Texas A&M University Apiculture

04/14/2026

Via Dr. Garett Slater:

Hi everyone,
If you haven’t had a chance to complete the 19th Annual U.S. Beekeeping Survey yet, this is a friendly reminder to please take a few minutes to do so.
This survey is one of the most important tools we have for understanding colony losses, management practices, and the future of beekeeping across the country—and Texas participation really matters.
Please take the survey here: https://aub.ie/us-beekeeping-survey
Let’s work together to make Texas #1 in participation again. Feel free to share this with other beekeepers!
Thank you for your support.
Garett Slater
Assistant Professor and Honey Bee Extension Entomologist
Department of Entomology | Texas A&M AgriLife
1710 FM3053 | Overton, TX 75684
Ph: 701-928-0418 | [email protected]

The Apiary Inspectors of America first contributed to a national survey of honey bee colony losses in 2007, during a time of uncertainty due to Colony Collapse Disorder. Since then, a version of the Survey has been organized by the Bee Informed Partnership, in collaboration with the University of Ma...

03/03/2026

Dear Texas Beekeepers,
Each year we rely on the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (USDA-NASS) honey report, but it does not fully capture the scope of honey production across Texas.
The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service publishes annual crop reports and is finishing the 2025 Texas Honey Report, and we need your help. This report will be published statewide, and accurate numbers depend on beekeeper participation.
Please take 2–3 minutes to complete this short (10-question), anonymous survey about your 2025 honey production.
If you’re unsure about a question, feel free to skip it. However, please complete the honey production section as accurately as you can — even estimates are helpful.
Survey Link: https://agrilife.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_2ca97TqReJ2Ggpo
This is separate from the 2025 colony loss survey which I will be sending out in April
Thank you for supporting Texas beekeeping.
A&M Extension Apiculture Program

Garett Slater
Assistant Professor and Honey Bee Extension Entomologist
Department of Entomology | Texas A&M AgriLife
1710 FM3053 | Overton, TX 75684
Ph: 701-928-0418 | [email protected]

The most powerful, simple and trusted way to gather experience data. Start your journey to experience management and try a free account today.

02/22/2026

COLOSS North America Honey Bee Meeting June 6-12, 2026 "Save the Date"

On behalf of the Organizing Committee of the “Nutrition, Landscape Change and Honey Bee Health: A Transatlantic Dialogue” Conference we would like to invite you to participate and present at the first upcoming North America COLOSS (Prevention of Honey Bee Colony Losses) Meeting on June 6-12, 2026. COLOSS is an international non-profit association with over 2,395 honey bee researchers from 127 countries.

This will be the first time we are meeting in North America jointly organized by the Nutrition Taskforce and the BeeScholars Taskforce and supported by Working Group 3 and Working Group 6 of the BeSafeBeeHoney – COST Action CA22105, a European research network dedicated to safeguarding bee health and sustainable beekeeping across member states.

The meeting is open to all researchers (faculty, graduate students and postdocs), beekeepers, veterinarians, industry personnel, crop consultants and anyone interested in knowing about honey bee health and current research.

For more information and to register, please visit: https://secure.touchnet.net/C20607_ustores/web/store_main.jsp?STOREID=110&FROMQRCODE=true

02/17/2026

We’re excited to offer 10-week Virtual Courses for both the Apprentice and Advanced Levels starting February 16th!

Why join?
👉Gain expert knowledge to ace the Apprentice or Advanced Level Test
👉Weekly sessions (2-4 hours) with recordings for flexibility
👉Pre-registration for your future exam is INCLUDED with the course!

Courses Details:
Apprentice Course (No prior requirements):
🔗 Register here https://agrilifelearn.tamu.edu/s/product/texas-master-beekeeper-course-apprentice-level/01tQn00000ELXaPIAX

Advanced Course (Optional, but we reccomend beekeepers take the Apprentice Course first):
🔗 Register here https://agrilifelearn.tamu.edu/s/product/texas-master-beekeeper-program-advanced-level/01tQn00000ESqgLIAT

Don’t miss out—secure your spot today! Click on the links for more info and a full schedule. For questions, email Garett Slater: [email protected]

02/16/2026

📣Brood monitoring update📣 Despite colder than usual weather in the southeast, colonies appear to be brooding up.

We believe the benefits of a quick peak into colonies, even when conditions are close to freezing, outweighs the negatives, but since our main brood monitoring program requires detailed colony inspections we understand why several of our partners just couldn't get to their bees this sampling event.

Check out all our maps, including our pilot citizen science project, at https://aub.ie/winterbrood

UF IFAS Honey Bee Research and Extension Laboratory UGA Honey Bee Lab MSU Extension Apiculture Program Texas A&M University Apiculture UT Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology Central State University Bee Research Lab Apiculture Extension at Penn State Cornell Dyce Lab for Honey Bee Studies WSU Bee Program Oregon State Honey Bee Lab

02/16/2026

We have been a little quiet the last few weeks, but we are back! Dr. Rangel is on faculty development leave this semester in Colombia, her native country. She is working on a project aimed at assessing the genetic diversity and pathogen loads of managed honey bees in the Antioquia and coffee regions of Colombia. Here are some photos from some of her sampling events. Let us know what you think! 

02/16/2026

Our latest brood monitoring map from January 13th reveals colonies bouncing back from winter! What does this cold snap mean???

Check out our other maps at https://aub.ie/winterbrood

UF IFAS Honey Bee Research and Extension Laboratory UGA Honey Bee Lab MSU Extension Apiculture Program Texas A&M University Apiculture UT Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology NC State Apiculture Program Central State University Bee Research Lab Oregon State Honey Bee Lab PCB Pollinator Health and Apiculture Lab WSU Bee Program Apiculture Extension at Penn State

02/06/2026

We are excited to have a few of our very own graduate students presenting for today's prospective graduate student recruitment seminar!

We hope our visiting students are enjoying their time here with us in Aggieland! 👍🏼

02/05/2026

Any member in a Master Beekeeper Program can apply for the Bee U Scholarship to reimburse program fees for each level successfully completed. Are you a member of a Master Beekeeper Program? If so, we have great news for you! Hives For Heroes is proud to offer the Bee U Scholarship, a unique opportun...

01/08/2026

Happy New Year's citizen science beekeepers! The second round of our expanded US Capped Brood Monitoring Program (https://aub.ie/winterbrood) is open to beekeepers from Jan 2-4.

If Dr. Reed Johnson from The Ohio State University can open up colonies in winter for a quick check, then so can you! 😎

Each beekeeper inspection should take 2-3 minutes per colony, with minimal disturbance; we are looking for a Yes or No for presence of Capped Brood.

Please help us get to our target of 10 beekeeper participants per state! For a demonstration video and to submit your information, go to: https://aub.ie/broodcsi

UF IFAS Honey Bee Research and Extension Laboratory UGA Honey Bee Lab MSU Extension Apiculture Program Texas A&M University Apiculture UT Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology Central State University Bee Research Lab UoG Honey Bee Research Centre Cornell Dyce Lab for Honey Bee Studies University of MN Bee Lab University of MN Bee Squad Oregon State Honey Bee Lab WSU Bee Program NC State Apiculture Program Apiculture Extension at Penn State