UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — With growing challenges facing honey bee health, Penn State Extension is working to equip beekeepers with science-based resources to help them raise resilient colonies — from beginner publications to advanced online training in breeding techniques.
'Beekeeping Basics' new edition
Among the most notable recent updates is the newly revised "Beekeeping Basics" publication, a 172-page guide designed to provide individuals with a solid foundation in beekeeping.
Designed for beginning, hobbyist or professional beekeepers, the updated edition features a new design and layout, new illustrations, color photos and updated content.
“This book was already popular, but the new edition takes it to another level,” said Robyn Underwood, apiculture extension educator. “One customer told me it’s the best beekeeping book on the market.”
The book covers topics such as bee biology, hive management, equipment needs, honey production, and best practices for sustainable and productive beekeeping. It is available for $25, with discounts for bulk orders.
The revised edition replaces the previous version, which had not been updated since the early 2000s. It has drawn praise from experienced beekeepers and educators. "The Beekeeper’s Corner" podcast reviewed the book, noting its expanded content and practical value, calling it “an outstanding job,” and predicting it could become a preferred textbook for beekeeping courses.
Yet, as Underwood emphasized, learning the basics is only part of the equation.
“The most difficult parts of beekeeping are keeping parasite populations low and getting bees through the winter,” she said. “Our resources provide beekeepers with all of the information they need to maintain healthy colonies that are able to survive the winter.”
Beekeeping 201 course
That challenge has led Extension to expand its online offerings, including the launch of Beekeeping 201: Honey Bee Breeding Program Design, a course aimed at experienced beekeepers looking to improve colony health through genetics.
The course guides participants through the process of designing a breeding program that targets multiple traits — such as varroa mite resistance, gentleness and productivity — while emphasizing the importance of genetic diversity. The training also highlights the value of data collection for effective breeding programs.
“Many discussions about breeding end with, ‘Select your best colonies and breed queens from those,’ but they don’t explain how to do that,” Underwood said. “Our course describes how to use data to make selections and also goes through the multiyear process of having a breeding program. It fills in a gap.”
Online beekeeping education
Beekeeping 201 is the third course in a growing suite of online beekeeping education developed by Penn State Extension. The beginner course is Beekeeping 101, which covers bee biology and behavior, hive management throughout the year, bee diseases and pests, equipment, bee products including honey, and dangers that threaten honey bees around the world.
Beekeeping 102: Organic Honey Bee Colony Management offers instruction on organic-approved methods, integrated pest management, chemical treatment options for parasitic mites and seasonal tasks.
Courses are self-paced and include videos, readings and knowledge-check questions. They are designed to support a range of learners — a priority for Underwood and the extension team.
“After hands-on workshops, people often mention their confidence in trying new techniques, assays or treatments,” Underwood said. “People also love having resources in both written and video form.”
For example, Extension recently created online resources related to testing bees for mite resistance traits. Each test has a document with detailed instructions on the procedure and a video showing the process.
“In this way, various types of learners can obtain the information in a way that makes sense to them,” Underwood said.