Dr. Jay Evans is the Research Leader at the USDA Honey Bee Research Lab in Beltsville Maryland. He and the resident scientists there are involved in many projects, including mite studies, nutrition supplements for bees, queen health and nutrition. Plus, even in middle of this pandemic, they have realized the need for continuing the AFB Diagnostic Center so beekeepers can handle this disease before it gets out of hand in their apiaries.

There's more to Jay than his regular research. He has been writing a column for our sponsor Bee Culture magazine for several years and has gathered together a books-worth of these that he has called Bee Optimism, published by IBRA. It is a welcome addition to our honey bee literature because of his easy to understand style, vast experience and willingness to gather information from a great variety of sources.

His chapters include the challenges that bees, and beekeepers face, a lot about honey, both good and bad, he examines the value of propolis to honey bees, looks at issues with queens, and spends a fair amount of time looking at the effects of climate change, and advances in overwintering science. And of course, the final chapter focuses on why he is optimistic about the future of bees, beekeepers and beekeeping.

Websites and links mentioned in the podcast:

• USDA-ARS Bee Research Laboratory, Beltsville MD: https://www.ars.usda.gov/northeast-area/beltsville-md-barc/beltsville-agricultural-research-center/bee-research-laboratory/
• Bee Optimism: Translational Research Can Rescue Honey Bees and Other Pollinators (IBRA): https://ibra.org.uk/product/bee-optimism-softback
• Bee Optimism: Translational Research Can Rescue Honey Bees and Other Pollinators (Northern Bee Books): https://www.northernbeebooks.co.uk/products/bee-optimism-evans/
• International Bee Research Assn: https://ibra.org.uk

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This episode is brought to you by Global Patties! Global Patties is a family business that manufactures protein supplement patties for honey bees. Feeding your hives protein supplement patties will help ensure that they produce strong and health colonies by increasing brood production and overall honey flow. Global offers a variety of standard patties, as well as custom patties to meet your specific needs. Visit them today at http://globalpatties.com and let them know you appreciate them sponsoring this episode! 

We want to also thank 2 Million Blossoms as a sponsor of the podcast. 2 Million Blossoms is a new quarterly magazine destined for your coffee table. Each page of the magazine is dedicated to the stories and photos of all pollinators and written by leading researchers, photographers and our very own, Kim Flottum.

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We hope you enjoy this podcast and welcome your questions and comments: [email protected]

Thanks to Bee Culture, the Magazine of American Beekeeping, for their support of The Beekeeping Today Podcast. Available in print and digital at www.beeculture.com

Thank you for listening! 

Podcast music: Young Presidents, "Be Strong"