PolliNation Podcast (Oregon State University Extension)

Listen in to learn about Lincoln Best's manifesto for native bees and plant communities, and his best practices for volunteers in the Oregon Bee Atlas.

“A lot of our environmental issues are landscape issues. So in order to have a healthy landscape, we need to know how to manage places and also restore them.” - Lincoln Best.

Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://bit.ly/PN-Lincoln-Best

Learn how Iwasaki Bros. has reduced their environmental impact through Integrated Pest Management (IPM), bee monitoring, and the flagship farm program.

"The Iwasaki's have always been interested in sustainability, so [becoming a flagship farm] was something that came very natural to them." - Kathleen Baughman.

Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://blogs.oregonstate.edu/pollinationpodcast/2019/01/28/kathleen-baughman/

There has been a long tradition of people working together to help bees across state and provincial boundaries in the Pacific Northwest region. In this episode we discover where this cooperative approach came from.

Listen in to learn George's experience as a land manager, good practice in cultivating pollinator habitats, and his work in the advocacy of pollinators.

“We’re creating in many areas what are virtually pollinator deserts.“ - George Hansen.

Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://bit.ly/PN-George-Hansen

Listen in to learn more about how to plant a garden for pollinators using non-native plants, and the complexities of pollinator research in the field.

“The bigger picture I focus on is to emphasize that [we all] have a role to play in the saving of bees, and that it's not really an issue about Monsanto or chemical companies or some far off entity.” - Sam Droege.

Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://bit.ly/PN-Sam-Droege

Listen in to learn more about the Monarch butterfly, what Monarch waystations are and why they exist, and their unique system of migration.

“The adult butterfly weighs half as much as a paperclip, yet they fly 40 miles a day and up to 700 miles [to their destination].“ - Tom Landis.

Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at bit.ly/PN-Tom-Landis

Prairie ecosystems are essential to many pollinator species across North America. Generating prairie after its been lost can be challenging. This week we travel to Iowa to hear from the STRIPS (Science-based Trails of Rowcrops Integrated with Prairie Strips) team. They have been perfecting how to get growers to install prairie strips on the edges of their farms. 

Shrubs and trees are key to any landscape designed for pollinators. This episode we tap OSU’s shrub and tree expert to list the top picks for spring, summer and winter and to learn how to care for them.

US beekeepers have been struggling to manage varroa mites for over 30 years. Our guest discusses why a solution to varroa has been so elusive and what it would take to finally turn the corner with varroa over the next decade.

Identifying bees is notoriously difficult and often is an obstacle to beginners interested in contributing to native bee surveys. In this episode we learn about a new initiative to identify bees with machine learning.

Urban farms are becoming more common on school grounds. In this episode we hear how bees can be a critical part of student experience at school urban farms. 

Oregon is going to be getting a new bee plate. We hear about our inspiration from beekeepers in Georgia.

Listen in to learn about Dr. Delphia's bee atlas projects, why Montana is a "black hole" of bee data, and where to find the coolest native bees of Montana.

“It’s really great to be working on bees in Montana and it’s also not so great. It’s great because there are so many things to discover and it’s also not so great because there are so many things to discover.” – Dr. Casey Delphia.

Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://blogs.oregonstate.edu/pollinationpodcast/2019/03/18/dr-casey-delphia/

There is nothing about browsing though a magazine. There are some great beekeeping magazines, but what's missing is a magazine devoted to pollinators more broadly. Enter 2 Million Blossoms, a new magazine launched in January. We talk to the editor about the magazine and how it aims to fill this gap. 

Some of the best plants for long-tongued bees like bumble bees and honey bees are grown for livestock. We dive deep into these livestock plants and discuss how they can be incorporated into a dual use system that feeds both livestock and bees. 

This week we hear about Oregon's Farm to School program and how it helps make the connection between Oregon agriculture and pollinators in the classroom.  We are joined by Rick Sherman (Farm to Child Nutrition Program Manager at the Oregon Department of Education) and Michelle Markesteyn (Farm to School Specialist at Oregon State University Extension), who also host a great podcast (available on YouTube, Spotify and iTunes).  

This week we hear from Dr. Phil Allen who has the audacious idea of reducing water use and increasing benefits to pollinator by replacing lawns with subalpine meadows. 

Listen in to learn about the effect of the winter season on bee populations, how bees have adapted, and what beekeepers can do to protect their colonies.

“They’re in such large numbers, they wouldn’t be able to make it through another year if they couldn't start the spring earlier than the other species. That’s in a way an advantage, but also a curse.” - Mehmet Doke.

Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://bit.ly/PN-Mehmet-Ali-Doke

We’ve all heard that mason bees are amazing backyard pollinators, but did you know you can make ground-making discoveries about these bee’s biology in your own backyard. This week we talk with a Master Gardener who has turned mason bees into a scientific and public outreach pursuit.

In this episode, we learn about the life cycle of Ceratina, and its peculiar strategy of turning the firstborn female into the a nursemaid of the nest.

“We like to think of [Ceratina] as a bee on the brink of sociality.” - Dr. Sarah Lawson.

Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://bit.ly/PN-Dr-Sarah-Lawson

It was hard to keep track of developments in bee health in 2020 because so much else was going on. In this episode we catch-you-up with a guest who wrote a post per day for since January showcasing what was new in bee health. 

The BEEvent, hosted annually by the Linn County Master Gardeners, provides gardeners and small farmers with essential knowledge and practical tools to support and protect bee pollinators. This week, Master Gardeners Ranee Webb and Rich Little join us to share what's in store for this year's event.

Register for BEEvent: https://www.linnmastergardeners.com/beevent

Information on Mason bees and BeeNotes: https://www.linnmastergardeners.com/pollinator-info

Devastating wildfires ravaged Western states this summer. In this episode we find out what is known about the effect of forest fires on bees, how bees respond to the land ravaged by fire and how you can help bees while also protecting your property from future fires.

This week we hear a facinating conversation between an established mutimedia artist (Jasna Guy) and young artist and melittologist (Marek Stanton) on how art, ecology and the natural world overlap.

Your honey bees have expanded many fold this spring. Now is the opportunity to split your colonies in half and get two colonies. In this episode we learn all the tricks associated with reliable and quick spring (and summer) and division of colonies. 

Washington contended with two invasive insects in 2020. The first is well-known, Asian Giant Hornet, but the second less so, the common eastern bumble bee.  We caught up with the Washington Department of Agriculture for an update on both insects. 

Grasslands are often overlooked in terms of pollinator habitat. But they are key to many of the bee and butterfly species in the U.S. In this episode we hear about programs from the World Wildlife Foundation Fund to preserve grassland habitat in Montana.

Listen in as we talk about honey bee nutrition, what beekeepers need to know about nutrition supplements and sterols, and what Ramesh has learned about controlling varroa mites.

“There is not much that we understand about the needs of sterols in honey bees.” - Dr. Ramesh Sagili.

Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://bit.ly/PN-Ramesh-Sagili

Ellen Topitzhofer works for the Bee Informed Partnership, an innovative organization across the U.S. that works with commercial bee keepers to tackle some of their most pressing pest management issues.

In this episode, we discuss the unique pest issues in the Pacific Northwest, and explore the universal problem of varroa mites in bee colonies. We talk about how best to manage those pests, the relationship of the mites to the bees and pollination patterns, and more.

For more, visit us at pollinationpodcast.oregonstate.edu.

We have all heard about Asian Giant Hornet, but what are some of the other invasive pests that threaten pollinators? We hear about species of concern in Oregon as well as measures taken to prevent their introduction. 

In this episode, we hear about the City of Fife’s initiative to increase the amount of blooming clover available to bees on their city properties.

"Clover attracts bees and other pollinators, so it benefits the ecology of the area." - David Cantlin.

Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://blogs.oregonstate.edu/pollinationpodcast/2018/12/10/david-cantlin/

Japanese beetle is a devastating exotic pest. Eradication efforts are underway across the US, including in Oregon. We hear about what is involved with eradication and how it can be done in a way that minimizes impacts to pollinators.

Growers and applicators learn about pollinator health from a wide range of sources. In this episode we hear about an initiative by a coalition led by industry groups to reduce pesticide exposure to pollinators.

It’s been over 10 years since Colony Collapse Disorder beset the beekeeping industry. We catch up with an author who looks back at the advances made over this period with a sense of Beeoptimism. 

Honey bee queens are durable insects, but new research shows that the sperm they store can become quickly degraded by temperature extremes.

Adult honey bees have a variety of organisms that live in their guts. Some are benign but some, like Nosema ceranae, can be pathogentic. In this episode we hear of  Courtney MacInnis' relentless pursuit of understanding the status of an organism you have never heard of - Lotmaria passim - both on its own, and in combination with Nosema ceranae. Her findings are most unexpected. 

Honey bees and native social bees are important crop pollinators and key parts of healthy native plant ecology. However, it’s very difficult to examine how these groups of bees interact in the floral landscape. In this episode, we discuss competition between bumble bees and honey bees in an landscape where they are both native, the UK, to uncover what influences they have on each other and the floral resources they share.

Alfalfa leafcutting bees don't get the attention of honey bees, but they are also a remarkable example of how people have learned to manage a bee species. It's often hard to get details about this industry, but this week we bring you one of the industry's gurus - Weldon Hobbs - whose dad helped found the industry in Western Canada. 

Dr. Dave Smitley is a professor and researcher at Michigan State University. He works with the turf grass and nursery industries to deal with emerging pest problems, and the greenhouse industry to grow plants in ways that are safe around pollinators. In this episode we talk about practical tips as well as national initiatives to protect pollinators in urban landscapes.

For more, visit us at pollinationpodcast.oregonstate.edu.

What does it take to create a certified pollinator pathway? This week on PolliNation, Colleen Rockwell, the Environmental Committee Chair for Milwaukie's Rotary Club, shares how Milwaukie became only the second certified pollinator pathway in Oregon. 

Learn more about the Pollinator Pathway in Milwaukie here: https://www.pollinator-pathway.org/towns/milwaukie

Also, if you are interested in the fundraiser in Portland for the Oregon Bee Atlas, register here: https://extension.oregonstate.edu/master-melittologist/events/bees-bottles-biodiversity-fundraiser-oregon-bee-atlas 

Listen in to learn about Mark’s work on bees and their communication, how his publications have impacted beekeepers everywhere, and his upcoming release.

“If I was going to hang out with beekeepers, I needed to learn how to communicate with them effectively, and I learned very quickly that beekeepers are way smarter than most scientists give them credit for.“ - Mark L. Winston.

Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://bit.ly/PN-Mark-L-Winston

 Early reports are that there may be a large loss of commercial honey bee colonies across the U.S. this winter. In this episode we are joined by co-host Harry Vanderpool to talk with Russell Heitkam. Russell is a second generation beekeeper and Northern California queen, queen cell, package, and nuc producer. He also brokers about 7,000 hives from Oregon and Washington for almond pollination.

The highest period of honey bee colony mortality is during the winter. But there are a number of tricks to ensure high colony survival. In this episode we visit a Canadian bee yard to learn about what they do.

Not all bee communities across a region might use the same flowers. But how might gardeners be better informed about what local bees like? Also, do regional bee communities confront different disease pressures. Hear how Hannah Levenson is addressing these issues in a project taking place at North Carolina State University.

Aimee Code is the Pesticide Program Director at the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation. During her career she has worked in urban and agricultural setting to mitigate the risks of pesticide use and promote integrated pest management programs. She also works with communities ​around the country to implement policies and practices to restore dwindling pollinator populations.​

Today we discuss how to mitigate the use of chemicals and pesticides on farms and around pollinator habitats, as well as what to do when you have to use chemicals. We talk about the best places to build and locate pollinator habitat, and more.

For more, visit us at pollinationpodcast.oregonstate.edu.

There are over a thousand species of bees in the Pacific Northwest. However, The resources available for someone to tell the bees apart is lacking for this region. In this episode we hear from the team that is working to solve this problem. Carol Yamada, Lincoln Best, August Jackson, Jim Rivers, Joshua Dunlap & Joe Engler discuss their publication of four new taxonomic keys for the bees of the PNW. 

Ever heard the term "native beekeeper" before? Me neither, until I talked with Gregory Lynch from the Miel Montréal Co-op. In this episode he explains how the Co-op has developed a wide range of educational services that goes beyond (honey bee) beekeeping, to promoting native bees and urban biodiversity more generally. 

A new study uses machine learning to classify whether a pesticide is toxic to bees or not. 

Today’s episode is all about getting the public involved in surveying and identifying different species of bees. Dr Elaine Evans is our guest. She’s the new Extensions Educator working on bee conservation at University of Minnesota. She has been working on education and advocacy for native pollinators for a long time, and is the lead on a fascinating project called the Minnesota Bumblebee Survey. Listen in to this episode to understand how you can get involved in some important citizen science initiatives.

For more, visit us at pollinationpodcast.oregonstate.edu.

We will be talking about mosquito abatement techniques, their effect on pollinator health, and the research Kristen’s team has done to keep them safe.

“They really wanted to know if what they were doing with mosquito control was killing bees, so they asked if we could help address that topic.” - Kristen Healy.

Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://bit.ly/PN-Kristen-Healy

Listen in to learn what native plants are best for your garden, both for increasing the health of local pollinators and adding beauty to your garden.

"There have been very few studies that have been done on the relative attractiveness of different plants to pollinators, especially in a garden-type setting." - Aaron Anderson.

Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://blogs.oregonstate.edu/pollinationpodcast/2019/04/15/aaron-anderson #fpshows

Commercial bee pollination is an integral part of food production in the US. In this episode we catch up with Adam Allington, a reporter with Bloomberg Environment, about a new podcast "The Business of Bees" that explores how the food system has evolved to become  dependent on bees, and the future consequences of this dependency.  

When people think about beekeeping, their minds turn to honey bees. But humans have influenced the course of natural history for other bees as well. This week we hear about a wonderful new book that considers the ways humanity has shaped the fate of bumble bees. 

The last record of the Leafcutter Bee (Trachusa gummifera) in Marin County was in 1977. That is, until the One Tam Community Science Program had a documented sighting of it nearly 47 years later.

This week we hear from Sara Leon Guerrero, a manager of the One Tam Community Science Program through the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy. Sara tells us how One Tam is leading the way in bridging ecological data gaps, implementing long-term monitoring efforts, and fostering curiosity and community participation. 

Learn more about the Tamalpais Bee Lab here: 

https://www.onetam.org/tamalpais-bee-lab

American foulbrood (AFB) is one of the most damaging diseases of honey bees. Up until now, beekeepers have lacked an early warning system to know whether the disease is rising in their colonies. In this episode we hear from Dr. Sarah Wood about an innovative system for surveying for AFB in honey,

Livestock grazing can be very expansive. Take for instance the 'fescue belt' in the southeastern US, which spans 1,000 miles across. This week we hear from a researcher who is looking to incorporate pollinator plants into pastures, potentially providing benefits to pollinators and increasing the grazing efficiency of cattle at the same time. 

Public outreach may seem simple, but impactful and effective outreach is an art. Bonnie Shoffner from Portland Metro is a real pro at pulling off pollinator outreach events and this week she shares here secrets for success. 

Listen in to this episode to learn more about Mullerian mimicry, it's role in the evolution of bumblebees, and why it is the subject of Briana's research.

“Depending on where you are, you might have the same species with completely different color patterns, and this is fairly common in Oregon.“ - Briana Ezray.

Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://bit.ly/PN-Briana-Ezray

Listen in to learn Harry's effective communication methods, how he builds bridges with others in agriculture, and what he's done for pollinators in the PNW.

"We're really all working hard and trying to make a living at the same time, and working together is the answer to that." - Harry Vanderpool.

Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://blogs.oregonstate.edu/pollinationpodcast/2019/01/21/harry-vanderpool/

Listen in to learn about how the ways that we maintain our lawns can help or hinder the abundance and diversity of bees, and affect pollinator health.

“There are so many variables when you're considering lawns, like how big the lawn is, or where it is, and this study did an amazing job of trying to factor in all of the characteristics.” - Addison DeBoer.

Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://bit.ly/PN-Research-Retinue-Lawns

Listen to today's episode to find out what we can learn from bee dances, and how home gardeners can make a difference creating their own pollinator habitat.

“The hypothesis would be that the hotspots the honeybees have indicated are good or bad will map very nicely with areas that either support abundant and diverse native bee communities and bumblebee colonies, or places and times that are hard for them.” - Dr. Margaret Couvillon.

Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://bit.ly/PN-Drs-Couvillon-and-Schurch

Listen in to learn how your local and country agencies have fought for pollinator health, and what changes are taking place with farmers and regulators.

“To have this already written plan that has already been agreed upon as a good idea would be really useful for people who want to do the right thing, but aren’t quite sure what that is.“ - Rose Kachadoorian.

Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://bit.ly/PN-Rose-Kachadoorian

Pollinating crops can be difficult on honey bees. Since 2014, the California Almond Board has been working with beekeepers, pest control advisors and groups like Project ApisM to come up with standards (Best Management Practices, BMPs) to increase the health of bees in California Almonds. This week we talk with former Director, Agricultural Affairs, Almond Board of California (ABC), Bob Curtis, about how the BMPs were developed and how effective they have been to help bees during pollination. 

Idaho and Oregon's Treasure Valley have a deep connection to bee management for alfalfa seed, but in this episode we hear about how that tradition is being transferred to pollinator management in vineyards. 

Listen in to learn more about the Oregon Flora Project, and the amazing benefits their research and data collection has on pollinators.

“The Oregon Flora Project is striving to make information useful and relevant…to a broad sector of the population.“ - Linda Hardison

Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at bit.ly/PolliNation-22

This week on PolliNation Itai Kanot and Shelbi Perkins from BeeHero discuss how their in-hive and in-field sensors are improving pollination efficiency by providing real-time data on bee colony strength, benefiting both growers and beekeepers.

BeeHero: https://www.beehero.io/

Listen in to learn more about how honeybees affect global regions, which pollinators are the most effective, and how studies could improve their research.

“In the fight for bee conservation, we shouldn’t be focusing on honeybees because that’s an agricultural and economic issue, not a conservation issue.” - Isabella Messer.

Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://bit.ly/PN-OSU-Bee-Squad

 We hear from Lincoln Best and August Jackson from Oregon State University this week about an initiative to inventory the bees of National Wildlife Refuges in Region 1 by Master Melittologist volunteers.

Link to year 1 report: https://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/concern/technical_reports/xd07h2826 

In this episode we hear from Susie Peterson who is the co-manager of the very popular Backyard Habitat Certification Program in Oregon. The program is managed in partnership with Portland Audubon and can help you better design your backyard for biodiversity. 

While there has been a lot of attention to the plight of wild bees, we are increasingly discovering that there is a lot more that we don’t know. A state checklist of bees is a great starting point for taking stock of what we do know. This week I am joined by Chanda Bartholomew, who is an Entomology Collection Taxonomist with the Pest Program in the Plant Protection Division of Washington State Department of Agriculture. She is the lead author of “An annotated checklist of the bees of Washington state” that was published in the Journal of Hymenoptera Research in November of 2024. 

Link to the article: https://jhr.pensoft.net/article/129013/

Listen in to today's episode to learn how hybrid systems work and the steps vegetable seed growers are taking to keep bees healthy during pollination.

"It's a labor intensive crop, especially if you're doing it transplanted." - Robyn Shephard.

Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://blogs.oregonstate.edu/pollinationpodcast/2018/12/24/robyn-shephard/

This week we hear about an ambitious new initiative in California to increase the adoption of pollinator-friendly practices on working lands.

There is a lot of ground under solar panels that could be planted to pollinator habitat. In this episode guest host Maggie Graham talks with John Jacob, a Southern Oregon beekeeper who has been working with a solar panel company to get pollinator habitat into new panel installations in Oregon. 

It’s the 100th anniversary of the Oregon State Beekeepers Association and to celebrate beekeepers are holding a hybrid conference (in person and online). This week we hear about some of the highlights of the conference and what to look forward to.

There are some amazing things happening for pollinators in Washington State these days. This week we hear about the brand new Pollinator Health Research and Extension Program.

In this episode we learn about an initiative in Texas that engages thousands of families in education around pollinators, headed by the National Pesticide Safety Education Center (NPSEC) and Prairie View A&M University. 

Today on the show we explore bees and their social impact. In 2012, Sarah Common co-founded Hives for Humanity Society, alongside her mother, Julia, in response to a gap she saw in opportunities for connection to nature, to community and to meaningful work for marginalized citizens. She has coordinated partnerships between a variety of organizations and businesses, developing programming that builds self-worth and community pride. We talk about how it got founded, how it works, and tips for other groups looking to do something similar in their communities.

For more, visit us at pollinationpodcast.oregonstate.edu.

Listen in to learn how Sarah and the Flagship Farms program work with farmers to create sustainable ecosystems for pollinators, and how you can participate.

"We're a specialty crop state and many of those depend on pollination, and if they depend on pollination, that means they provide a resource for the bees themselves." - Sarah Kincaid.

Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://bit.ly/PolliNation-82

Listen in to learn how Heritage Seedlings aids in restoration sites and pollinator health as a Flagship Farm, and the best native plants for your garden.

"We have around 560 native prairie plant species, and the majority of them also have pollinator species that utilize both for flowering resources and for cover." - Lynda Boyer.

Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://blogs.oregonstate.edu/pollinationpodcast/2019/02/04/lynda-boyer/

Much of what we know about the life history of mason bees is based on very few observations. This week we hear from a new study that shows how many of our assumptions about these bees have underestimated these amazing bees.

Bees are key pollinators of sweet cherry. This week we hear about research from Belgium on using other managed bee species to pollinate this crop (other than honey bees), the influence of encouraging pollinator habitat, as well as tips on keeping managed mason bees healthy and happy during cherry pollination.

While roughly 70% of bee species are ground nesting, we know very little about the nesting biology of anything more than a handful of species. In this episode we hear from Dr. Jordan Kueneman and his project GNBees to generate more data from the public.

Dr. Jordan Kueneman is a research scientist and director of Project GNBee, a community science project dedicated to research and conservation of ground-nesting bees.

Web page: https://www.gnbee.org/ https://www.danforthlab.entomology.cornell.edu/people/jordan-kueneman/

iNaturalist Project: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/ground-nesting-bees-3e6882c0-a112-4ddb-b043-1da25638ce96

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/projectgnbee/?img_index=1

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmWEIK6AhrOe307h92Jrk-g

Facebook: Ground-Nesting Bee Crew

Book recommendation: The Solitary Bees: Biology, Evolution, Conservation

Go-to-tool: Michener CD. The bees of the world. JHU press; 2000.

Favorite pollinator species: Andrena regularis

Listen in to learn how different bees divide up the responsibilities of finding and gathering food, and why they developed this method of foraging.

"I can only imagine if in my neighborhood, every couple of days the grocery store closed and popped up somewhere else. How would you deal with that?" - Dr. Chelsea Cook.

Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://blogs.oregonstate.edu/pollinationpodcast/2018/12/02/dr-chelsea-cook/

This week we hear about one of the best kept secrets, a newsletter from USDA that gives a regular update on what is going on in the pollinator world. 

Listen in to learn how viruses affect pollinators, how virologists study them, and which ways beekeepers can best protect their colonies from infection.

“When you think about a bee colony, it's a great place for viral infections. They're really crowded, if you think of honeybees, there's over 40,000 individuals crawling all over each other.” - Michelle Flenniken.

Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://bit.ly/PN-Michelle-Flenniken

Pan traps are one of the key methods for surveying for native bees. They are cheap and easy to use, and they aren’t subject to the collector bias of studies that rely on netting. This week we hear about the limitations associated with using pan traps. 

This week we continue our September on Bee Friendly Gardening with a southern Oregon Master Gardener who has a passion for native plants. 

Listen in to learn the intersection between changing tropical climates, pollinator habitats, and the coffee crop, and the impact of mines on pollinators.

"For a lot of species, we don't know if they'll be able to successfully move fast enough northward, so the other potential could be that we would just see loss of species in a particular location or maybe declining pollinator population numbers." - Dr. Valerie Peters.

Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://blogs.oregonstate.edu/pollinationpodcast/2019/01/07/dr-valerie-peters/

Listen in as we talk about residential beekeeping, and the ways you can work with your local government to keep your local hives nuisance-free.

“Residential beekeeping didn't really exist 30 or 40 years ago, so the cities have had to address it as problems have come up, so each [city] will vary each time it comes up with a problem.” - Mike Rodia.

Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://bit.ly/PN-Mike-Rodia

Listen in to learn about how John got started with nucleus colonies, how he has influenced other beekeepers, and what he saw change in his bees over time.

“We examined a number of different beekeeping operations, and it came out that nuc production was the best way to make money. “ - John Gates.

Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://bit.ly/PN-John-Gates

Squash bees were discovered in Oregon last year. This week we talk to Dr. Jim Cane about this bee, as well as a bee that is widespread in Oregon gardens, the sunflower bee.  

Lowbush blueberry growers in Atlantic Canada have been increasing bee habitat around their fields by encouraging existing plant communities. In this episode we learn how they do this and the incredible bees that pollinate this crop.  

Honey bees are not native to North America, but they have been here for hundreds of years. In this episode we dive into the deep history of honey bee importations to North America and learn how molecular technologies can provide insight into the subspecies character of contemporary North American honey bee populations.

Jen Holt is the brand new Coordinator for the Oregon Master Beekeeper Program at OSU. In this episode, we’ll learn about how Jen got interested in bees, what she sees for the future of the program, and the ins and outs of how the program functions today. We discuss beekeeping education from the start to the master - how to take a regular person and turn them into a beekeeper. Jen is co-appointed to the OSU Pollinator Health Program, so we talk about creating synergy between the two programs.

For more, visit us at pollinationpodcast.oregonstate.edu.

Southern Oregon has some of the most amazing pollinator species, in large part because of the unique native plant communities. In this episode we learn about the best spring blooming plants for pollinators and how to grow them.

There have been extreme temperatures during the pollination of early season crops. In this episode we explore how these temperatures not only influence the activity of pollinating insects, but also the pollen they are shuttling around. 

PolliNation has reached 200 episodes. It has also been 5 years since the OSU Pollinator Health Lab came into existence. To mark the occasion we go behind the scenes to see how the Lab came together and its plans for the future.