Beekeeping News
A curated selection of worldwide feeds related around the topic of beekeeping and honeybees.
For many New Zealand beekeepers propolis has long sat in the background as an easy add-on, a modest earner, something that can be collected with relatively little extra effort. But in recent years, it has also become a source of frustration, as global supply chains and shifting demand reshape the ma…
Comvita Ltd has attracted two new cornerstone shareholders — Fraser and Neave Ltd, a Singaporean food and beverage enterprise, and PHC Investments Ltd, an Auckland-based company whose holdings focus on the aged care sector. If Comvita’s current effort to raise up to NZD30m in new equity succeeds, Fr…
Plans for a new industry group to represent commercial beekeepers are marching forward, with consultation having closed and plans to circulate a written constitution in May. Emerging as a key consideration is a delicate balancing act between pricing membership fees attainably, with achieving adequat…
As the calendar turns to May, and the hopes at a new and improved industry body for commercial beekeepers wind on, the time for a winter beekeeping ‘conference’ draws close. However, at this stage no national-level event is set on the beekeeping calendar.
While the leadership at the Ministry for Primary Industry’s (MPI) Biosecurity New Zealand are encouraged by a recent lack of yellow-legged hornet sightings, there is agreement that the incursion response must continue apace for at least another month before taking a new tact over winter.
Beekeeping is getting more and more challenging and a ‘sudden autumn decline’ of hives has veteran Hawke’s Bay beekeeper John Berry worried about the sustainability of beekeeping.
Gaining best value for pollination hives; thermal auditing of beehives; effective industry advocacy; and even that damn hornet – the Bay of Plenty Commercial Beekeepers group met on April 17 at the Mount Manganui offices of Zespri where, stimulated by attendance from various interested parties, a wi…
With the Iran-US war still resulting in closure of the Strait of Hormuz, former GCSB head Ian Fletcher surveys the playing field from New Zealand's vantage point.
Mānuka Orchard owner Logan Bowyer might have grown up on an orchard of a different kind – kiwifruit – but his dedication to the cause of bettering New Zealand’s honey industry is now well proven through his Paengaroa business. Eight years in, Mānuka Orchard is calling on any beekeepers wanting to im…
As the days shorten and nights cool, the bees flight time shortens, diets reduce and cluster tightens, and it’s got Bay of Plenty beekeeper Aimz thinking while she works the last round of the season.
Previously PhD student Jane Pierce’s research has identified the most likely areas of musculoskeletal disorders among beekeepers, now she reports on a recently-developed, free resource which provides an assessment of common beekeeping tasks with the goal of lowering injury risk.
The journey of 1000 miles starts with a single step; How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time; How do you build varroa resistance into your honey bees? You have to start looking. That is the philosophy and practice of bee breeder Rae Butler who says the results of several seasons in her breedi…
Inishturk Island, Co. Mayo, Ireland — March 23, 2026 A remote island community off Ireland’s west coast is set to become home to the country’s first dedicated native honey bee sanctuary, in a project aimed at protecting one of Europe’s most threatened pollinators. The initiative, approved by the Ini…
Web-based mapping tool for beekeepers, crop producers, and pesticide applicators WEST LAFAYETTE, IN (February 17, 2026) — FieldWatch, Inc., a nonprofit company that promotes communication and stewardship among crop producers, beekeepers and pesticide applicators, announces that Vermont has joined as…
Welcome Izzy Hill to the Project Apis m. Team! Izzy will be leading an exciting new program called the Bee Health Regulatory Consortium. Here are a few words from Izzy: “I am excited to be joining PAm and to help lead a new consortium focused on better addressing beekeeper needs, particularly access…
Queenright queen rearing using the 'Ben Harden system' is an ideal way to produce queens without the need for huge cell raising colonies, or compromising honey production. A 'little and often' approach helps mitigate adverse conditions, and mistakes made when learning. Try it!
Click Here if you listened. We’d love to know what you think. There is even a spot for feedback! Read along below! By: Theresa J. Martin Most beekeepers work alone at some point, whether by choice or necessity. In this multi-part series, we are exploring methods that make solo beekeeping more …
Click Here if you listened. We’d love to know what you think. There is even a spot for feedback! Read along below! The Universal Question From Both Beekeepers and Landowners By: James E. Tew Somewhere there is a perfect worldIn my mind’s eye, the sky is usually deep blue interrupted only by fl…
By: Becky Masterman Click Here if you listened. We’d love to know what you think. There is even a spot for feedback! Read along below! Honey Production Behind every bumper honey crop is a nectar flow. Some call it a honey flow. Frank Pellett, author of American Honey Plants, summarized honey p…
Click Here if you listened. We’d love to know what you think. There is even a spot for feedback! Read along below! Choosing the Best Colony Spacing By: Ross Conrad Feral honey bee research conducted by Cornell’s Tom Seeley on bees living in the Arnot Forest near Ithaca, New York suggests that …
Click Here if you listened. We’d love to know what you think. There is even a spot for feedback! Read along below! By: David Burns One of the most important reasons we inspect our bees is to ensure that we have a good laying queen. It’s easy to evaluate your queen without even finding her […
Click Here if you listened. We’d love to know what you think. There is even a spot for feedback! Read along below! By: Stephen Bishop In ancient times, Hercules was the most heroic of mortal men. However, due to some chicanery by the gods, Hercules briefly went insane and did some terrible thi…
Click Here if you listened. We’d love to know what you think. There is even a spot for feedback! Read along below! New(ish) Beekeeper Column Stacking the Odds in Favor of VSH By: Richard Wahl Previous Month RecapIn last month’s article, “Raising VSH Queens”, I moved beyond the label and explai…
Oftmals wird Völkern, die geschwärmt haben, zu wenig Beachtung geschenkt. Es ist aber wichtig, diese auf Weiselrichtigkeit zu kontrollieren und eine gute Futterversorgung zu gewährleisten. Der BGD empfiehlt, folgende Punkte zu beachten: Nach 3 Wochen: Sind die Völker 3 Wochen nach dem Abschwärmen we…
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Honey ChiliRecipe Courtesy of BeeMaid Honey https://www.beemade.com/recipes.dinner.honey-chili Honey Chili is a sweet-and-spicy dish that combines the heat of chili peppers with the smooth sweetness of Bee Maid honey, creating a bold flavor profile. The result is a glossy, caramelized chili with jus…
Bait hives, ley lines, exotic parasitic mites and formic acid treatments … a spring medley of good and bad beekeeping topics.
The use of plant protection products (PPPs) in farming systems poses a potential risk to honey bee health, yet beekeepers’ awareness and interactions with farmers remain understudied. This study compares the knowledge, perceptions, and PPP risk mitigation practices of amateur and professional beekee…