The Beekeeper

how varroa mite is affecting australian beekeepers & why we thank you for your support

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🎧 Daryl Talks Bees, Varroa & Hive Health on AgriFutures’ Unearthed Podcast

Our bees are under pressure thanks to Varroa mite, but we in the beekeeping community are adapting, learning, and doing everything we can to help protect them so we can all continue to benefit from their pollination and amazing honey and beeswax.

Daryl recently joined host Michael Thomson on Unearthed: The People Changing Australian Agriculture, the newly refreshed podcast from AgriFutures Australia. In this 27-minute episode, To Bee or Not to Bee, he shares what it’s been like on the frontline since varroa mite arrived in Australia—and what it means for beekeepers, growers, and food security.

🎧 Listen to the episode here:

• Spotify
• Apple Podcasts
• YouTube

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What You’ll Hear in the Episode

Daryl opens up about the early days of the varroa incursion – how it was first detected at the Port of Newcastle, the hope that it could be eradicated within weeks, and the difficult transition to ongoing surveillance and management.

He’s joined by other experts who explain just how critical it is for every beekeeper – whether full-time or hobbyist – to stay on top of their hive health. That means regular alcohol washes every 4–5 weeks and following an integrated pest management approach to keep colonies alive and strong.

As you’ll hear, managing varroa isn’t just a minor adjustment. For most beekeepers, it’s added around 30% more time and costs—but it’s work that has to be done to keep our bees, and our food supply producing.

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how you can help: buy & enjoy australian honey

If you’ve ever enjoyed an apple, almond, avocado, or spoonful of honey—you’ve got bees (and their keepers) to thank. Buying honey direct from local Australian beekeepers like us at The Beekeeper makes a real difference. It helps us cover the rising costs of hive care and biosecurity, while also keeping ethical, traceable honey on your table.

🛒 In the meantime, if you want to get your hands on some 100% Australian honey, direct from the beekeepers who care for the bees and bottle the honey here on the Mid North Coast of NSW, here’s where to find us:

• 🛍 Our Online Shop – order anytime
• 📍 Find Our Honey via Stockists – including Kaleidoscope Stores in Port Central and Coffs Central
• 🐝 Visit us at markets in Port Macquarie and Bellingen

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Colony Loss Survey Reopens September 2025

If you’re a beekeeper—big or small—you can play a role in Australia’s hive health response. The 2025 Colony Loss Survey will reopen in September 2025. It’s a simple way to contribute to the national understanding of varroa’s spread and impact.

📝 Submit your data at www.coloss.au

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Whether you’re a long-time honey lover or just starting to learn about bees, this episode is a great way to understand what’s at stake—and what’s being done to protect one of the most important contributors to our environment and food supply.

🐝 Have a listen, share it around, and thank you for continuing to support local beekeepers like ourselves.

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