Univ. of Montana Beekeeper Education with Dr. Scott Debnam (327)

03/31/25 • 50 min

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Online beekeeping education has come a long way—and the University of Montana is leading the way. In this episode, Jeff and Becky talk with Dr. Scott Debnam, head beekeeper and lead instructor for UM’s Online Master Beekeeping Program, about how the program has evolved over the past 12 years and why it continues to grow.

Scott shares how the program balances science-based instruction with practical application. Rather than prescribing a one-size-fits-all approach, students learn honey bee biology and colony ecology so they can make informed decisions that fit their goals, values, and local conditions.

The program’s three levels—apprentice, journeyman, and master—are structured to build experience over time, with engaging lectures, moderated forums, and even student-led research. Students come from across the U.S. and over 25 countries, and their questions, experience, and feedback shape the program’s dynamic learning environment.

Scott’s enthusiasm for teaching and his love for bees are front and center in this conversation, which highlights the value of structured learning, community interaction, and lifelong curiosity in becoming a better beekeeper.

Websites from the episode and others we recommend:

University of Montana Beekeeper Education: https://www.umt.edu/bee/
Beekeeper's Academy: https://www.thebeekeepersacademy.com/
Honey Bee Health Coalition: https://honeybeehealthcoalition.org
The National Honey Board: https://honey.com
Honey Bee Obscura Podcast: https://honeybeeobscura.com

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Betterbee is the presenting sponsor of Beekeeping Today Podcast. Betterbee’s mission is to support every beekeeper with excellent customer service, continued education and quality equipment. From their colorful and informative catalog to their support of beekeeper educational activities, including this podcast series, Betterbee truly is Beekeepers Serving Beekeepers. See for yourself at www.betterbee.com

This episode is brought to you by Global Patties! Global offers a variety of standard and custom patties. Visit them today at http://globalpatties.com and let them know you appreciate them sponsoring this episode!

Thanks to Bee Smart Designs as a sponsor of this podcast! Bee Smart Designs is the creator of innovative, modular and interchangeable hive systems made in the USA using recycled and American sourced materials. Bee Smart Designs - Simply better beekeeping for the modern beekeeper.

Thanks to Dalan who is dedicated to providing transformative animal health solutions to support a more sustainable future. Dalan's vaccination against American Foulbrood (AFB) is a game changer. Vaccinated queens protect newly hatched honeybee larvae against AFB using the new Dalan vaccine. Created for queen producers and other beekeepers wanting to produce AFB free queens.

Retailers offering vaccinated queens and packages: https://dalan.com/order-vaccinated-queens/ More information on the vaccine: https://dalan.com/media-publications/

Thanks to Strong Microbials for their support of Beekeeping Today Podcast. Find out more about their line of probiotics in our Season 3, Episode 12 episode and from their website: https://www.strongmicrobials.com<...

Websites from the episode and others we recommend:

University of Montana Beekeeper Education: https://www.umt.edu/bee/
Beekeeper's Academy: https://www.thebeekeepersacademy.com/
Honey Bee Health Coalition: https://honeybeehealthcoalition.org
The National Honey Board: https://honey.com
Honey Bee Obscura Podcast: https://honeybeeobscura.com

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Retailers offering vaccinated queens and packages: https://dalan.com/order-vaccinated-queens/ More information on the vaccine: https://dalan.com/media-publications/

Previous Episode

[Bonus] Simon Mildren - Micro Honey Harvester

Welcome to today’s Beekeeping Today Podcast Short. We’re excited to have Simon Mildren, founder and CEO of HiveKeepers, an Australian agtech company revolutionizing the beekeeping industry. Simon, a firefighter turned beekeeper, has been instrumental in developing innovative solutions for both hobbyist and commercial beekeepers. In this bonus episode, we’ll be discussing HiveKeepers’ latest innovation—the Micro Honey Harvester.

This compact device simplifies the honey extraction process, allowing beekeepers with 1-5 hives to harvest pure honey in less than five minutes. The Micro Honey Harvester eliminates the need for uncapping, bulky extractors, and extensive filtering, making the process efficient and mess-free.

HiveKeepers has launched a Kickstarter campaign to bring this product to market, aiming to raise $1 million to support production and distribution. The campaign has garnered positive feedback from the beekeeping community, with many expressing excitement about the potential impact of this innovation.

Join us as we dive into the development of the Micro Honey Harvester and how Simon aims to transform honey harvesting for beekeepers worldwide.

Links and resources mentioned in today's BTP Short:

HiveKeepers website with Kick Starter Details: https://www.hivekeepers.com

Brought to you by Betterbee – your partners in better beekeeping.

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Next Episode

[Bonus] Short - Dr. Dewey Caron, "Honey Bee Communication Dynamics"

In this Beekeeping Today Podcast Short, we welcome back Dr. Dewey Caron for a quick yet insightful Audio Postcard on honey bee communication – Bee Scientist to Beekeeper, Beekeeper to Bee, and Bee to Bee. Dr. Caron shares timely advice for beekeepers, from colony assessments to spring preparations. Whether you’re a beginner or experienced beekeeper, this short episode is packed with valuable tips to keep your colonies thriving. Tune in for expert insights from one of beekeeping’s most respected educators!

Links & Resources:

Beekeeping Today Episode with Dr. Priya Basu: https://beekeepingtodaupodcast.com/309
Pollen Database and Missouri State: https://www.msstate.edu/newsroom/article/2021/10/msu-scientist-building-pollen-database-improve-bee-nutrition-asks-citizens
Couvillon, M.J. et al. 2015. Honey bee foraging distance depends on month and forage type. Apidologie 46:61-70.
BD Ohlinger, R Schürch, MR Silliman, TN Steele, & MJ Couvillon (2022). Dance-communicated distances support nectar foraging as a supply-driven system. Biol Letters 18 (8), 20220155

Brought to you by Betterbee – your partners in better beekeeping.

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