Dan Conlon's guest appearances

Dan Conlon

Beekeeping Today Podcast

Jay Williams

Aaron Gross

Ross Conrad

Michael Smith

John Miller

Kim Eierman

Brian Peterson

Matthew Shepherd

David Peck

David Firth

Peter Nelson

Marla Spivak

Mike James

Christy Hemenway

Cedar Anderson

OwlTail

Returning today is Dan Conlon, vice president of the Russian Bee Breeders Association.  Dan updates us on how the Russian bee breeding program, the status of the association and how the Covid shutdowns impacted the USDA Baton Rouge Bee Lab, which first introduced the Russians, and now provides breeding oversight to the group. The basics of the Russian bees is that the good traits tend to be getting better and those traits not favored by beekeepers, are being reduced. Russian bees build quickly in the spring as soon as the pollen starts. This is favorable for beekeepers using their bees for pollination services, but results in swarming issues, if the beekeeper does not keep on top of it. Resistance to varroa is good and is getting better as breed is improved, especially compared to many available bee strains. One trait often mentioned is the defensiveness, but this is more with hybrid Russian bees, but true Russians are even more docile now than even a few years ago. We hope you enjoy the episode. Leave comments and questions in the Comments Section of the episode's website. Thank you for listening! Links and websites mentioned in this podcast:   Russian Honey Bee Breeders Assn: http://www.russianbreeder.org/ Beekeeping Today Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@beekeepingtodaypodcast Honey Bee Obscura: https://www.honeybeeobscura.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!  We welcome Betterbee as sponsor of today's episode. 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 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 We welcome HiveAlive back as an episode sponsor. HiveAlive is the #1 liquid feed supplement for honeybees worldwide.  It contains a unique blend of seaweed extracts, thyme and lemongrass proven to increase bee strength, produce more honey, improved bee gut health and improved overwinter survival. Ask about HiveAlive and new HiveAlive Fondant &amp; Pollen Patty at your local beekeeping store or visit the website www.usa.hivealivebees.com for more information. Listeners of the podcast can claim a special discount online using the code "BTP" at the checkout! 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 Thanks to Bee Culture, the Magazine of American Beekeeping, for their support of The Beekeeping Today Podcast. Available in print and digital at www.beeculture.com  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; Original guitar background instrumental by Jeff Ott Beekeeping Today Podcast is an audio production of Growing Planet Media, LLC Copyright © 2023 by Growing Planet Media, LLC

Returning today is Dan Conlon, vice president of the Russian Bee Breeders Association.  Dan updates us on how the Russian bee breeding program, the status of the association and how the Covid shutdowns impacted the USDA Baton Rouge Bee Lab, which first introduced the Russians, and now provides breeding oversight to the group. The basics of the Russian bees is that the good traits tend to be getting better and those traits not favored by beekeepers, are being reduced. Russian bees build quickly in the spring as soon as the pollen starts. This is favorable for beekeepers using their bees for pollination services, but results in swarming issues, if the beekeeper does not keep on top of it. Resistance to varroa is good and is getting better as breed is improved, especially compared to many available bee strains. One trait often mentioned is the defensiveness, but this is more with hybrid Russian bees, but true Russians are even more docile now than even a few years ago. We hope you enjoy the episode. Leave comments and questions in the Comments Section of the episode's website. Thank you for listening! Links and websites mentioned in this podcast:  <ul> <li>Russian Honey Bee Breeders Assn: <a href="http://www.russianbreeder.org/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.russianbreeder.org/</a></li> <li>Beekeeping Today Podcast on YouTube: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@beekeepingtodaypodcast" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/@beekeepingtodaypodcast</a></li> <li>Honey Bee Obscura: <a href="https://www.honeybeeobscura.com" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.honeybeeobscura.com</a></li> </ul> __ This episode is brought to you by <a href="http://globalpatties.com" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Global Patties</a>! Global offers a variety of standard and custom patties. Visit them today at <a href="http://globalpatties.com" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">http://globalpatties.com</a> and let them know you appreciate them sponsoring this episode!  We welcome Betterbee as sponsor of today's episode. 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 <a href="https://www.betterbee.com" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">www.betterbee.com</a> Thanks to <a href="https://www.strongmicrobials.com" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Strong Microbials</a> for their support of Beekeeping Today Podcast. Find out more about heir line of probiotics in our <a href="https://beekeepingtodaypodcast.com/strong-microbial-with-drs-vera-and-slava-strogolova-s3-e12" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Season 3, Episode 12</a> episode and from their website: <a href="https://www.strongmicrobials.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.strongmicrobials.com</a> We welcome <a href="https://www.usa.hivealivebees.com" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">HiveAlive</a> back as an episode sponsor. HiveAlive is the #1 liquid feed supplement for honeybees worldwide.  It contains a unique blend of seaweed extracts, thyme and lemongrass proven to increase bee strength, produce more honey, improved bee gut health and improved overwinter survival. Ask about HiveAlive and new HiveAlive Fondant &amp; Pollen Patty at your local beekeeping store or visit the website <a href="http://www.usa.hivealivebees.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">www.usa.hivealivebees.com</a> for more information. Listeners of the podcast can claim a special discount online using the code "BTP" at the checkout! Thanks for <a href="https://www.northernbeebooks.co.uk/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Northern Bee Books</a> 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: <a href="mailto:questions@beekeepingtodaypodcast.com" rel="noopener">questions@beekeepingtodaypodcast.com</a> Thanks to Bee Culture, the Magazine of American Beekeeping, for their support of The Beekeeping Today Podcast. Available in print and digital at <a href="http://www.beeculture.com" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">www.beeculture.com</a> 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; Original guitar background instrumental by Jeff Ott Beekeeping Today Podcast is an audio production of Growing Planet Media, LLC Copyright © 2023 by Growing Planet Media, LLC

Russian Bee Program Update with Dan Conlon (S5, E36)

In this episode, we invite Dan Conlon back to learn how the Russian Honey Bee Program is progressing, since now is the time to consider trying packages, nucs or queens for the coming season. Arguably, Russians are the most tested breed of honey bee in the US due to the fact that the USDA Honey Bee Genetics Lab has had a hand in the selection and breeding program from the very beginning. Not only that, they have stayed involved, with improvements in breeding, selecting for the right traits, making sure the genetics of resistance and honey production stay firmly entrenched in every queen that gets sold. Dan also gives us an update on the coming summer’s EAS Conference. Eastern Apiculture Society in 2021 will be different. It was supposed to meet in Massachusetts this year, but the University decided to postpone all outside events until 2022, so the MA Beekeepers were out of luck. But Kentucky stepped up. So this year, EAS will be at the Paroquet Springs Conference Center in Shepherdsville, KY for a three-day event. It will be different – no social, only 300 attendees, no walk-ins…but there will be a BBQ, and Auction, the Master Beekeeper program and vendors. Check out the EAS web page for all the details and plan on heading to KY in August. Links and websites mentioned in this podcast:  Russian Bee Breeders Assn - http://www.russianbreeder.org Dan Conlon more about Russian Honey Bee - https://www.beekeepingtodaypodcast.com/dan-conlon-its-all-about-the-russians-russian-honey-bees-that-is-013/ Steve Coy and Dr. Tom Rinderer on the Russian Honey Bee History - https://www.beekeepingtodaypodcast.com/talking-russian-honey-bees-with-dr-tom-rinderer-and-steve-coy-s2-e32/ USDA/ARS Update on the use of Oxalic Acid - https://www.ars.usda.gov/northeast-area/beltsville-md-barc/beltsville-agricultural-research-center/bee-research-laboratory/docs/oxalic-acid-faqs/ Eastern Apicultural Society - https://www.easternapiculture.org Bee Equipment Essentials by Ed Simon - http://wicwas.com/project/bee-equipment-essentials-20-00/    Honey Bee Obscura Podcast - https://www.honeybeeobscura.com   __ 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 This episode is brought to you by Global Patties! Global Patties is a family business that manufactures protein supplement patties for honey bees. Feeding your hives protein supplement patties will help ensure that they produce strong and health colonies by increasing brood production and overall honey flow. Global offers a variety of standard patties, as well as custom patties to meet your specific needs. Visit them today at http://globalpatties.com and let them know you appreciate them sponsoring this episode!  We want to also thank 2 Million Blossoms as a sponsor of the podcast. 2 Million Blossoms is a quarterly magazine destined for your coffee table. Each page of the magazine is dedicated to the stories and photos of all pollinators and written by leading researchers, photographers and our very own, Kim Flottum. ___ We hope you enjoy this podcast and welcome your questions and comments: questions@beekeepingtodaypodcast.com Thanks to Bee Culture, the Magazine of American Beekeeping, for their support of The Beekeeping Today Podcast. Available in print and digital at www.beeculture.com  Thank you for listening!  Podcast music: Young Presidents, "Be Strong", Musicalman, "Epilogue" Beekeeping Today Podcast is an audio production of Growing Planet Media, LLC

In this episode, we invite Dan Conlon back to learn how the Russian Honey Bee Program is progressing, since now is the time to consider trying packages, nucs or queens for the coming season. Arguably, Russians are the most tested breed of honey bee in the US due to the fact that the USDA Honey Bee Genetics Lab has had a hand in the selection and breeding program from the very beginning. Not only that, they have stayed involved, with improvements in breeding, selecting for the right traits, making sure the genetics of resistance and honey production stay firmly entrenched in every queen that gets sold. Dan also gives us an update on the coming summer’s EAS Conference. Eastern Apiculture Society in 2021 will be different. It was supposed to meet in Massachusetts this year, but the University decided to postpone all outside events until 2022, so the MA Beekeepers were out of luck. But Kentucky stepped up. So this year, EAS will be at the Paroquet Springs Conference Center in Shepherdsville, KY for a three-day event. It will be different – no social, only 300 attendees, no walk-ins…but there will be a BBQ, and Auction, the Master Beekeeper program and vendors. Check out the <a href="https://www.easternapiculture.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">EAS web page</a> for all the details and plan on heading to KY in August. Links and websites mentioned in this podcast: <ul> <li>Russian Bee Breeders Assn - <a href="http://www.russianbreeder.org" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.russianbreeder.org</a></li> <li>Dan Conlon more about Russian Honey Bee - <a href="https://www.beekeepingtodaypodcast.com/dan-conlon-its-all-about-the-russians-russian-honey-bees-that-is-013/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.beekeepingtodaypodcast.com/dan-conlon-its-all-about-the-russians-russian-honey-bees-that-is-013/</a></li> <li>Steve Coy and Dr. Tom Rinderer on the Russian Honey Bee History - <a href="https://www.beekeepingtodaypodcast.com/talking-russian-honey-bees-with-dr-tom-rinderer-and-steve-coy-s2-e32/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.beekeepingtodaypodcast.com/talking-russian-honey-bees-with-dr-tom-rinderer-and-steve-coy-s2-e32/</a></li> <li>USDA/ARS Update on the use of Oxalic Acid - <a href="https://www.ars.usda.gov/northeast-area/beltsville-md-barc/beltsville-agricultural-research-center/bee-research-laboratory/docs/oxalic-acid-faqs/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.ars.usda.gov/northeast-area/beltsville-md-barc/beltsville-agricultural-research-center/bee-research-laboratory/docs/oxalic-acid-faqs/</a></li> <li>Eastern Apicultural Society - <a href="https://www.easternapiculture.org" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.easternapiculture.org</a></li> <li>Bee Equipment Essentials by Ed Simon - <a href="http://wicwas.com/project/bee-equipment-essentials-20-00/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">http://wicwas.com/project/bee-equipment-essentials-20-00/</a></li> </ul> <ul> <li>Honey Bee Obscura Podcast - <a href="https://www.honeybeeobscura.com" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.honeybeeobscura.com</a></li> </ul> __ Thanks to <a href="https://www.strongmicrobials.com" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Strong Microbials</a> for their support of Beekeeping Today Podcast. Find out more about heir line of probiotics in our <a href="https://beekeepingtodaypodcast.com/strong-microbial-with-drs-vera-and-slava-strogolova-s3-e12" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Season 3, Episode 12</a> episode and from their website: <a href="https://www.strongmicrobials.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.strongmicrobials.com</a> This episode is brought to you by <a href="http://globalpatties.com" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Global Patties</a>! Global Patties is a family business that manufactures protein supplement patties for honey bees. Feeding your hives protein supplement patties will help ensure that they produce strong and health colonies by increasing brood production and overall honey flow. Global offers a variety of standard patties, as well as custom patties to meet your specific needs. Visit them today at <a href="http://globalpatties.com" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">http://globalpatties.com</a> and let them know you appreciate them sponsoring this episode!  We want to also thank <a href="https://www.2millionblossoms.com" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">2 Million Blossoms</a> as a sponsor of the podcast. <a href="https://www.2millionblossoms.com" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">2 Million Blossoms</a> is a quarterly magazine destined for your coffee table. Each page of the magazine is dedicated to the stories and photos of all pollinators and written by leading researchers, photographers and our very own, Kim Flottum. ___ We hope you enjoy this podcast and welcome your questions and comments: <a href="mailto:questions@beekeepingtodaypodcast.com" rel="noopener">questions@beekeepingtodaypodcast.com</a> Thanks to Bee Culture, the Magazine of American Beekeeping, for their support of The Beekeeping Today Podcast. Available in print and digital at <a href="http://www.beeculture.com" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">www.beeculture.com</a> Thank you for listening! Podcast music: Young Presidents, "Be Strong", Musicalman, "Epilogue" Beekeeping Today Podcast is an audio production of Growing Planet Media, LLC

Russian Honey Bee and EAS Updates with Dan Conlon  (S3, E42)

For as long as he can remember, Dan Conlon has enjoyed and kept honey bees. When he was 50, he threw all in and went commercial with his Warm Colors Apiaries, in South Deerfield, MA along with his wife, Bonita. Today they sell  honey, pure beeswax candles, and products using honey and beeswax.  Along with Warm Colors Apiaries, Dan is the president of the Russian Honey Bee Breeders Association. In this episode, Dan opens the door on the Russian strain, its varroa mite resistance, honey production, aggressiveness, swarming and more. The Russian strain has some great traits and perhaps some traits that will force beekeepers into different management practices. If you are looking to explore a new type of honey bee that has been researched by the USDA and genetically maintained by an association of dedicated breeders, this episode will wet your appetite! Today's episode also includes a listener's question and answer by Tom Theobald. Kim wraps up the show with his InnerCovered. This episode is brought to you by Wicwas Press. Wicwas Press is the publisher of beekeeping how-to and scientific books. We thank Wicwas for their support of our podcast. We welcome your questions and comments: questions@beekeepingtodaypodcast.com Thanks to Bee Culture, the Magazine of American Beekeeping, for their support of The Beekeeping Today Podcast. Available in print and digital at www.beeculture.com   Thank you for listening!  Podcast music: Young Presidents, "Be Strong"

For as long as he can remember, Dan Conlon has enjoyed and kept honey bees. When he was 50, he threw all in and went commercial with his <a href="http://www.warmcolorsapiary.com" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Warm Colors Apiaries,</a> in South Deerfield, MA along with his wife, Bonita. Today they sell  honey, pure beeswax candles, and products using honey and beeswax.  Along with Warm Colors Apiaries, Dan is the president of the <a href="http://www.russianbreeder.org" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Russian Honey Bee Breeders Association</a>. In this episode, Dan opens the door on the Russian strain, its varroa mite resistance, honey production, aggressiveness, swarming and more. The Russian strain has some great traits and perhaps some traits that will force beekeepers into different management practices. If you are looking to explore a new type of honey bee that has been researched by the USDA and genetically maintained by an association of dedicated breeders, this episode will wet your appetite! Today's episode also includes a listener's question and answer by Tom Theobald. Kim wraps up the show with his InnerCovered. This episode is brought to you by <a href="http://wicwas.com" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Wicwas Press.</a> Wicwas Press is the publisher of beekeeping how-to and scientific books. We thank Wicwas for their support of our podcast. We welcome your questions and comments: <a href="mailto:questions@beekeepingtodaypodcast.com">questions@beekeepingtodaypodcast.com</a> Thanks to Bee Culture, the Magazine of American Beekeeping, for their support of The Beekeeping Today Podcast. Available in print and digital at <a href="http://www.beeculture.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.beeculture.com</a> Thank you for listening! Podcast music: Young Presidents, "Be Strong"