The Beekeeper’s Companion Since 1861
American Bee Journal Violume 166 No. 6 June 2026 Cover Call-outs: Surprising Bee Venom - 611, The Beehive Apothecary - 615, Bees in Space- 673

What Epidemiology Can Teach Us About Honey Bee Health Management*

Epidemiology and Honey Bee Health Management
Posted April 1, 2017

What Epidemiology Can Teach Us About Honey Bee Health Management*

In this, my fourth and final installment in a mini-series on colony health, I want to focus on how epidemiology, the science of disease spread and virulence in populations, can inform honey bee health management. As so many of the boundaries in biology exist only in the minds of human observers, there is some overlap …

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Teaching Others to Keep Bees

bee keeping suit by dadant
Posted April 1, 2017

Teaching Others to Keep Bees

Interest in beekeeping has grown exponentially in the aftermath of news concerning the dearth of bees with colony collapse disorder. Beekeeping clubs everywhere are getting new members, some of whom have no bees or beekeeping experience. This is a very positive development. So, where do we go from here? The first thing to do is …

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So You Want to Sell at the Farm Market?

Farm markets are a good way to pay for your beekeeping. Local sells.
Posted April 1, 2017

So You Want to Sell at the Farm Market?

I’ve met a number of new beekeepers, excited to begin keeping bees. They have been through a class, and navigated various beekeeping situations throughout the summer. Then in August they harvest their honey, finding an extra five gallon pail or two, full of nature’s bounty. After family, coworkers and neighbors have their supply of your …

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April 2017

Posted April 1, 2017

April 2017

The Varroa Problem—Part 6b—Small-scale Breeding Randy Oliver…………………………………………………………………………………375 In Search of the Best Swarm Lure Leo Sharashkin……………………………………………………………………………….381 America’s Sweetest Honey Ron Miksha……………………………………………………………………………………393 Harvesting Honey: Let Me Count the Ways! Peter Borst……………………………………………………………………………………..399 So You Want to Sell at the Farm Market? Andy Hemken………………………………………………………………………………….405 A Test of Using CO2 for Bee-friendly Mite Monitoring Randy Oliver…………………………………………………………………………………..411 Mechanisms of Hygienic …

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April ABJ Cover

April ABJ 2017 Cover
Posted April 1, 2017

April ABJ Cover

Mark Fletter from Carbondale, Illinois sent us this colorful photo of a swarm in a redbud tree that he took on April 4th of last year. It came too late for our spring 2016 issues, so we are sharing it with you now. Enjoy!

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U.S. Honey Crops and Markets – March 2017

US Crops and Honey Markets
Posted March 1, 2017

U.S. Honey Crops and Markets – March 2017

UNITED STATES Colonies had been placed in holding yards in California and were scheduled to be moved into the almond groves later in February.  Prices for almond pollination have increased by $10 to $15 per hive, bringing the average price to between $180 and $190. Premiums are being paid for strong colonies with more frames …

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Letters to the Editor – March 2017

Posted March 1, 2017

Letters to the Editor – March 2017

January 2017 Articles An open letter to all in the beekeeping world: It was with great anticipation that I read the second part of Mrs. McNeil’s article: Bond vs. Bomb and Randy Oliver’s Part 1 of The Varroa Problem in the November issue of ABJ. Being both encouraged and disappointed, I decided to wait until …

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The Classroom – March 2017

Posted March 1, 2017

The Classroom – March 2017

Q Monsanto Varroa Research Jerry, I have read the Classroom for the last few years with interest. Your responses to questions have been meaningful, insightful, helpful and entertaining. My question is: How close is Monsanto to coming up with a product that will be efficient in the control of varroa? Ben Roundy A We had …

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Weather Prediction Technologies Improving the Care of Honey Bees

Maple Tree in Bloom
Posted March 1, 2017

Weather Prediction Technologies Improving the Care of Honey Bees

In late February, certainly by early March, the bees and I have become restless. We both feel it. Early Spring has finally arrived to the woods around the hives in Virginia, the eastern Piedmont region. Contemplating the first hive inspections of the season, the nagging worry would be: how well did my bees survive the …

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What Social Immunity can Teach us about Honey Bee Health Management

Propolis
Posted March 1, 2017

What Social Immunity can Teach us about Honey Bee Health Management

In my third installment in a mini-series on social immunity I want to give a summary of what this knowledge can teach us about practical honey bee health management. It’s useful to remind ourselves that agriculture, by definition, is the management of food plants and animals to achieve unnaturally high productivity. For example, a typical …

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