Best AJ Bee Podcasts (2026)

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Bees First, Honey Second with AJ & Chryssa Gardner (364) 57:39

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22d ago57:39

57:39

This week on Beekeeping Today Podcast, Jeff Ott and Becky Masterman welcome AJ and Chryssa Gardner of REBEL44 to discuss an approach to beekeeping rooted in stewardship rather than production. What began as a small garden project quickly evolved into a carefully managed sideline operation now spanning multiple apiaries and more than a hundred colon…

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[Bonus] North American Honey Bee Expo 2026, Day 3 (Saturday) 1:20:58

4h ago1:20:58

1:20:58

Join us for a special series of episodes recorded live from the floor of the North American Honey Bee Expo in Louisville, KY, January 8–10, 2026. Jeff and Becky bring you the latest beekeeping insights, trends, and innovations directly from one of the biggest beekeeping events of the year. Tune in as we chat with industry leaders, researchers, and …

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[Bonus] North American Honey Bee Expo 2026, Day 2 (Friday) 1:06:44

1d ago1:06:44

1:06:44

Join us for a special series of episodes recorded live from the floor of the North American Honey Bee Expo in Louisville, KY, January 8–10, 2026. Jeff and Becky bring you the latest beekeeping insights, trends, and innovations directly from one of the biggest beekeeping events of the year. Tune in as we chat with industry leaders, researchers, and …

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[Bonus] North American Honey Bee Expo 2026, Day 1 (Thursday) 2:50

3h ago2:50

2:50

Join us for a special series of episodes recorded live from the floor of the North American Honey Bee Expo in Louisville, KY, January 8–10, 2026. Jeff and Becky bring you the latest beekeeping insights, trends, and innovations directly from one of the biggest beekeeping events of the year. Tune in as we chat with industry leaders, researchers, and …

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Bee Health, Research, and Real-World Beekeeping with Dr. Jeff Pettis (367) 43:29

20h ago43:29

43:29

In this episode of Beekeeping Today Podcast, Jeff Ott and Becky Masterman welcome back one of the most influential voices in modern honey bee health research, Dr. Jeff Pettis. A longtime USDA-ARS scientist and former president of Apimondia, Jeff Pettis joins the show to reflect on decades of research while offering a candid look at how he actually …

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E53: What Off-Grid Living Really Looks Like (and Why It’s More Accessible Than You Think) | Jeff Burkinshaw of Gridlessness 44:59

11d ago44:59

44:59

Off-grid living isn’t simply about escaping modern life. It’s about freedom and family. In this conversation with Jeff, we take a practical look at the daily realities of off-grid life, the role of community and financial freedom, and how simple systems and adaptable skills make this lifestyle sustainable long-term. Jeff describes off-grid living a…

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End of Year Wrap-Up: Lessons from 2025 and Looking Ahead (366) 56:07

11d ago56:07

56:07

As the year comes to a close, Jeff Ott and Becky Masterman are joined by Dr. David Peck for a wide-ranging end-of-year conversation reflecting on the highs, lows, and lessons of beekeeping in 2025. From disruptive winter losses and evolving varroa pressures to promising new tools and treatments on the horizon, this episode takes a clear-eyed look a…

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Holiday Special with Jim Tew - The Promise of Bees (365) 43:00

15d ago43:00

43:00

This Holiday Special episode of Beekeeping Today Podcast brings together Jeff Ott, Becky Masterman, and Dr. Jim Tew from Honey Bee Obscura, for a warm, thoughtful conversation about bees, beekeeping, and reflection during Christmas week. With a special Santa Claus opener returning for another year, the episode sets a festive tone before settling in…

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[Bonus] Short - Hive Debris Analysis with Dr. Dewey Caron 18:35

20d ago18:35

18:35

In this December Beekeeping Today Short, Dr. Dewey Caron offers a fascinating look at what our bees communicate through something we often ignore: hive debris. This episode continues Dewey's ongoing monthly exploration of honey bee communication—bridging bee science, beekeeper decisions, and the bees' own intricate signals. Drawing from his upcomin…

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Changes at BroodMinder (363) 55:10

29d ago55:10

55:10

BroodMinder has become one of the most trusted names in hive monitoring, and in this episode the team joins Jeff and Becky to share big news, new directions, and surprising insights from the field. Founder Rich Morris, software lead Amanda Stoltz, and global collaborator Lorenzo Pons sit down together during the BroodMinder Global Summit to talk ab…

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Honey Bee Viruses with Declan Schroeder (362) 50:56

1M ago50:56

50:56

This week on Beekeeping Today Podcast, Becky welcomes guest co-host Bridget Mendel as they sit down with virologist Dr. Declan Schroeder from the University of Minnesota's College of Veterinary Medicine. Together, they explore the unseen world of honey bee viruses—how they evolve, how they spread, and why understanding them is essential for modern …

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Medicine (#1Light Conversation) 35:45

1M ago35:45

35:45

Dear world, This is our first chat together- our Light Conversations. As David said some people just want a friend and to listen… this is our offering… “Spend time in the company of people who allow themselves to get lost, following the direction of any moment, of what occurs. We are sharing what has been taught, putting out the medicine that we ha…

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Listen (musings/meditation teaching #5) 22:20

1M ago22:20

22:20

Listen…This yearning you have inside of you- just place your attention upon it- what you seek will come. How do we BE more fully? How do we get there? To spiritual enlightenment. What practises do we need to do? This moment with a Mic, 'listening', explores how you are already doing what you are looking for. You are it! Patience. Suffering as grace…

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BeeCAUSE Alliance with Charlie Linder (361) 55:47

1M ago55:47

55:47

This week, we're taking a close look at the future of beekeeping advocacy with BeeCAUSE Alliance, a new organization focused on industry collaboration, communication, and support. Our guest, Charlie Linder, shares how his years in commercial beekeeping, queen breeding, and honey production shaped his perspective on what beekeepers need most—and why…

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E52: Before the Storm: Preparing Your Homestead and Heart for What is to Come | Darin & Monica Strong 1:04:35

2M ago1:04:35

1:04:35

In this compelling conversation, Darin and Monica Strong share what they learned from building their early homestead in the wrong order and how those lessons now shape their approach to preparation, community, and faith. They explore what “building your ark” looks like today— from prioritizing food storage to decentralizing your resources and refus…

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Molly Quade: Fighting Varroa with Fungi (360) 51:48

2M ago51:48

51:48

Honey bees continue to face shifting pressures from pests, and few are as relentless as varroa mites. In this episode, Jeff and Becky talk with Washington State University graduate student Molly Quade, whose research into fighting varroa with fungi offers a promising biological alternative to traditional mite treatments. Molly studies entomopathoge…

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[Bonus] Short: Communication in Bees and Beekeepers with Dr. Dewey Caron 13:49

2M ago13:49

13:49

In this month's Beekeeping Today Podcast Short with Dr. Dewey Caron, he reflects on the many ways communication connects us — from human language to honey bee behavior. Recorded following the Oregon State Beekeepers Association's annual meeting, Dewey explores communication on three levels: between bee scientists and beekeepers, between beekeepers …

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[Bonus] Short - Inside the Ohio State Beekeepers Association with Jamie Walters 16:37

2M ago16:37

16:37

In this Beekeeping Today Podcast Short, Jeff Ott sits down with Jamie Walters, President of the Ohio State Beekeepers Association (OSBA), during the organization's annual conference in Wooster, Ohio. Jamie shares how OSBA continues to thrive after the challenges of recent years, including the rebound of volunteerism and mentorship following COVID. …

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Special Message and Archive Special - Darren Mays, NYPD Beekeeper (359) 47:30

2M ago47:30

47:30

Jeff and Becky have a special message for Beekeeping Today Podcast listeners! After decades of managing their own bees and many lessons learned on their beekeeping journeys, they're thrilled to announce that Beekeeping Today is taking the next step — into print. Their forthcoming book, "Beekeeping Today: Your First Year of Beekeeping," brings toget…

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[Bonus] Short - Remembering A.I. Root in Medina, Ohio 11:21

2M ago11:21

11:21

In this special Beekeeping Today Podcast Short, Jeff and Dr. Jim Tew, from Honey Bee Obscura podcast, take listeners on a reflective visit to the A.I. Root family gravesite in Medina, Ohio — the resting place of Amos Ives Root, the man whose name and innovations helped shape modern beekeeping. Standing among the generations of the Root family, Jeff…

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E51: The Future of Real Food and the Beef Herd of America | AJ Richards of From the Farm 48:14

2M ago48:14

48:14

The future of real food in America depends on ordinary families choosing to understand where their food comes from. In this episode, AJ Richards shares why our current food system is more fragile than it seems and how both homesteaders and everyday consumers can be part of restoring it. From the impact of big corporations and foreign imports to the…

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Melanie Kirby: Art, Science & Bees in Community (358) 52:40

2M ago52:40

52:40

This week, Becky Masterman and guest co-host Dr. Meghan Milbrath of Michigan State University welcome Melanie Kirby, queen breeder, educator, and pollinator specialist at the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Melanie shares her incredible beekeeping journey — from learning in the jungles of Paraguay as a Peace Corps volunte…

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[Bonus] Short: The Midwest Honey Bee Expo 18:10

2M ago18:10

18:10

The Midwest Honey Bee Expo is back—and bigger than ever. Jeff and Becky talk with organizers Bill Werning and Doug Koltermann about what's in store for the 2026 event, held February 6–7 at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison, Wisconsin. Following a sold-out debut in 2025, this year's expo expands into a larger venue featuring everything under one …

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Norroa: A New Era in Varroa Management (357) 50:12

2M ago50:12

50:12

Varroa mites remain the most destructive pest facing honey bees today—but a revolutionary new treatment may finally shift the balance. In this episode, Jeff Ott and Dr. Becky Masterman welcome Adam Pachl, North American Technical Manager for Bee Health at GreenLight Biosciences, to discuss Norroa, the first EPA-approved dsRNA-based treatment for Va…

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[Bonus] Short - Inside Bee Culture Magazine: Medina's Beekeeping Legacy 17:32

3M ago17:32

17:32

In this special Beekeeping Today Podcast Short, Jeff visits the historic A.I. Root Company headquarters in Medina, Ohio—the home of Bee Culture Magazine. Sitting down with the magazine's production team—Jerry Hayes, Jen Manis, and Stephanie Bayerl—Jeff explores what it takes to bring each monthly issue to life. Listeners get a rare, behind-the-scen…

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E50: Real Food Isn’t Always Enough: The Essential Mineral That Could Transform Your Health | Nathan Colonna of Mitigate Stress 43:57

3M ago43:57

43:57

Even if you eat real food, live an active lifestyle, and try to do everything “right,” you could still be missing one key mineral that supports nearly every system in your body. In this episode, Nathan of Mitigate Stress explains why magnesium deficiency is so common today, what makes magnesium bicarbonate different from other forms, and how easily…

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Fall Honey Sales (356) 47:59

3M ago47:59

47:59

It's harvest season—and for many beekeepers, that means it's time to sell honey! In this week's episode, Jeff Ott and Dr. Becky Masterman dig into the rewarding (and sometimes sticky) process of marketing and selling your honey crop. From fall festivals to farm stands, Becky shares her experiences at local events, state fairs, and new retail partne…

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[Bonus] Short - Dewey Caron: Condensing vs. Ventilating Hives 21:12

3M ago21:12

21:12

In this October Beekeeping Today Podcast Short, Dr. Dewey Caron returns from Apimondia in Copenhagen and the Washington State Beekeepers Association Conference with another Audio Postcard—this time exploring the long-debated topic of condensing vs. ventilated hives. Dewey discusses three levels of communication central to his monthly series: bee sc…

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Regional Beekeepers Fall Roundtable 2025 (355) 43:49

3M ago43:49

43:49

In this special Beekeeping Today Podcast roundtable, Jeff Ott and Dr. Becky Masterman gather an inspiring group of regional beekeepers from across the U.S. to share how their colonies fared through the 2025 season and what they're doing to prepare for winter. Joining the table are Ang Roell (They Keep Bees, Massachusetts), Bonnie Morse (Bonnie Bee …

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[Bonus] Short: Varroa Treatments - Death By Varroa 18:31

3M ago18:31

18:31

In this Beekeeping Today Podcast Short, Jeff and Becky continue their special series on Varroa treatments and control strategies with Dr. David Peck of Betterbee. In this installment, they explore one of the hardest realities of beekeeping—what it looks like when colonies die from Varroa infestations and associated viruses. David explains that "dea…

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E49: Transform Your Family Culture with These Two Foundational Decisions | Ginny Yurich of 1000 Hours Outside 49:47

3M ago49:47

49:47

Could the simple act of spending more time outside be the key to restoring health, peace, and connection in your home? In this episode, Ginny Yurich shares how embracing long days outdoors not only transformed her entire motherhood experience but also sparked the global 1000 Hours Outside movement. From letting go of rigid schedules to reclaiming c…

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Fall Management Tips with Jim Tew (354) 49:51

3M ago49:51

49:51

Fall is one of the most critical times in the beekeeping calendar, and in this episode Jeff and Becky welcome Jim Tew of Honey Bee Obscura for a lively and practical discussion about preparing colonies for winter. The conversation starts with a listener's question about quilt boxes—what to put in them, how they work, and whether wood shavings, insu…

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[Bonus] Short: Varroa Treatments - Non-Chemical Means 22:00

3M ago22:00

22:00

In this Beekeeping Today Podcast Short, Jeff and Becky are joined once again by Dr. David Peck of Betterbee to explore non-chemical strategies for managing varroa mites. While miticides remain the backbone of many treatment programs, non-chemical approaches can play a valuable role in integrated pest management—if used wisely. David highlights prov…

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Jim Fischer - Bee Quick and Rooftop Beekeeping (353) 44:31

3M ago44:31

44:31

In this episode of Beekeeping Today Podcast, Jeff and Becky sit down with East Coast beekeeper and innovator Jim Fischer, the creator of Fischer's Bee-Quick. Known for its pleasant almond-cherry aroma, Bee-Quick was developed as a safer alternative to harsh chemical repellents for removing honey from supers. Jim shares how his father challenged him…

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Forever Life (#11music) W/prayer 9:07

3M ago9:07

9:07

This song was created as a meditation on grief. It was created to celebrate the life of Gran, Trisha. RIP. Tune into the prayer at the end. It is a prayer for all humans, it is a prayer to honour your suffering and joys... Forever life, forever light, forever one.! What takes care of our children when we pass on? Can we re-find ourselves in forever…

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My Time (Quin's poem) #16poem 1:26

3M ago1:26

1:26

I'll deeply exhale and hold on until my time shifts to another time, another place, on a different clock... My time is a poem about acceptance, service and surrender. This young man wrote some words in just a few minutes and we asked if he could record them and post them here. He has a complex relationship with his voice and talents, he often does …

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Surrender (#15poem) 3:01

3M ago3:01

3:01

A poem about surrendering to what we already are and have always been. An offering of an answer to the existential question, Who Am I? If you want to know who you really are, maybe this poem will bring some clarity. Clarity is closer to the surface than you think. There is a book called Falling Upwards. Maybe we are all falling upwards. Maybe it is…

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What Remains Part 3 (#poem14) 4:12

3M ago4:12

4:12

A deep breath is drawn. Colours fade; There is a residual when the music fades... If you really listen, there is a residual. Something is still known and felt. Ever-present, energy lingers...the notes just now in a different form... MAYBE WE ARE THE NOTES...expressing... Us beautiful humans. May the end of this series of poems (see 1 & 2 also), lea…

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Corporate Beekeeping at Scale with Best Bees' Delaney Dameron (352) 51:12

4M ago51:12

51:12

In this episode of Beekeeping Today Podcast, Jeff Ott and Becky Masterman welcome Delaney Dameron, CEO of Best Bees, to explore the growing field of corporate beekeeping. Delaney shares how Best Bees manages nearly 2,000 hives across 24 cities, installing colonies on rooftops and properties for businesses, universities, and homeowners committed to …

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Shaping the Future of Beekeeping with Kamon Reynolds (351) 55:54

4M ago55:54

55:54

In this episode, Jeff Ott and Becky Masterman welcome back Kamon Reynolds, Tennessee beekeeper and founder of the North American Honeybee Expo (NAHBE). Kamon shares how he balances managing over 150 colonies with organizing one of the largest beekeeping events in North America. Kamon discusses the logistics of moving bees to Wisconsin for basswood …

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[Bonus] Short - Dr. Dewey Caron: Fat Bees and Overwintering Success 19:57

4M ago19:57

19:57

In this BTP Short, Dr. Dewey Caron shares another of his "audio postcards," this time exploring the critical role of fat bees—also known as diutinus bees—in helping colonies survive winter. Dewey explains how these long-lived worker bees differ from their summer sisters, with enlarged fat bodies, higher protein reserves, and lower juvenile hormone …

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Top-Bar Beekeeping with Vikki Atkinson (350) 52:35

4M ago52:35

52:35

In this milestone 350th episode of Beekeeping Today Podcast, Jeff Ott and Becky Masterman welcome Vikki Atkinson of Pennsylvania to share her deep experience managing over 100 Top-Bar hives. Vikki walks listeners through the unique design of Top-Bar hives, from follower boards and shims to the angled sides that encourage natural comb building. She …

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[Bonus] Short: Varroa Treatments - ApiLife Var and Apiguard 17:47

4M ago17:47

17:47

In this Varroa Treatment Short, Jeff and Becky are joined once again by Dr. David Peck of BetterBee to discuss two thymol-based mite control options: ApiLife Var and Apiguard . Both products rely on the essential oil thymol, but differ in formulation and delivery. ApiLife Var comes as wafers containing thymol along with eucalyptus oil, menthol, and…

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[Bonus] Short - HiveAlive with Dara Scott: Winter Survival Insights 18:06

4M ago18:06

18:06

In this BTP Short, Jeff and Becky welcome back Dara Scott of HiveAlive to share the results of a recent customer survey on overwintering success during the devastating 2024–25 winter. While national losses reported by Project Apis m averaged around 60%, HiveAlive users reported losses less than half that rate—about 23%. Dara explains how HiveAlive'…

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Imperfect: Impromptu sounding meditation (#11meditation) 14:29

4M ago14:29

14:29

This is rough and honest...We were sounding for ourselves (for our own nurturing and healing) and we then grabbed the podcast mic and invited a recording into the space. What is here is Sounding HEALING, or sound feeling... words that were guided and words that arrived in the moment, to bring you into love. We leave it here for you to enjoy the com…

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Bee Great with David Mullins (349) 50:53

4M ago50:53

50:53

In this episode, Jeff and Becky welcome Dave Mullins of Bee Great, based in Churubusco, Indiana. Dave shares how a hobby with his father in 2014 grew into a dynamic beekeeping business now managing 150 hives, a thriving retail store, and a diverse line of honey and bee-inspired products. From flavored honeys and goat milk soaps to international exp…

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[Bonus] Short: Varroa Treatments - HopGuard 3 11:37

4M ago11:37

11:37

In this Varroa Treatment Short, Jeff and Becky are joined by Dr. David Peck of BetterBee to discuss HopGuard 3, the latest version of this organically derived mite control option. The conversation covers the product's evolution from earlier formulations, its active ingredient (hops beta acids), and what makes it safe to use even with honey supers i…

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Dave McComb: From One Hive to a Thriving Beekeeping Business (348) 46:42

4M ago46:42

46:42

In this episode, Jeff and Becky welcome Indiana beekeeper Dave McComb to share his journey from inheriting one defensive hive in 2018 to managing over 100 colonies, producing honey, nucs, and queens with remarkable success. Dave explains how he quickly immersed himself in beekeeping education, adopted single-deep hive management, and built an opera…

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Dr. Lewis Bartlett - The Evolving Challenges Beekeepers Face (347) 51:33

5M ago51:33

51:33

Dr. Lewis Bartlett returns to Beekeeping Today Podcast to share the latest science on honey bee health, pest management, and the evolving challenges beekeepers face worldwide. In this wide-ranging conversation, Lewis dives into how shifting climates, global trade, and emerging pests are reshaping the landscape for beekeeping. He explores the role o…

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[Bonus] Short: Varroa Treatment Options - Formic Acid 21:59

5M ago21:59

21:59

In this Varroa Treatments short, Jeff Ott and co-host Dr. Becky Masterman welcome Dr. David Peck from Betterbee to discuss formic acid—a powerful tool in the fight against varroa mites. David explains how Formic Pro, the most common formic acid product now available in the U.S., is formulated to safely release vapors that penetrate capped brood cel…