the fight against varroa mites. David explains how Formic Pro, the most common formic acid product now available in the U.S., is formulated to safely release vapors that penetrate capped brood cells, killing mites both on adult bees and...

In this week’s episode, Jeff and Becky welcome back fourth-generation commercial beekeeper John Miller for a candid conversation about the challenges—and potential—facing the beekeeping industry today. With his decades of experience and generational insight, John doesn’t hold back on concerns about low honey prices, rising input costs, invasive pests like tropilaelaps, and the closure of critical...

In this Beekeeping Today Podcast Short, Dr. Dewey Caron returns with his monthly audio postcard—this time focused on August mite management and a remarkable discovery about honey bee learning. Dewey reminds beekeepers that August is a critical month to monitor and treat for varroa mites before their populations explode. He shares updates on new and emerging treatments, including Norroa (a...