Beekeeping Today Podcast

What does it look like when beekeeping equipment moves from an idea in the bee yard to full-scale manufacturing?
In this Beekeeping Today Podcast Short, Jeff Ott takes listeners onto the production floor at Premier Bee Products in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Premier founder Jeff Johnson explains how the company approached woodenware manufacturing with a clean slate, borrowing technology and techniques from industries such as cabinetmaking to produce frames and hive bodies with speed, precision, and consistency.
The conversation also traces Premier's beginnings in plastic foundation and Johnson's philosophy of allowing honey bees—not manufacturing convenience—to help determine product design. That same approach eventually led Premier to explore research on the honey bee propolis envelope and develop its Propolis Hive.
Jeff and Jeff also discuss Premier's use of half-blind dovetail joints in hive bodies and the story behind the Legacy Lid, developed by Missouri beekeeper and woodworker Bill George.
It's a field report about much more than manufacturing. It's a look at what can happen when beekeepers, researchers, engineers, and manufacturers approach familiar problems from a different direction.
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Brought to you by Betterbee – your partners in better beekeeping.
 

Betterbee is the presenting sponsor of Beekeeping Today Podcast. Betterbee's mission is to support every beekeeper with excellent customer service, continued education and quality equipment. From their colorful and informative catalog to their support of beekeeper educational activities, including this podcast series, Betterbee truly is Beekeepers Serving Beekeepers. See for yourself at www.betterbee.com
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We hope you enjoy this podcast and welcome your questions and comments in the show notes of this episode or: questions@beekeepingtodaypodcast.com
Thank you for listening! 
Podcast music: Be Strong by Young Presidents; Epilogue by Musicalman; Faraday by BeGun; Walking in Paris by Studio Le Bus; A Fresh New Start by Pete Morse; Wedding Day by Boomer; Christmas Avenue by Immersive Music; Red Jack Blues by Daniel Hart; Bolero de la Fontero  by Rimsky Music; Perfect Sky by Graceful Movement; Original guitar background instrumental by Jeff Ott.
Beekeeping Today Podcast is an audio production of Growing Planet Media, LLC
** As an Amazon Associate, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases
Copyright © 2026 by Growing Planet Media, LLC

This month on Winning at Honey with Stephanie, Stephanie Slater turns her attention to a honey show category that doesn't appear at every competition: pollen. Preparing pollen for competition requires more than simply collecting it from a pollen trap. Stephanie walks through what judges look for, including cleanliness, proper moisture, aroma and flavor, consistent fill levels, and a colorful variety of pollen. She also shares lessons from her own first pollen entry—and the judge's comment card that showed her where she could improve.
You'll learn how Stephanie collects and freezes pollen, uses a fan to separate lighter debris, hand-cleans small batches with tweezers, and prepares jars for judging. She also explains why you should bring extra pollen to the show to correct settling and fill levels before submitting your entry.
Stephanie also discusses balancing pollen collection with the nutritional needs of the colony, including her practice of activating traps for only 24 hours before giving the bees several days of unrestricted pollen collection.
Finally, this month's Honey Show Spotlight looks at upcoming competitions in Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina, and the 2026 Missouri State Beekeepers Association Fall Conference, where Stephanie will be helping with the honey show.
Whether you're preparing your first pollen entry or looking for another category to add to your show bench, it's time to start cleaning those pollen pellets!
Blue skies and blue ribbons!
Websites mentioned:
Missouri State Beekeepers Assn Fall Conference – https://www.mobees.org/events/beeconf2026/
American Honey Judges Assn - https://honeyshowusa.com/
______________
Brought to you by Betterbee – your partners in better beekeeping.
 

Betterbee is the presenting sponsor of Beekeeping Today Podcast. Betterbee's mission is to support every beekeeper with excellent customer service, continued education and quality equipment. From their colorful and informative catalog to their support of beekeeper educational activities, including this podcast series, Betterbee truly is Beekeepers Serving Beekeepers. See for yourself at www.betterbee.com
_______________
We hope you enjoy this podcast and welcome your questions and comments in the show notes of this episode or: questions@beekeepingtodaypodcast.com
Thank you for listening! 
Podcast music: Be Strong by Young Presidents; Epilogue by Musicalman; Faraday by BeGun; Walking in Paris by Studio Le Bus; A Fresh New Start by Pete Morse; Wedding Day by Boomer; Christmas Avenue by Immersive Music; Red Jack Blues by Daniel Hart; Bolero de la Fontero  by Rimsky Music; Perfect Sky by Graceful Movement; Original guitar background instrumental by Jeff Ott.
Beekeeping Today Podcast is an audio production of Growing Planet Media, LLC
** As an Amazon Associate, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases
Copyright © 2026 by Growing Planet Media, LLC

Four hundred episodes. What started with a conversation between Jeff Ott and the late Kim Flottum in Medina, Ohio, has grown into hundreds of conversations about honey bees, beekeeping, research, management, and the people who make up the beekeeping community.
For this special 400th episode, Jeff and Becky Masterman are joined around the virtual Beekeeping Today table by three familiar voices: Dr. Jim Tew, Dr. Dewey Caron, and Stephanie Slater. Together, they look back at how the podcast began, what they've learned from years of talking with beekeepers, and why those conversations continue to matter.
The discussion also tackles a Hive IQ listener question from a new beekeeper whose first nucleus colony produced more than ten gallons of honey—and who is already thinking about expanding. The group considers how quickly a new beekeeper should grow, the financial and management realities of expansion, and Becky's suggestion that growing by dividing your own successful colonies can provide a natural governor on expansion while skills develop.
From there, the conversation ranges from understanding local nectar flows and finding mentors to honey shows, marketing local honey, farmer's markets, and even matching different honeys with cocktails.
Most importantly, Episode 400 celebrates the listeners, guests, contributors, and sponsors who have helped Beekeeping Today Podcast reach this milestone.
Thank you for coming along for the first 400. On to 500!
Websites from the episode and others we recommend:
Honey Bee Health Coalition: https://honeybeehealthcoalition.org
Project Apis m. (PAm): https://www.projectapism.org
The National Honey Board: https://honey.com
Honey Bee Obscura Podcast: https://honeybeeobscura.com
 
Copyright © 2026 by Growing Planet Media, LLC
 
 
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Betterbee is the presenting sponsor of Beekeeping Today Podcast. Betterbee's mission is to support every beekeeper with excellent customer service, continued education and quality equipment. From their colorful and informative catalog to their support of beekeeper educational activities, including this podcast series, Betterbee truly is Beekeepers Serving Beekeepers. See for yourself at www.betterbee.com

This episode is brought to you by Global Patties! Global offers a variety of standard and custom patties. Visit them today at http://globalpatties.com and let them know you appreciate them sponsoring this episode! 

As a beekeeper, you want products that benefit you and your bees. When you choose Premier Bee Products, you choose hive components that are healthier for bees and more productive for you. Because we believe that in beekeeping, details make all the difference. Premier Bee Products: Better for bees. Better for beekeepers. Use promo code PODCAST for 10% off your next online order.

Thanks to Strong Microbials for their support of Beekeeping Today Podcast. Find out more about their line of probiotics in our Season 3, Episode 12 episode and from their website: https://www.strongmicrobials.com

HiveIQ is revolutionizing the way beekeepers manage their colonies with innovative, insulated hive systems designed for maximum colony health and efficiency. Their hives maintain stable temperatures year-round, reduce stress on the bees, and are built to last using durable, lightweight materials. Whether you're managing two hives or two hundred, HiveIQ's smart design helps your bees thrive while saving you time and effort. Learn more at HiveIQ.com.

We'd like to thank Vita Bee Health for supporting the podcast. Vita provides proven tools for controlling Varroa—from Apistan and Apiguard to the new VarroxSan extended-release oxalic acid strips—helping beekeepers keep stronger, healthier colonies.

Thanks for Northern Bee Books for their support. Northern Bee Books is the publisher of bee books available worldwide from their website or from Amazon and bookstores everywhere. They are also the publishers of The Beekeepers Quarterly and Natural Bee Husbandry.
 

Thanks to Bee Culture, the Magazine of American Beekeeping, for their support of Honey Bee Obscura. Available in print and digital at www.beeculture.com
 
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We hope you enjoy this podcast and welcome your questions and comments in the show notes of this episode or: questions@beekeepingtodaypodcast.com
Thank you for listening! 
Podcast music: Be Strong by Young Presidents; Epilogue by Musicalman; Faraday by BeGun; Walking in Paris by Studio Le Bus; A Fresh New Start by Pete Morse; Wedding Day by Boomer; Christmas Avenue by Immersive Music; Red Jack Blues by Daniel Hart; Bolero de la Fontero  by Rimsky Music; Perfect Sky by Graceful Movement; I'm Not Running Away This Time by Max Brodie; Original guitar background instrumental by Jeff Ott.
Beekeeping Today Podcast is an audio production of Growing Planet Media, LLC
** As an Amazon Associate, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases
Copyright © 2026 by Growing Planet Media, LLC

What will a healthy beekeeping industry look like five or ten years from now—and what needs to change to get us there? Recorded live at the Tri-States and Minnesota Beekeepers meeting in Fargo, Jeff Ott and Becky Masterman moderate a wide-ranging conversation with Randy Oliver of Scientific Beekeeping, Dr. Izzy Hill of Project Apis m., and Dr. Brandon Hopkins of Washington State University about protecting the future of beekeeping.
The discussion begins with the economics. Commercial beekeeping has long depended on two major sources of income: honey production and pollination services. But changing almond acreage, pressure on honey prices, rising operating costs, declining forage, and imported honey are forcing beekeepers to adapt.
The panel considers what could make a meaningful difference. Randy argues for restoring forage through regenerative agriculture and improving the economics of domestic honey. Izzy sees promise in new honey bee health products and greater cooperation across the industry. Brandon points to the practical realities facing working beekeepers—from land and forage to fuel, labor, and the need to make beekeeping economically attractive to the next generation.
The conversation then turns to consumers. How do we communicate that protecting honey bees isn't simply about colony losses? Healthy agricultural soils, diverse forage, accurate honey labeling, and consumer choices all affect the future of beekeeping.
Audience questions expand the discussion into regenerative agriculture, bee pasture, youth education, and getting young people excited about working with honey bees.
And Randy closes with an important reminder: amid all the talk about Varroa, economics, forage, and regulation, don't forget to tell people why being a beekeeper is joyful.
Websites from the episode and others we recommend:
Scientific Beekeeping: https://scientificbeekeeping.com
Washington State University Bee Lab: https://bees.wsu.edu
Honey Bee Health Coalition: https://honeybeehealthcoalition.org
Project Apis m. (PAm): https://www.projectapism.org
The National Honey Board: https://honey.com
Honey Bee Obscura Podcast: https://honeybeeobscura.com
 
Copyright © 2026 by Growing Planet Media, LLC
 
 
______________

Betterbee is the presenting sponsor of Beekeeping Today Podcast. Betterbee's mission is to support every beekeeper with excellent customer service, continued education and quality equipment. From their colorful and informative catalog to their support of beekeeper educational activities, including this podcast series, Betterbee truly is Beekeepers Serving Beekeepers. See for yourself at www.betterbee.com

This episode is brought to you by Global Patties! Global offers a variety of standard and custom patties. Visit them today at http://globalpatties.com and let them know you appreciate them sponsoring this episode! 

As a beekeeper, you want products that benefit you and your bees. When you choose Premier Bee Products, you choose hive components that are healthier for bees and more productive for you. Because we believe that in beekeeping, details make all the difference. Premier Bee Products: Better for bees. Better for beekeepers. Use promo code PODCAST for 10% off your next online order.

Thanks to Strong Microbials for their support of Beekeeping Today Podcast. Find out more about their line of probiotics in our Season 3, Episode 12 episode and from their website: https://www.strongmicrobials.com

HiveIQ is revolutionizing the way beekeepers manage their colonies with innovative, insulated hive systems designed for maximum colony health and efficiency. Their hives maintain stable temperatures year-round, reduce stress on the bees, and are built to last using durable, lightweight materials. Whether you're managing two hives or two hundred, HiveIQ's smart design helps your bees thrive while saving you time and effort. Learn more at HiveIQ.com.

We'd like to thank Vita Bee Health for supporting the podcast. Vita provides proven tools for controlling Varroa—from Apistan and Apiguard to the new VarroxSan extended-release oxalic acid strips—helping beekeepers keep stronger, healthier colonies.

Thanks for Northern Bee Books for their support. Northern Bee Books is the publisher of bee books available worldwide from their website or from Amazon and bookstores everywhere. They are also the publishers of The Beekeepers Quarterly and Natural Bee Husbandry.
_______________
We hope you enjoy this podcast and welcome your questions and comments in the show notes of this episode or: questions@beekeepingtodaypodcast.com
Thank you for listening! 
Podcast music: Be Strong by Young Presidents; Epilogue by Musicalman; Faraday by BeGun; Walking in Paris by Studio Le Bus; A Fresh New Start by Pete Morse; Wedding Day by Boomer; Christmas Avenue by Immersive Music; Red Jack Blues by Daniel Hart; Bolero de la Fontero  by Rimsky Music; Perfect Sky by Graceful Movement; I'm Not Running Away This Time by Max Brodie; Original guitar background instrumental by Jeff Ott.
Beekeeping Today Podcast is an audio production of Growing Planet Media, LLC
** As an Amazon Associate, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases
Copyright © 2026 by Growing Planet Media, LLC

What does it take to make beekeeping look authentic in a Hollywood movie? In this BT Short, Jeff Ott and Becky Masterman talk with Adam Hickman of Foxhound Bee Company, who served as a bee wrangler and beekeeping consultant for The Rivals of Amziah King, starring Matthew McConaughey.
Adam's involvement began when a member of the production team visited his Alabama bee supply business looking for inspiration. Before long, Adam and his team were working with the filmmakers—and teaching McConaughey how to look and move like a beekeeper.
Adam takes us behind the scenes of several major bee sequences, including an elaborate cutout staged with a real colony and the striking scene of McConaughey holding a queen while thousands of live bees gather on his arm. The filmmakers wanted real bees, minimal protective equipment, and no CGI substitutes, creating some unusual challenges for the bee-wrangling team.
He also explains how beekeeping equipment, honey-processing gear, colonies, comb, and even the layout of the honey house were sourced and managed for production. And while Hollywood occasionally wins out over absolute accuracy—yes, actors really do run while carrying full honey supers—Adam says the filmmakers made a serious effort to portray beekeepers and beekeeping authentically.
It's a fascinating look at what happens when the craft of beekeeping meets the craft of filmmaking—and how a group of Alabama beekeepers helped bring the bees to the big screen.
Notes and references:
The Rivals of Amziah King on IMDB:  https://www.imdb.com/title/tt27706593/
Behind the Scenes of the Movie: https://www.foxhoundbeecompany.com/blogs/rivals-of-amziah-king-movie
______________
Brought to you by Betterbee – your partners in better beekeeping.
 

Betterbee is the presenting sponsor of Beekeeping Today Podcast. Betterbee's mission is to support every beekeeper with excellent customer service, continued education and quality equipment. From their colorful and informative catalog to their support of beekeeper educational activities, including this podcast series, Betterbee truly is Beekeepers Serving Beekeepers. See for yourself at www.betterbee.com
_______________
We hope you enjoy this podcast and welcome your questions and comments in the show notes of this episode or: questions@beekeepingtodaypodcast.com
Thank you for listening! 
Podcast music: Be Strong by Young Presidents; Epilogue by Musicalman; Faraday by BeGun; Walking in Paris by Studio Le Bus; A Fresh New Start by Pete Morse; Wedding Day by Boomer; Christmas Avenue by Immersive Music; Red Jack Blues by Daniel Hart; Bolero de la Fontero  by Rimsky Music; Perfect Sky by Graceful Movement; Original guitar background instrumental by Jeff Ott.
Beekeeping Today Podcast is an audio production of Growing Planet Media, LLC
** As an Amazon Associate, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases
Copyright © 2026 by Growing Planet Media, LLC