New Year's Archive Special: Two Queen Honey Production (S6, E29)

Beekeeping Today Podcast

Happy New Year! As we embark on a new year, often marked by resolutions, we're excited to present a New Year's Archive Special. Join Jeff and Becky as they revisit Jeff‘s and Kim’s insightful interview with Colorado beekeeper Tom Theobald, in 2021. While Tom might not be the inventor of the two-queen colony management system for increasing honey yields, his refinements to the technique are remarkable. If boosting honey production is on your 2024 agenda, this episode is for you!

Tom ran a modest commercial beekeeping operation in Colorado during the late 1970s, managing around 200 colonies. He began experimenting with two-queen colonies early on. The underlying biology of this method is fascinating and effective, as Tom demonstrates, but it does entail more physical labor. His most productive hives consisted of three deeps for brood and seven mediums for honey storage. While an average strong colony in his region typically produced about 70 pounds of honey per season, Tom’s two-queen colonies impressively averaged between 240 and 270 pounds!

The method's benefits extend beyond substantial honey yields. These colonies begin the season with the previous year's queen and introduce a new queen in early spring. At season's end, the newer queen usually takes precedence, ensuring a proven queen for the following year. Additionally, the enlarged foraging population of these colonies amasses an extensive pollen reserve, vital for the next season’s buildup.

Despite its advantages, two-queen honey production is becoming a rarity, largely due to the labor intensity, precise timing, and deep understanding of local nectar flows required. However, the rewards can be significant, particularly in areas with abundant forage and minimal varroa mite or pesticide issues.

Have you experimented with two-queen colonies? We're eager to hear about your experiences! Share your thoughts in the episode comments.Links and websites mentioned in this podcast:

• Our First Season Interview with Tom about Neonicotinoids: https://beekeepingtodaypodcast.com/tom-theobold-the-problem-with-neonics
• Honey Bee Obscura Podcast: http://honeybeeobscura.com

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Happy New Year from all our fantastic sponsors!

Betterbee is the presensting 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!

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

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.

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We hope you enjoy this podcast and welcome your questions and comments in the show notes of this episode or: [e-mail]

Thank you for listening!

Podcast music: Be Strong by Young Presidents; Epilogue by Musicalman; Walking in Paris by Studio Le Bus; A Fresh New Start by Pete Morse; Wedding Day by Boomer; Christmas Avenue by Immersive Music; Original guitar background instrumental by Jeff Ott

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