Robertson County Beekeepers Association

08/25/2026

Reminder! We meet tonight! See you at 7:00 sharp🐝😜!
We meet at the UT office located
at 408 N Main Street
Bee Buzz : Come a little early to talk about our favorite bug and any issues you may be having!
We have RobCoBeek t-shirts available for sale!

08/07/2026

🚨 New open access review paper! 🐝

I'm delighted to share that our latest review on Tropilaelaps mites has now been published, and I'm proud to be a co-author.

Tropilaelaps mites are one of the greatest emerging threats to honey bees. Although they're often compared with Varroa, there are some fundamental biological differences that make them potentially even more challenging to control.

This figure from the paper highlights some of the key similarities and differences between the two parasites.

The review brings together the latest knowledge on Tropilaelaps biology, spread, impacts, diagnosis and control, and discusses the research priorities needed to prepare countries where these mites have not yet become established.

📖 Best of all, the paper is completely open access, so anyone can read it. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pt.2026.07.002

I'd love to hear your thoughts, and please feel free to share it with anyone interested in bee health.

07/30/2026

If you are thinking about entering your honey in the Tennessee State Fair, please see the following:

We will be moving to the national standard this year for the honey show at the Tennessee State Fair. Each color/category of honey will require 3 one pound jars in a classic or queen line jar. This is the standard for the American Honey Judges Association. You may pre-register online or the day of entry. We have been moving toward that for the last few years and this is the year. This shows that the producer has the ability to consistently produce a quality product. No finger prints, no debris of any kind in the honey, no air bubbles, no sticky jar, no honey on the inside of the lid. Put plastic wrap over the opening and then put on the lid for transport and then take it off once you are entering it or just bring extra lids..

07/29/2026

Honey tested at TN Tech

Discover the floral origins of your honey through DNA analysis Honey contains tiny traces of pollen and plant DNA from the flowers visited by bees. Using DNA metabarcoding, we identify the plants represented in your honey sample and provide a clear, beekeeper-friendly report showing the floral

07/17/2026

https://tnbeekeepers.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/2026-TBA-Honey-Show-Judging-Criteria.pdf

07/17/2026

Honeybee TN Conference 2027 – Putnam County Convention Center, Sat Mar 13, 2027 - Sun Mar 14, 2027

07/17/2026

https://easternapiculture.org/conference/honey-show-tips-and-trips/

07/14/2026

Mark Your Calendars!

07/11/2026

Idea: keep a jar or bottle from each batch of honey you pull! Label the date of extraction. Later, taste the subtle differences early spring and late spring/ summer and then fall flavors.

04/11/2026

Robertson County Beekeepers Association members were invited to Robertson County Schools’ Book Walk at Travis Price Park Saturday, April 11th, 2026! The featured book was EMMA BEE. Our members talked to local students and family members about honeybees, beekeeping and honey! Mike and Gina Ernst brought their beautiful Bee Display and an observation hive, Mike Baker brought local florals that provide nectar and pollen for bees and handed out packets of seeds for pollinators. Mike and Kathy Helms had bee suits available for the children to try on and take photos and provided honey samples to taste.