The Bee Supply Monthly

Recipe: Chewy Honey Oatmeal Cookies

Try this yummy cookie recipe using your favorite local honey!  Super easy - Super DELICIOUS! 

Moving beehives can be challenging but is sometimes necessary. There are three main scenarios: moving a hive a few feet for maintenance, relocating it 100 feet away, or moving it over half a mile. Watch as Blake shows us the simple steps needed to move bees successfully.

Late Summer = Winter Prep 🐝
Your bees are already storing up—make sure they have what they need: honey, protein, and a strong queen.
Feed early, feed smart. What you do now shapes spring survival.

Effective beehive management starts with a deep understanding of the complex roles within a honey bee colony. At the heart of this intricate structure is the honey bee caste system, which organizes bees into three primary roles: the queen, workers, and drones. Each caste plays a specialized role that is crucial for the survival, productivity, and health of the hive.

Just when beekeepers on the West Coast were starting to breathe a sigh of relief, in August 2023 the murder hornet’s smaller cousin, the yellow-legged hornet (Vespa velutina), was found in Savannah, Georgia. This is of great concern for the beekeeping industry because, like the northern giant hornet, yellow-legged hornets (YLH) can decimate honey bee colonies. It is also concerning because we know that, based on France’s experience when YLHs were discovered there in 2004, once this invasive species gets established, it can spread fast.

When temperatures drop and nectar dries up, some colonies turn on their neighbors. If one hive is buzzing louder and flying more frantically than the rest, it’s not extra healthy—it’s likely under attack. Learn how to recognize robbing behavior, what to do if it happens, and how to prevent it next time.

A hot topic in the beekeeping industry—widely discussed on YouTube, social media, and other media outlets—is the massive bee losses commercial beekeepers are experiencing. It's being referred to as the "Bee Collapse." But is it really that bad?  ...

A resource colony—a small 4–5 frame Nuc with a laying queen—is basically your backup plan in the bee yard. With losses common, it gives you bees, brood, and even a queen on hand so you’re not scrambling when something goes wrong.

Am I ready for Winter? Better yet - are my bees ready? You won't believe the brood in this hive! Blake takes you on a tour through a hive that is ready for winter!

Combining hives is a strategic method for improving the chances of survival for weaker colonies during winter. The process is relatively simple and involves merging a weak hive with a stronger one or combining two weak hives to form a single, stronger hive. 

Do you have a hive or hives that have ended up in the wrong place? It could be that they are in too much shade and some afternoon sun would be helpful during the cold winter months. Taking advantage of this cooler weather can actually be a huge benefit to both you and the bees you are moving!

Even in late fall, it’s important to take a quick look inside your hives. With just a few simple steps, you can safely check food stores and population without stressing the bees—even on chilly days. A fast 30-second inspection can reveal exactly how your colony is doing heading into winter.

Performing a late fall Varroa mite test and treatment (if warranted) will help ensure the health and survival of your colony through winter and will improve the chances of a strong spring buildup. When performing your final Varroa mite treatments, there are two key factors. 

For most of us, cold weather is inevitable at some point over winter. If you are concerned about what to do for your bees when cold weather is coming rest assured, even if snow is being predicted, bees tend to handle cold weather quite well. If a cold front moves in with a rapid drop in temperatures, there is nothing at all you need to do for your bees beyond some minor comfort measures.

Winter offers a perfect opportunity to perform essential beekeeping equipment maintenance. With bees inside their hives, flying only on warm afternoons, it’s the ideal time for beekeepers to carry out necessary repairs and upgrades. During this downtime, you can make both exterior and interior improvements without disturbing the bees.

When beehive boxes become worn, they can run the risk of your bees being exposed to the elements. Learn how to change out old worn out beehive boxes while there are are bees still in the box!

As we all know, bees play an essential role as pollinators, and their declining numbers due to CCD have far-reaching consequences. In this article, we'll explore the causes of Colony Collapse Disorder, its impact on bee populations, and what can be done to protect bees from Colony Collapse Disorder moving forward

When it comes to planting for honey bee pollination, it's essential to choose plants that offer both nectar and pollen. By selecting the best plants for bees, you can ensure your hive will have a continuous source of nutrition throughout the seasons, promoting strong colonies and high-quality honey. 

Have you noticed that our grocery store shelves are becoming inundated with jars of infused honey? Confession: as a honey producer focused on beekeeping for profit, we can’t resist looking through the honey selection each time we visit the grocery store just to see what’s new. Well, what’s new is defined only by your imagination.

Daylight—not temperature—helps guide the colony toward spring. After the solstice, the queen gradually resumes brood, workers begin eating more, and the cluster becomes a bit more active. Keep an eye on food, protect any early brood from cold, and be ready for gentle early buildup—spring is quietly on its way.