The Pollen Nation Podcast

In my last episode, I argued AGAINST the subsidy programs I actually use in my commercial beekeeping operation. Now it's time for my real position.This is the companion to my Devil's Advocate episode on ELAP, NAP, and rainfall index insurance. If you haven't watched that one yet, I'd recommend starting there to get the full context, but this episode stands on its own as my defense of why I use these programs and plan to continue using them.My website: https://walkinthewoodsapiary.com/Check out my weekly beekeeping vlog: www.youtube.com/@walkinthewoodsapiaryvlog#beekeeping #commercialbeekeeping #agriculture #subsidies #usda #elap #farmsubsidies #agriculturalpolicy

Welcome to the first episode of my Devil's Advocate series, where I research and argue for positions I don't personally hold. Today, I'm making the strongest case I can AGAINST the very subsidy programs I use in my own commercial beekeeping operation.In this episode, I argue against ELAP (Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-Raised Fish Program), NAP (Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program), and rainfall index insurance, the three major subsidy programs available to beekeepers.My website: https://walkinthewoodsapiary.com/Check out my weekly beekeeping vlog: www.youtube.com/@walkinthewoodsapiaryvlog#beekeeping #commercialbeekeeping #agriculture #subsidies #devilsadvocate #usda #elap #farmsubsidies

Taktic. It’s one of the worst-kept secrets in commercial beekeeping… but almost nobody talks about it openly.In this episode of The Pollen Nation Podcast, we dig into the real story behind Taktic and amitraz: why so many beekeepers use it, what makes it so effective, what the risks are, and how it compares to legal products like Apivar and Amiflex.DisclaimerThis episode is for educational and discussion purposes only. Nothing in this video is advice or a recommendation to use any pesticide off label or in violation of local laws and regulations. Always follow the label. Always follow your country’s regulations. Work with your local extension service or bee inspector when designing your treatment plan. The goal of this conversation is to explain what’s happening in the real world, not to encourage unsafe or illegal practices.My website: https://walkinthewoodsapiary.com/Check out my weekly beekeeping vlog: www.youtube.com/@walkinthewoodsapiaryvlog

I give a presentation on the entire queen rearing process at the Wiregrass Beekeepers Association in Dothan, Alabama.My website: https://walkinthewoodsapiary.com/Check out my weekly beekeeping vlog: www.youtube.com/@walkinthewoodsapiaryvlog

If you’ve ever questioned why commercial beekeepers feed high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) instead of sugar syrup, or worried it might end up in the honey, this episode is for you. In this deep dive, I break down the science and economics behind HFCS feeding.My website: https://walkinthewoodsapiary.com/Check out my weekly beekeeping vlog: www.youtube.com/@walkinthewoodsapiaryvlogShow notes: https://walkinthewoodsapiary.com/2025/11/18/hfcs-vs-sucrose/#Beekeeping #HFCS #Sucrose #CommercialBeekeeping #BeeHealth #Pollination #HoneyBees #BeekeepingScience #BeeNutrition

How is the current government shutdown impacting the beekeeping industry?My website:https://walkinthewoodsapiary.com/Check out my weekly beekeeping vlog:www.youtube.com/@walkinthewoodsapiaryvlog#Beekeeping #HoneyBees #BeekeepingPodcast #CommercialBeekeeping #WalkInTheWoodsApiary #governmentshutdown

Can probiotics really make your bees healthier or is it just clever marketing?In this episode, we dig deep into the science behind bee probiotics like SuperDFM and others, breaking down what the peer-reviewed research actually says.My website:https://walkinthewoodsapiary.com/Check out my weekly beekeeping vlog:www.youtube.com/@walkinthewoodsapiaryvlog#Beekeeping #HoneyBees #BeeHealth #Probiotics #BeekeepingPodcast #CommercialBeekeeping #BeeScience #SuperDFM #WalkInTheWoodsApiary

This video attempts to answer the question if honey helps cure allergy symptoms.My website:https://walkinthewoodsapiary.com/Check out my weekly beekeeping vlog:www.youtube.com/@walkinthewoodsapiaryvlog

As we're coming up to the two year anniversary of the podcast, I just wanted to share my thoughts about where I want to take it going forward.My website: https://walkinthewoodsapiary.com/Check out my weekly beekeeping vlog: www.youtube.com/@walkinthewoodsapiaryvlog

In Episode 28 I look into the origins of the "Save the Bees" slogan and discuss whether we're overlooking the most important bees of all.My website:https://walkinthewoodsapiary.com/Check out my weekly beekeeping vlog:https://www.youtube.com/@UCRc81mRPEeRhSIVxWsvRUEg

In Episode 27 I go over how to ship mated queens through the mail and give some tips that I've learned. My website: https://walkinthewoodsapiary.com/Check out my weekly beekeeping vlog: https://www.youtube.com/ ⁨@WalkintheWoodsApiaryVlog⁩ 

In this brief episode I give my first impressions of how the Trump administration's recently passed "Big Beautiful Bill" may impact the beekeeping community.https://walkinthewoodsapiary.com/

In Episode 25 I'll be going over queen banks, how to build them and the pros and cons of using them.

In Episode 24 I'll be discussing reasons why new queens fail to be successfully introduced into a new colony and tips to improve acceptance.

In today's episode I interview Israel Raehl from Spanish Fork, Utah. Israel runs Spanish Gold Honey and Bees and is transitioning from a hobby beekeeper into a sideliner.

In today's episode I'll be going over my mistakes and successes with the business in 2024 as well as my goals for 2025.

In Episode 21 I interview Christopher Leach with The American Honeybee Company. Chris is a honeybee educator and offers beekeeping classes, mentorship, hive management services, and produces for nucs for sale!https://www.facebook.com/share/14ixgNWsET/?mibextid=wwXIfrhttps://www.instagram.com/theamericanhoneybeeco/https://www.tiktok.com/@usahoneybees?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pchttp://www.usabees.com/

In Episode 20 I'll be covering different types of USDA loans for starting and growing your beekeeping business. I'll also be covering a few different free subsidies that you can apply for.

In episode 19 I'll be briefly summarizing some folklore and myths from different cultures that involve honeybees.

Brent Nixon is a queen breeder from Australia who also runs his own beekeeping podcast where he interviews beekeepers from all around the world! Check out Brent's beekeeping podcast: "Breeding the Honeybee"  https://open.spotify.com/show/5c7bevh7Vzn22TK4HYfELs?si=2e9ddd36d13b4e4d and his website: https://nixonqueenbees.com.au/

For the 1-year anniversary episode of The Pollen Nation Podcast I'll be interviewing Bracken Barker of Barker's Bees & Honey from northern Utah. Barkers Bees & Honey - YouTube tiktok.com/@barkersbeesandhoney?lang=en instagram.com/barkers_bees facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089296014769

In Episode 16 I'll be going into detail over what the income and expenses would be to start up a 400 hive commercial apiary from scratch and run it for one year!

In episode 15 I'll be comparing the pros and cons of feeding honeybees both cane sugar and high fructose corn syrup! Study: Comparison of productivity of colonies of honey bees, Apis mellifera, supplemented with sucrose or high fructose corn syrup | Journal of Insect Science | Oxford Academic (oup.com)

In episode 14 I'll be sharing my experience with starting Queen production as early as January and the pitfalls of Queen rearing too early.

In today's episode I'll be interviewing a well-known and respected beekeeper in our community. Buddy Rich owns Buddy's Bee Farm in Altha, Florida. Buddy shares his story of how he became a beekeeper and some of the fascinating things that he's seen honeybees do over the years.

In today's episode I'll be going over a 2018 study analyzing whether a Queen bee's brood pattern is a good indicator of her quality as well as sharing my own experiences. Insects | Free Full-Text | Is the Brood Pattern within a Honey Bee Colony a Reliable Indicator of Queen Quality? (mdpi.com)

In episode 11 I'll be comparing the pros and cons of raising mated queens in mini styrofoam nucs versus 5 frame nucs!

In today's episode I'll be breaking down a great study that measures the acceptance rate of mated queens depending on the age the queens are caged. I'll also be going over when we cage and bank our queens and some tips to increase mated queen acceptance. Australian Study “Introduction and early performance of queen bees” 03-049.pdf (agrifutures.com.au)

In this episode I'll be covering grafting and three different types of cell building hives to raise your own Queen cells.

In this episode I'll go over how to split a beehive using the three most common methods.

Interested in sending your hives to pollinate the almond orchards in California? This episode will provide a few tips and some advice that I've learned across several years of sending my hives to California.

Today I'm interviewing State Bee Inspector Jimmy Davis on the ins and outs of being one of Florida's State Bee Inspectors. Some really useful information in this interview especially if you are a new beekeeper or are interested in getting your own honeybees!

Join me as I continue our journey through time with the exciting history of beekeeping beginning with the Mesolithic Period and traveling all the way to the Modern Age!

On Episode 4 I interviewed Emily Flowers from Wewahitchka, FL. Emily is a 4th generation 13-year-old beekeeper who has already started her own business and won both "Best Light Extracted Honey" as well as "Best Honey in the State of Florida" at the University of Florida's Bee College. Come listen what the next generation of beekeepers has to say and support her business "Awesome Blossom Honey!

Join me as I begin to examine the history of beekeeping beginning with the ancient origins of the honey bee.

Danny Bost is the Regional 1 District Representative for the Florida State Bee Association. We will be discussing the benefits of local beekeeping clubs.

For our very first episode we will be interviewing local beekeeper Ryan Cutts from Chipley, Florida. Ryan is a 5th generational beekeeper from a well reputed family of Florida beekeepers. Visit Ryan's Facebook page @Cutts Honey. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077605397526