The beehive is the cornerstone of all modern beekeeping. It provides a safe place for honey bees to store food reserves and raise the constant supply of young needed to keep colonies healthy and strong. Understanding the various components of the hive and how they function is an important first step to successful beekeeping. In 1852, Lorenzo Lorraine Langstroth patented a …
This year marks 202 years since the birth of Charles Dadant, founding father of modern beekeeping and founder of Dadant & Sons Beekeeping Supplies. The second of seven children born to a doctor in the countryside of the Burgundy region of France, Charles developed a passion for beekeeping at the early age of 12 while helping a neighbor remove honey from …
Even seasoned beekeepers make a few spring mistakes, and for me, this year is no exception. Let me set the scene: It was a cloudy, misting, 58-degree early spring morning. The warmer temps meant I’d finally swapped out the deer sled for the utility vehicle to make my rounds in the bee yards. The engine started on the first try and …
With each winter comes the want of spring, and this year has been no different. This year’s winter notes come from Gabe Dadant, who is continuing the Dadant Family tradition of raising bees and passing down what he’s learned to the next generation. Hard Winter Lessons for Young Beekeepers My wife and I have two boys. She is an elementary school teacher and they …
While others in the beekeeping industry are being bought out by large investment groups, Dadant remains family owned and operated. We are focused on providing the same high-quality products that have kept us going strong for over 150 years. With 11 storefront locations and three manufacturing plants across the country, Dadant beekeeping tools, supplies and equipment are known for providing the …
Despite the winter storms, we’re looking ahead to the coming honey flow and what we can do differently with this year’s harvest. Specifically, we’re thinking of how to infuse honey with natural flavors to bring something new to our customers. There’s no doubt that raw honey is delicious. Infusing honey that you’ve pulled from your hives, or even honey you’ve purchased …
Did you know that colonies raise winter bees primarily during the months of August and September? It's vital that these winter bees are kept healthy for the colonies to survive the winter. Learn about the four key aspects to winter prep.
In our previous article, we discussed the basic anatomy of workers, drones, and queens along with the roles they play in a honeybee colony. This article will discuss the basics of queen rearing, including common techniques and equipment used by beekeepers. In its natural state, a honey bee colony may experience several scenarios that trigger the production of a new queen. …