Welcome to the first episode of my Devil's Advocate series, where I research and argue for positions I don't personally hold. Today, I'm making the strongest case I can AGAINST the very subsidy programs I use in my own commercial beekeeping operation.

In this episode, I argue against ELAP (Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-Raised Fish Program), NAP (Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program), and rainfall index insurance, the three major subsidy programs available to beekeepers.

My website: https://walkinthewoodsapiary.com/

Check out my weekly beekeeping vlog: www.youtube.com/@walkinthewoodsapiaryvlog

#beekeeping #commercialbeekeeping #agriculture #subsidies #devilsadvocate #usda #elap #farmsubsidies

Taktic. It’s one of the worst-kept secrets in commercial beekeeping… but almost nobody talks about it openly.

In this episode of The Pollen Nation Podcast, we dig into the real story behind Taktic and amitraz: why so many beekeepers use it, what makes it so effective, what the risks are, and how it compares to legal products like Apivar and Amiflex.

Disclaimer

This episode is for educational and discussion purposes only. Nothing in this video is advice or a recommendation to use any pesticide off label or in violation of local laws and regulations. Always follow the label. Always follow your country’s regulations. Work with your local extension service or bee inspector when designing your treatment plan. The goal of this conversation is to explain what’s happening in the real world, not to encourage unsafe or illegal practices.

My website: https://walkinthewoodsapiary.com/

Check out my weekly beekeeping vlog: www.youtube.com/@walkinthewoodsapiaryvlog

I give a presentation on the entire queen rearing process at the Wiregrass Beekeepers Association in Dothan, Alabama.

My website: https://walkinthewoodsapiary.com/

Check out my weekly beekeeping vlog: www.youtube.com/@walkinthewoodsapiaryvlog

If you’ve ever questioned why commercial beekeepers feed high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) instead of sugar syrup, or worried it might end up in the honey, this episode is for you. In this deep dive, I break down the science and economics behind HFCS feeding.

My website: https://walkinthewoodsapiary.com/

Check out my weekly beekeeping vlog: www.youtube.com/@walkinthewoodsapiaryvlog

Show notes: https://walkinthewoodsapiary.com/2025/11/18/hfcs-vs-sucrose/

#Beekeeping #HFCS #Sucrose #CommercialBeekeeping #BeeHealth #Pollination #HoneyBees #BeekeepingScience #BeeNutrition

How is the current government shutdown impacting the beekeeping industry?

My website:https://walkinthewoodsapiary.com/

Check out my weekly beekeeping vlog:www.youtube.com/@walkinthewoodsapiaryvlog

#Beekeeping #HoneyBees #BeekeepingPodcast #CommercialBeekeeping #WalkInTheWoodsApiary #governmentshutdown

Can probiotics really make your bees healthier or is it just clever marketing?

In this episode, we dig deep into the science behind bee probiotics like SuperDFM and others, breaking down what the peer-reviewed research actually says.

My website:https://walkinthewoodsapiary.com/

Check out my weekly beekeeping vlog:www.youtube.com/@walkinthewoodsapiaryvlog

#Beekeeping #HoneyBees #BeeHealth #Probiotics #BeekeepingPodcast #CommercialBeekeeping #BeeScience #SuperDFM #WalkInTheWoodsApiary

This video attempts to answer the question if honey helps cure allergy symptoms.

My website:

https://walkinthewoodsapiary.com/

Check out my weekly beekeeping vlog:

www.youtube.com/@walkinthewoodsapiaryvlog

As we're coming up to the two year anniversary of the podcast, I just wanted to share my thoughts about where I want to take it going forward.

My website: https://walkinthewoodsapiary.com/

Check out my weekly beekeeping vlog: www.youtube.com/@walkinthewoodsapiaryvlog

In Episode 28 I look into the origins of the "Save the Bees" slogan and discuss whether we're overlooking the most important bees of all.

My website:

https://walkinthewoodsapiary.com/

Check out my weekly beekeeping vlog:

https://www.youtube.com/@UCRc81mRPEeRhSIVxWsvRUEg

In Episode 27 I go over how to ship mated queens through the mail and give some tips that I've learned.

My website: https://walkinthewoodsapiary.com/

Check out my weekly beekeeping vlog: https://www.youtube.com/ ⁨@WalkintheWoodsApiaryVlog⁩