June 15, 2025

Table of Contents

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Letter from the President

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Letter From the Vice President

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Letter from the Secretary

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You Don’t Want to Miss this Fall Conference!

BEE WELL – The KEEPERS & BEES

Jerry Hayes – Editor of Bee Culture Magazine, beekeeper

Bob Binnie – Owner/Operator of Blue Ridge Honey company, commercial beekeeper

Sammy Ramazani – Bee Friendly Horticulturist and beekeeper

Garrett Slater – Professor and Honeybee Etymologist from Texas A&M University

Randy Oliver – Biologist, creator of ScientificBeekeeping.com, commercial beekeeper

In addition to this great slate of speakers there will be a number of breakout sessions on a wide range of topics with something for everyone from beginners to those with vast experience. More will be announced at a future date.

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Interview with Adam Hickman

Why is Foxhound Bee Company moving their store location?
We’ve simply outgrown our current spot at Hardware Park. It’s been a great home, but we’re
ready for something bigger — a place that matches our growth and vision. The new location in
Irondale gives us the space to expand our retail, offer more education, increase our
manufacturing, and create a true destination for beekeepers and pollinator lovers.
We are going from 1,500 square feet of retail and 4000 square feet of warehouse to 5,000
square feet of retail and 18,000-27,000 square feet of warehouse space, including a dedicated
classroom, outdoor pavilion, industrial honey extraction room, plus over an acre of outdoor
pollination space for teaching about pollinators of all types.
The new location is set to open later this fall and is situated less than a mile from I-20, directly
across the street from Ruffner Mountain Park and its hiking trailhead, and in the shadow of a
brand-new baseball and softball complex. We will undoubtedly have a mix of beekeepers and
non-beekeepers coming through our space regularly.

2. What part of the new store are you most excited about?
   Honestly, I’m most excited about creating a space that becomes a real destination —
   something Alabama beekeepers can be proud of. We want it to feel like a “toy store” for
   beekeepers, full of fun things that help us all support our bees. A place like no other, right here
   in our state. Nationally known as a model for providing a fantastic experience for beekeepers
   and non-beekeepers alike.
3. The new store has more space — how are you planning to use it? What new things
   should customers look for?
   There’s a lot we’ve been holding back on because we just didn’t have the space. Now, we can
   expand into offering non-Apis mellifera bees, so people can get involved with bees without the
   full commitment of multiple hives. This includes solitary bees like Mason Bees and Leaf Cutter
   Bees. We’re adding horizontal hives, a variety of honeys from across the South, expanding our
   bulk honey refill option, and offering a bigger lineup of classes. Not just from the Foxhound
   team, but also guest speakers — covering everything from catching swarms and making mead
   to queen insemination.

4. Do you ever miss when beekeeping was just your hobby? Now that it’s your full-time
   business, what do you do when you’re not working?
   Free time’s pretty limited with three boys ages 3 to 9 — days, nights, and weekends stay
   packed! When I do get time, it’s usually with my family. Lately, we’ve been loving camping at
   state parks and doing some geocaching with the boys. And funny enough, I’m writing this from
   vacation in Orange Beach right now.
   Honestly, I love what I do with Foxhound Bee Company — it doesn’t really feel like work when
   you love it. I do less hands-on beekeeping these days; unfortunately, I spend more time
   inspecting business analytics than I do inspecting frames. However, that’s what allows
   Foxhound to continue running and to have a team to support our customers. Both online and
   in-store. I still really enjoy talking with beekeepers and going out to help them with their bees.
   Even though I’m in the beekeeping business full-time, I still see beekeeping itself as a hobby,
   and I enjoy it when I find time to work bees.

5. Where do you see Alabama beekeeping heading in the next few years?
   I’m extremely optimistic. We’ve got great leaders in the Alabama Beekeepers Association,
   Extension Services ALFA, our State Inspectors, and our quickly expanding Auburn Bee
   program. Seriously, we have all those programs working together to make a difference and
   every other state would love to have half that leadership. We’re excited to keep building
   Alabama as a leader in beekeeping alongside them. There are a lot of good people making a
   positive impact on beekeeping here, and we’re grateful to be part of that conversation.
6. What’s your all-time favorite honey?
   Without a doubt, the best honey is eaten straight from your own hive and directly from the
   frame. Still warm from the day and quickly dripping off your hive tool. You absolutely cannot beat
   tasting honey like that. And being a beekeeper, you know what it takes to get to that point.
   After that, my favorite is Black Mangrove honey, which I’ve had over and over. It comes from the
   mangrove trees of South Florida and is truly unique. I’ve had it from multiple sources over
   multiple years, and it remains my favorite. Slightly salty, subtly floral, and smooth all the way
   through. I’ve always felt like it tasted like a pirate put it in an old rum barrel before it washed
   ashore, and somebody bottled it. It’s the best.
7. What’s the one thing you want Alabama beekeepers to know about Foxhound Bee
   Company?
   Foxhound Bee Company and our team are grateful for where we are. Even you reading this
   right now is something I never could have imagined. We’re honored to serve and support the
   beekeeping community in any way we can. We’ve grown a lot over the years, but it wasn’t long
   ago we were parked outside the Alabama State Beekeepers Association meeting, selling gear
   out of the back of a truck. We may be building a national destination for beekeepers, but it’s still
   just me selling out of my garage. IYKYN

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VIP Department of Agriculture Updates for June 2025

Phillip Carter has requested both of these important updates be shared with our membership:

I. EPA Proposes to Register New Pesticide for Varroa Mite Control

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed to register one technical and two end use products containing the new active ingredient Vadescana, a double stranded RNA (dsRNA), for control against Varroa mites (Varroa destructor) in honey bee hives.

Varroa mites are parasites that feed on honey bees and transmit numerous honey bee viruses, both of which lead to reduced lifespan of bees. Once infested by Varroa mites, if left untreated, a honey bee colony will likely die. Varroa mites are a national threat to bee colonies and in turn to farmers with crops dependent on pollination services provided by bees, and ultimately to food security in the United States. EPA is prioritizing pesticide applications that target Varroa mites to provide beekeepers with a variety of tools to combat this pest.

No risks of concern to human health or the environment were identified, including risks to federally listed species under the Endangered Species Act. When used according to the label, risks to bees are not expected because Vadescana is highly specific to the targeted gene within Varroa mites.

Additionally, in March 2025, EPA registered a new varroacide product containing l-glutamic acid, an active ingredient that has not previously been included in registered products for use in bee hives. The agency also intends to register another product containing oxalic acid, a slow release varroacide within bee hives, by July 2025. Together, these four end use products are expected to provide new tools, including novel active ingredients, for control of Varroa mites in bee hives.

EPA will continue to work with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, states and honey bee industry stakeholders in coordinated efforts to provide support for the beekeeping community. The agency is also working in collaboration with the National Pesticide Information Center, the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and Canada’s Ministry of Agriculture for Fisheries and Food to develop educational and training content about bee kill investigations. These efforts include the development of videos available in English, Spanish and French Canadian that provide resources for pesticide decision makers and educate the public about Integrated Pest Management options and legal options of pest control for varroa mites, small hive beetles and wax moths. Additionally, EPA funded the development of interactive training modules to help pesticide applicators to conduct bee kill investigations. The videos are available on the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services website.

To read more about the proposed registration of these products and to comment, see docket ID EPA-HQ-OPP-2023-0558 at www.regulations.gov. The public comment period will be open for 15 days, closing on June 12, 2025.

Find additional information about EPA-registered pesticide products for use against Varroa mites in bee hives.

2. USDA – ARS Releases Key Finds on Spring Colony Losses

USDA-ARS has released critical findings from the pathogen analysis of samples collected during this spring’s colony losses—and the results are sounding alarms.

Viruses vectored by Varroa mites were a major factor, and every mite tested carried genes associated with resistance to Amitraz, one of the most commonly used Varroa treatments. This underscores a growing concern within the beekeeping and research communities: the declining efficacy of one of the most widely used Varroa treatments. Thanks to the hard work and urgency of the researchers involved, these results were collected, analyzed, and written up for publication quickly—despite other USDA delays, providing critical information that will help shape how we respond to this ongoing challenge.

Here’s everything you need to stay informed:

•  Honey Bee Health Coalition Press Release: https://lavender-violet-7s4a.squarespace.com/s/06_03_2025-Colony-Loss-Research-Results-Final.pdf
•  Scientific Paper (Preprint): https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.05.28.656706v1
•  PAm Roundup & Resources Page: https://www.projectapism.org/colony-loss-information

Project Apis m. is closely tracking this situation and supporting the industry’s response.

This challenge highlights exactly why we created the Bee Health Collective—to make credible, science-based information more accessible to a wider audience of beekeepers, growers, researchers, and policy makers.

In response to emerging issues like Amitraz resistance, and deadly viruses, the Bee Health Collective has launched the Emerging Threats Fund—a new resource designed to provide rapid, targeted support when urgent honey bee health concerns arise.

 Learn more and explore these tools at https://beehealthcollective.org/resources/etf

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Last Call for Alabama Master Beekeepers Annual Conference

This is the last Alabama Master Beekeepers Program notification before our annual classes and testing on July 24 – 26, 2025 at the Clanton Conference and Performing Arts Center in Clanton, Alabama.  Registration is now open online.  For more information about the Alabama Master Beekeepers Program, please see the Master Beekeeper Program tab on the ABA website.  This year’s program will consist of two days of instruction by Auburn University Bee Lab researchers and staff as well as Alabama Master Beekeepers.  Testing will be held on the final day of the program. 

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This and That

The American Beekeeping Federation (ABF) is offering an award for up to $2,000 to a beekeeper with a practical beekeeping idea that is relevant to other beekeepers. The $2,000 will be split in the case more than one awardee is chosen. We are looking to fund one or more individuals that have developed a practical beekeeping practice OR have a practical beekeeping idea that needs funding to be developed. Examples of practical ideas include, but are not limited to: a novel way of utilizing old bee boxes, an air conditioned bee suit, a more accurate method of sampling for varroa mites, a method of collecting colony information, or a hive design for people with disabilities. Novel ideas will receive a higher rating. More information may be found at ABF Bee Practical Award – American Beekeeping Federation.

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There’s no denying that beekeepers are the most resourceful people in the world. Check out this jigsaw hack video from a kindred spirit in Lebanon that could be useful.

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CELL PUNCH QUEEN REARING: Rear queens using the cell punch method. Kit with complete instructions including photographs using the tool. Kit includes several items to get started plus a tool that is hand fabricated from raw materials. Send $20 plus $4.50 dollars for shipping to: Wil Montgomery, 1401 Lakemont Dr. South, Southside, AL 35907

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