Newsletter – February 2026
Latest articles Combating Bee Colony Collapse Disorder: Sustainable Solutions Colony losses don’t happen in isolation. They are the result of cumulative pressures that build quietly over time, until one season tips the balance. Across Australia, experienced and commercial beekeepers are taking a c
Maximizing Honey Production: Seasonal Tips for Aussie Beekeepers
Understanding Australia’s Seasonal Flow Cycles For serious and commercial beekeepers, maximising honey production begins with a clear understanding of Australia’s highly variable seasonal nectar flows. Unlike more predictable climates, Australian conditions can shift rapidly due to rainfall patt
Queen Rearing Basics: Building Reliable Queens for Productive Colonies
Queen Rearing Basics. Mastering this vital skill offers independence, improved biosecurity and stronger, more predictable colonies.
Newsletter – January 2026
Honey 101: Types, Flavours, and Health Benefits If you’ve ever looked at your latest harvest and marvelled at how different it is from the last, you’re not alone. Across Australia, every jar tells a story of landscape, season, and hive health. And for those of us dedicated to the craft, understa
Combating Bee Colony Collapse Disorder: Sustainable Solutions
Professional Imperative for Australian Beekeepers For those managing hives at scale or with long-term commercial intent, colony health is not an abstract concern; it is the foundation of viability. Bee Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) continues to challenge Australian beekeepers through unexplained lo
The Dangers of Pesticides: How to Protect Bees from Chemical Threats
The dangers of pesticides. What are the threats and how can you best protect your hives? Simple, practical advice.
Honey 101: Types, Flavors, and Health Benefits
A Rich Legacy in Every Jar Australia’s beekeepers understand better than most that honey is far more than a pantry staple. Behind every jar lies an intricate interplay between nectar sources, regional conditions, hive health, and skilled management. As commercial and dedicated hobby apiarists know
Newsletter – NOVEMBER 2025
Organic Beekeeping in Australia: Is It Possible? Organic honey carries a certain prestige, both at home and overseas. But for Australian beekeepers, turning that ideal into reality is far from straightforward. We’ve taken a closer look at what it means for commercial operators to pursue organic ce
Reducing your carbon footprint in beekeeping
As guardians of one of nature’s most critical pollinators, beekeepers are uniquely positioned to lead by example - Find out how
Beekeeping Equipment Essentials: What Every Australian Apiarist Needs
A Solid Foundation for a Thriving Operation For those running serious or commercial beekeeping operations in Australia, having the right equipment isn’t a luxury — it’s a necessity. As hives grow and production scales, the tools used can make the difference between efficiency and unnecessary s
Queens for Success: How to Raise Strong, Productive Bee Colonies
For commercial and committed beekeepers, a strong, well-mated queen is at the heart of every thriving colony. A productive queen sets the tone for colony temperament, honey yield, and resilience against disease and environmental stressors. In Australia’s unique climate and evolving industry landsc
Newsletter – OCTOBER 2025
latest articles Mite Maths – The calm before the storm Here in Victoria, the calm before the varroa storm won’t last much longer. The spread is real, and for many of us, it’s not a matter of if our hives will encounter mites, but when. We’ve all heard the “five or nine
Organic Beekeeping in Australia: Is It Possible?
For many Australian beekeepers, the word “organic” carries a certain weight. It signals purity, high standards, and alignment with consumer expectations around food quality. But when it comes to honey production, the path to being certified organic in Australia is anything but simple. Serious an
Creating Bee-Friendly Habitats: A Guide to Planting for Pollinators
Planning for long-term sustainability As commercial beekeepers in Australia, we’ve long known that our industry doesn’t exist in isolation. The health and survival of our colonies depend on the landscapes that surround them. It’s not just about honey yields—it’s about sustaining pollinator
Newsletter – September 2025
latest articles Swarming Season: A Golden Opportunity for Beekeepers During swarm season, beekeepers across Australia are watching the skies and the trees for the tell-tale signs of honeybee colonies on the move. Whether you’re keen to grow your hive numbers or simply want to understand swarm
Mite Maths
Andrew Wootton Here in Victoria, it’s the calm before the (varroa) storm. The Victorian heat map of July shows three detection clusters, the incursion is well-seeded. And almond pollination will inevitably be a super-spreader event. I’m assuming I will have mites in my hive sometime
Spring Inspections: What to Look for in Your Hives
A Season of Opportunity Spring in Australia brings new life, warmer weather, and a fresh burst of activity in the apiary. After the quieter winter months, colonies begin to expand rapidly, foraging increases, and the queen ramps up her egg-laying. This is the perfect time for beekeepers to conduct t
Newsletter – August 2025
NEWS Life Membership Awarded to Lindsay Bourke B-QUAL is pleased to announce that we were able to present Lindsay Bourke with his Life membership award at the 2025 AHBIC AGM in Adelaide on 5th July in Adelaide. The award was presented in appreciation of Lindsay’s work in helping to establish
Swarming Season: A Golden Opportunity for Beekeepers
Catching and managing bee swarms is a valuable skill that every Australian beekeeper should develop. It can be thrilling, sustainable, and economical—especially when done responsibly. Find out more...
How to Identify and Prevent American Foulbrood (AFB) in Your Hives
American Foulbrood may be microscopic, but can be devastating. Keep your hives healthy. Simple steps for identification and prevention
Minimising Pesticide Use: Protecting Bees and the Environment
The Hidden Cost of Pest Control In the battle to protect crops and gardens from destructive pests, one powerful ally often suffers unintended consequences—bees. Across Australia, both native and European honeybee populations face increasing threats from the widespread use of pesticides. While thes
Protecting Pollinators: Why Bees Matter to Our Ecosystem
Protecting pollinators is securing natural systems that sustain life. Everyone has a role to play. Find out what you can do to help.
Everything You Need to Know About Food Safety and Quality Assurance
Protecting Purity from Hive to Jar Australia is renowned for producing some of the cleanest, most pristine honey in the world. But in today’s market, it takes more than just hardworking bees to maintain a strong reputation. For both producers and packers, ensuring food safety and maintaining quali
Newsletter – June 2025
LATEST ARTICLES Fall Feeding – Preparing Your Bees for Winter Survival As the seasons shift, your bees are preparing for one of the most critical times of the year. How you support them now will shape their chances of thriving through winter and emerging strong in spring. We’ve created
Fall Feeding: Preparing Your Bees for Winter Survival
Autumn is coming – are you prepared for colder weather? As temperatures drop and flowers fade, honeybee colonies across Australia and other temperate regions prepare for the long, resource-scarce months of winter. For beekeepers, autumn marks a critical window for intervention—when proactive
Beekeeping Tools 101: Essential Equipment for Every Apiarist
Beekeeping Tools 101 - the right tools can mean the difference between successful, stress-free hives and a chaotic, disruptive experience
Varroa Mite in Australia: What Beekeepers Need to Know
A New Threat to Australian Beekeeping For years, Australian beekeepers watched from afar as Varroa destructor, one of the most destructive pests of honey bees worldwide, wreaked havoc on colonies across Europe, North America, and Asia. Australia remained one of the few countries free of this invasiv
Sustainable Beekeeping Practices: A Guide for Ethical Apiculture
Why Sustainable Beekeeping Matters More Than Ever As the importance of bees becomes more widely understood, the way we manage them is evolving. Sustainable beekeeping is about more than just harvesting honey—it’s about protecting pollinators, supporting biodiversity, and maintaining healthy
The Declining Bee Population in Australia
A Call to Action for Beekeepers Beekeepers across Australia are facing increasing challenges as the country’s bee population declines. These vital pollinators play an essential role in agriculture, ecosystems, and honey production, yet habitat loss, pesticides, climate change, and emerging threats
How to Keep Your Hives Healthy in Australia’s Changing Climate
Things are changing… Australia’s climate is becoming increasingly unpredictable, with extreme heatwaves, prolonged droughts, and unseasonal rainfall affecting ecosystems across the country. For beekeepers, these changes pose significant challenges in maintaining healthy and productive hives.