One of the choices beekeepers have to make when starting out is what size frames to get for their hive. The most common configuration in the United States is a combination of 10-frame deep boxes and 10-frame medium boxes, however 8-frames have recently become more popular. As it says in the name, 10-frame boxes hold…
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Before you start selling your honey, you need to make sure that it complies with federal, state, and local regulations. There are federal labeling standards that your honey should adhere to. Common Name First, the “common” name of the product should be visible on the label—in this case, “honey” should be clearly visible. If the…
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The honey industry includes three groups: production, importing, and packing. Honey packing is the process of packaging honey into containers to be sold either commercially or for retail.  Honey sold for retail is packaged in small containers like jars or bottles, while commercially-sold honey is packaged in large drums for storage or export. Packaging choices…
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Honey bees are probably the most famous out of all the bees, but bees native to North America are the unsung heroes of the bee world. Before European honey bees were introduced to the Americas, native bees were primarily responsible for pollination. Studies have shown that native bees like squash bees, orchard bees, and blueberry…
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Similar to many rules and regulations regarding keeping and maintaining beehives, the requirement of registering beehives varies by state. Some states like Florida require beekeepers to register with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), while other states like Colorado don’t require registration. Keep in mind that even if a state government doesn’t…
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There are a lot of different hives to choose from when starting out as a beekeeper, and they all have their own pros and cons. The three most popular are Langstroth, Top Bar, and Warre hives. However, beekeepers should do research and choose their hive based on their preferences.  Top Bar Hive Source: Bee Built…
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Soil health can influence the production of flowers, pollen, and nectar, and it plays a role in pollinator visitation patterns. Healthy soil should have balanced nutrients, a proper pH, sufficient water-holding capacity, strong and diverse microbial activity, and be free of toxins. There has been a decline in pollinators over the last few decades, and…
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Sometimes it can be hard to find good, reliable sources of information when you are starting something new, such as beekeeping. Here are twenty-three of the top-rated books for beekeeping.  The Beekeeper’s Handbook (2011) Diana Sammataro  This is one of the top overall books for beginners, and it has been used as the best single-volume…
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Honey has grown into a hot commodity as people realize its benefits: it’s delicious, it’s nutritious, and it doesn’t go bad! If you’re a beekeeper with some honey, there are people shopping online willing to take it off your hands. However, selling honey on the internet requires proper steps to make sure you’re following FDA,…
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The food on our dinner table may be looking different in the future. Declines in the US bee population threaten the ways we eat and produce crops: $20 billion of annual crop production in the US can be attributed to honey bees. The winter of 2017-2018 saw a 40% decrease in honey bee colonies managed…
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