Episode Details

This week, Jeff and Becky welcome Dr. Priya Basu to discuss one of the most important—and often overlooked—aspects of beekeeping: honey bee nutrition. Priya shares her expertise on what it takes to keep colonies thriving, diving into the critical role of proteins, carbohydrates, and micronutrients like vitamins and minerals. Her approachable style and deep knowledge make complex topics easy to understand and apply, whether you're managing one hive or hundreds.

Listeners will gain valuable insights into feeding strategies across the seasons, including how to prepare colonies for winter and stimulate growth in spring. Priya explains why diverse, staggered forage is vital for healthy bees and how to recognize nutritional stress in your apiary. She also highlights her work on the Honey Bee Health Coalition's supplemental feeding guide, a resource every beekeeper should know about.

As the conversation unfolds, Priya discusses her research into how environmental factors, such as pesticide exposure, can impact honey bee health. From managing protein supplements to ensuring adequate carbohydrate reserves, you'll leave this episode with actionable advice to support your bees year-round.

Don't miss this engaging and informative episode with one of today's leading voices in pollinator research. Whether you're just starting out or have years of experience, Priya's insights will inspire you to take a closer look at the nutritional needs of your bees.

Listen Today!

Websites we recommend:

• HBHC Nutrition Guide: https://honeybeehealthcoalition.org/nutritionguide/
• Winter Capped Brood Monitoring: https://agriculture.auburn.edu/research/enpp/bee-lab/winter-capped-brood-monitoring/
• USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service: https://www.nass.usda.gov/Quick_Stats/
• Priya's Children's Book: https://www.amazon.com/Honey-Bee-Young-Zoologist-Pollinating/dp/1684492823
• Priya's Website: https://priyadarshinichakrabarti.com/
• Honey Bee Health Coalition: https://honeybeehealthcoalition.org
• The National Honey Board: https://honey.com

• Honey Bee Obscura Podcast: https://honeybeeobscura.com
• 2 Million Blossoms - The Podcast: https://2millionblossoms.com

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