Episode Details

In the second episode of our February series, Upscaling from Hobbyist to Sideliner Beekeeper, Jeff and Becky continue the conversation with returning guests Dr. Meghan Milbrath and Ana Heck from Michigan State University. This week's focus is on one of the most critical—and often costly—aspects of growing a beekeeping operation: equipment and logistics.

Meghan and Ana share their insights on how to strategically manage equipment as your apiary grows, covering everything from the pros and cons of building versus buying hive components to making decisions about palletizing, bottom boards, and the use of queen excluders. They discuss the importance of maintaining consistency with equipment sizes, the benefits of using migratory versus telescoping covers, and how to manage hive configurations for both honey production and overwintering.

The conversation also dives into the practicalities of scaling up, such as selecting vehicles for beekeeping operations, deciding when (or if) a forklift makes sense, and managing outyards. Meghan and Ana offer valuable advice on finding and maintaining good relationships with landowners, how many colonies to place in a single yard, and even strategies for negotiating yard rent—often paid in honey!

Whether you're considering your first expansion or already managing dozens of colonies, this episode offers practical tips, real-world experiences, and thoughtful advice to help you grow efficiently and sustainably.

Tune in now to learn how to take your beekeeping operation to the next level!

Websites we recommend:

• 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

Copyright © 2025 by Growing Planet Media, LLC

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Betterbee is the presenting 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 Bee Smart Designs as a sponsor of this podcast! Bee Smart Designs is the creator of innovative, modular and interchange