A beekeeper is a person who keeps honey bees. Honey bees produce commodities such as honey, beeswax, pollen, propolis, and royal jelly, while some beekeepers also raise queens and bees to sell to other farmers and to satisfy scientific curiosity. Beekeepers also use honey bees to provide pollination services to fruit and vegetable growers. Many people keep bees as a hobby. Others do it for income either as a sideline to other work or as a commercial operator. These factors affect the number of colonies maintained by the beekeeper.
Get Involved
Join the Oregon Master Beekeepers! Get involved as an Apprentice or climb the ranks to become a Master Beekeeper.
RESOURCES for BEEKEEPERS
Dialogue with pesticide applicators
- Evaluating Honey Bee Colonies for Pollination Pacific Northwest Extension Publication (Jan. 2011)
- Know Your Landscaper: Communication is Key For Beekeepers North Carolina Department of Agriculture (n.d.)
- Know Your Farmer: Communication is Key For Beekeepers North Carolina Department of Agriculture (n.d.)
- Pollinator Safety in Application of Insecticides to Crops in Bloom Western Committee on Crop Pests (Nov. 2016)
honey bee health
- The Small Hive Beetle: A Potential Pest in Honey Bee Colonies in Oregon OSU (Jun 2016)
- Honey Bee Diseases and Pests University of Minnesota (2016)
- Diagnosis of Honey Bee Diseases USDA (2000)
- Varroa Mite Monitoring Michigan State University (Jul. 2016)
- Tools for Varroa Management Honey Bee Health Coalition (Jan. 2017)
- The Wisconsin Pollinator Protection Plan (n.d.)
- Canadian Best Management Practices for Honey Bee Health: Industry Analysis and Harmonization AAFC (n.d.)
Video: Nosema Analysis in Honey Bees OSU (Jun 2016)
Video: Dissecting Honey Bees for Tracheal Mites OSU (Jun 2016)
Management
- Overwintered Honey Bee Nucleus Colonies: Big Solutions in Small Packages Pacific Northwest Extension Publication (Oct. 2015)
- Hiving a Package of Honey Bees University of Minnesota (Apr. 2017)
Residential Beekeeping
- Common Wasps Washington State University, OSU, EPA (n.d.)
- Homeowner Guide to Bees University of Idaho (May 2009)
- Honey Bees & Beekeeping in Portland and Multnomah County Portland Urban Beekeepers (n.d.)
Website: Oregon's Residential Beekeeping Guidelines