At 37:28 Daniel walks back into the light of bee-ing :) Sorry about that :) I think the sun was gradually setting as the conversation continued. Thank you all for your patience :)

What a FANTASTIC interview, Fred. Thank you.

What a professional way to approach this conversation. Most keepers out there can fathom the idea of not treating for good reason. I've been lucky enough not to have to treat for the past ten years. Keeping bees alive sure is hard work and my hat's off to both Dan and Fred for keeping the conversation going for improving varroa resistance genetics. Feel lucky that I don't have to treat my 40ish colonies every year.

Having been a backyard beekeeper over the passed 30 years, I have had the rewarding experience to visit the Bee Weaver facility in Navasota, Tx. The gift shop is exceptional ( almost took a temper tantrum to get my wife and daughter to move on), the basic hive tour was informative for my grand children as well as me, was interesting to find out how many times a queen rearing professional with over 50 yrs. experience has been stung by a queen ( have to take the tour to find out ). The most exciting part was a visit to the “Fly By” for a round of samplers that completely changed my attitude about mead ! Now just have to figure out how to get queens or a package from my daughter place in College Station back to the “Beehive State”. Congrats to Daniel and his wife being able to reap some rewards from all of the past risks and hard work, thank you both.

This is a great interview. No hesitation with answering truthfully. I'm so glad I made the decision to never treat, and have no regrets.

Daniels statement regarding "feeling nervous and excitement and adrenalin when starting out beekeeping changes to an almost meditative state when ones skillset improves working hives" was a great relief to me. In my 2nd year I still get anxious and I thought I was failing. I love the way I am so much more in touch with local fauna and flora.

This year, 2024, after watching your video on the introduction of B Weaver Queens and Saskatraz Queens using Honey B Healthy, I broke down and bought 2 of each queen. It's been two weeks, and the B Weaver queens were accepted and are doing fine. The Saskatraz queens seem to have disappeared, and temperatures in those two hives (saskatraz) have varied dramatically according to my broodminded temp/humidity sensors. I'll check the Saskatraz queens in another week. I also watched another video of yours on these two types of bees. It was winter, and you had cleaned the dead bees out of the hives and counted the mites. The Saskatraz bee mites were intact, while the B Weaver mites had their legs chewed off. Now, I have to say that the video really got my attention. I will watch B Weaver hives this winter to see if I get the same results as you. Thank you for the great videos you put out.

Great topic, great interviewer, and a great Mr. Weaver. Daniel Weaver, and apiarists like him, are dioing a lot of good work for the apiculture world. Good job Fred. Thank you.

Thanks Fred for getting Daniel Weaver on your show. I just happened to meet Daniel and his wife at the Bee Weaver farm. They are the nicest people. Sure there are those who are not convinced of their bees and I understand that developing to the of understanding that they have of their bees is a real commitment. I love the fact they rely heavily on data driven research. It really shows their professionalism. I really think that they have a key to solving the varroa problem. Their approach is definitely different.

Thanks for this excellent discussion Fred and Dan! It's so good to 🐝 back listening to your channel Fred!

I loved hearing about his adaptation in the face of Africanized bees and varroa mites. I wouldn’t mind hearing more historical perspectives of beekeeping over time and from those who have overcome adversity. Great work!

Really enjoyed the interview. I’m a central Texas back yard beekeeper and have purchased several Weaver Queens in the past and plan to requeen a couple hives with them this year. I personally have not found them to be any more aggressive than my other colonies. They’ve also been my best honey producers. I also noticed that after treating with o/a in early December that the mite drop in my Weaver colonies was substantially lighter. Loved what y’all were saying about how therapeutic beekeeping is, so true! The minute I open the cover and smell the hive it’s instant calm. I always enjoy your content and like that you’re starting to do the interviews. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.

Daniel, I can't thank you enough for stepping up and showing others that treatment free beekeeper is not only possible, but more and more of us or following your lead--Including myself.. I also wanted to thank Frederick for always beeing available to help support all us backyard beekeepers. I'm super grateful.

Wow! What a guess. I am so surprised and thankfully for your choice of guest. This the path I have chosen. Very few do and I can understand it. But it’s nice to cross path with one who is the same path. Ok I think I have my apitherapy for this season and now the show must go one. I especially appreciated he using the expression »natural » bee keeping » . Words matter and that connects to something that is lost in the concept of the being of bees when using the expression « evolutionary method of bee keeping 🤮)»! As a consequence this was also soothing to my intellect. And I apologize in advance for those who are irritated by my expressing it...I know not politically correct! He said that of his stock only 1% survived. That encourages me. I had put mine at 0% for the next few years. So I’ll rejoice if I get 1%. (Just a way to fight discouragement! Keep one’s expectation low and rejoice in the small victory!) I also rejoiced when he mentioned certain things that I had put on my protocol to give myself a certain direction and that by just going with my common sense, something I have underaged, I might add. Now I can go back in my rabbit hole and not as worried of the dark confident that at the end there will be something worth while. So thank you, thank you, thank you. I am never desappointed when I watch your video. Now I’ll go back to my truckers protest. Please have a special thought and/ or prayer for this situation. I think we are under Nazi rule right now. Scary!

Second time thru was just as interesting. Thank you, Fred & Daniel. 🙏

Thank you Daniel and Fred. A lot of Great information. Glad to see the man behind the weaver bee. Thanks for talking in a way that was comfortable to follow all information

This is amazing information and interview! Thank you so much for this content! It has been possible on a small scale for me as well. Keep these interviews coming Fred!

Thanks for doing an interview with Bee Weaver. That was fantastic! Really enjoyed it.

Thank you Fred and Mr. Weaver for enlightening us!! Amazing as always.

This is fantastic, Fred. I always look for ways to stay away from chemicals. So much great information here. 👏 Thank you, gentlemen 👌

Very interesting stuff! I'll be looking at adding a BeeWeaver queen in 2023.

I haven’t had a lot of time recently with all the floods and power outs but I managed to watch Mr Ed interview and Daniel Weaver interview this evening and WOW Fred, this is a great series. I will be catching on the rest of this series too.

Thanks Fred. It was great to hear the history of BeeWeaver queens. I ordered one last year that didn’t make it to me. They sent me another. But, USPS was not covering their lost queens. I hope it worked out for BeeWeaver in the end.

I’ve watched in awe of you and Mr. Weaver’s talk on bee development on genetics. Thank you again for the amazingly infinitive information.

Thanks again Fred. I am really enjoying the interviews you have started doing, both with you as the interviewer and interviewee. You make them so interesting as well as very highly informative. You keep this up and you are going to turn me into a decent beekeeper after all. :)

Great interview Fred !

This was an absolutely outstanding, informative and facinating interview with Daniel Weaver. Thank you Frederick Dunn and Daniel Weaver!

I enjoyed the discussion, great information

Thanks Fred

Thank you for this interview. Really puts into perspective the trials of beekeeping when all the new pests came to North America, compared to today when we can manage them.

Great video! Thanks for having him on

Treatment free is the future of successful beekeeping.

LOVED this talk. Such great information on topics I am in the process of researching. And I very much enjoyed your back and forth and the questions you asked, Fred. Big thank you to you both!

Thank you for the interview; truly interesting and such an impressive beekeeping heritage. I hope one of his sons, if not all, continue the family business.

good stuff...thanks for posting Frederick. Dan and Laura are neighbors.

Another skillfully conducted interview Fred. Thank you.

Thanks for putting this together Fred! So many of the “Old time beekeepers” up here in the PNW are always badmouthing Beeweaver because they say all the bees coming out of Texas are Africanized. But I loved what he had to say about how they’ve kept those genetics out of the bees. Really great info.

Thank you! it gives me such high hopes that our project of mixing different breeds of honeybees does contribute to their varroa resistance.

Thank you Fred, that was an incredible interview.

Thanks for that informative interview, Fred. I purchased a package from B Weaver a couple of years ago, and I was amazed by their gentile nature. Last year I started building and putting out swarm traps, and was 100 percent successful. I am fortunately located where B Weaver places a remote apiary, so my swarm catches are presumably out of their colonies. Additionally, I encountered an Africanized colony in south Texas earlier this year, and they put me in the hospital! They are an extreme level of HOT!

Excellent video, I really enjoyed this interview. 😀 ❤💜💙💚

Thank you for this wonderful interview and for the previous one and those to come! Beekeeping knowledge central here!

Thank you Fred.

This was a fabulous interview- very interesting to hear the company history and goals. Thank you Fred!

excellent interview...thank you both! I really enjoyed it from beginning to end.

Thx Fred, you always bring super intelect to beekeeping. Please continue your great works

Absolutely fascinating. Thanks for taking the time to do these!

I have one and she has been one of my best so far. Not a head hunter

I really enjoy this format. Great interview. I learn something helpful every time. Keep them coming.

Awesome discussion Fred 👏 Love your interviews 🤩

While watching intently, I was stifling a laugh at the self control displayed by the professional photographer watching his lighting slip away. Great job bringing in some controversial content. As always thankful 😊

Great 👍 video enjoyed the conversations

Thank you Fred for sharing this information, looking forward to more life changing information from you in the future. No pressure 😂😂😂

Very great discussion! Bee Weaver has some great Genetics!

I am 20 minutes in and its absolutely fascinating! Well done Mr Dunn on this idea of interviewing prominent people in the industry. If I could recommend a guest it might be Dr Terry Houston on Australia's native bees. Specifically regarding tetragonula carbonaria. He appeared on All the Dirt Podcast EP 67 so you can check him out. He's spent around 50 years studying Australian native bees. Might be interesting for you and the listeners. Have a good Sunday Fred!

I bought a BeeWeaver queen last year and I am in NW Oregon, as of yesterday they are going strong. My experience has been with my hive is that they are hot in the spring and fall. I have to fully suit up

hopeful to see the continued sucesses,as im about to likely lose my 1st colony to dwv ,they did seem to bounce back late in fall after rounds of OA vapor ,im presuming cluster is small, and not seeing activity near as much other colonies, 3 yr old queen,i can relate to habitat reduction,and urban sprawl encroachment,the topic of usurpation was interesting,...thanks both of you

Very interesting video Fred ,thanks appreciate your videos.

Great job. Love to see you interview kirk webster.

Since you talked to him Mr Fred you remember when I text you about the Queens especially the one that was hot you told me I needed to contact them and I did and I was told to make sure I had a bee suit and a lot of smoke and I told them how I was working the bees and how much hotter than she was all the rest and that was the fix if I was going to do anything with that hive I was going have to wear a Bee suit and use a lot of smoke and I told them and smoke had no effect they said I just had to learn how to work them I just put her down and put another queen in there. I hope I'm not wrong by putting this on here. I just thought everybody should know but they was really nice

My queen I bought last year has survived eastern wa winter. This year has been mild, but time will tell. I plan to split and replace her anyways to spread those genetics. Using OTS this year to trial.

Great video and very informative

Yep I enjoy the interviews

Hi Fred… please continue. The history, hardships, genetics that have been created by Bee Weaver was an interesting journey told by Daniel. I wonder if he was approached by Paul Stamets with his mycelium extract to improve bee immune system and DWV reduction/illumination???

Recently Bruce had to replace a Weaver hive with Lappes Bees because the Weavers were too hot. I have 3 hives that have come through winter, this was my first winter as a bee keeper. One of my hives is a Buckfast queen that was open mated in a Latshaw Carnolian yard. That hive is more defensive than the other 2 which are Carnolian mixes. Not aggressive, but when you go into the brood they will jump on you. So I wonder if the “heat” many report with Weavers is genetics from that old Buckfast line and/or some old African traits showing up…?

Lot of great insight there. Thanks

WOW that would be had to kill 2500 colony's. LOL let there be light. LOL. Fred I have a question. If you make a split would the off spring have some resistance of mites. I know the new queen would mate with local drones but just wondering if they would have a little resistance. Thanks Fred for this video. I would like to try them again the last one was damage in shipping.

Thanks for such an interesting interview - it was like the X-files before the lights came on.

Fascinating.

great interview.

Very impressive interview. I don't think he gives many.

I think you should do a video on apitherapy. Lol Great video. I have a weaver queen and she is doing really good in Tennessee.

I love there queens and have gotten a few. Ty for telling us about his queens in your past vdo

Good stuff

Golden Ridge Honey Farm in Iowa is also 100% treatment free Russian honeybee breeders Association member. They are definitely a lot calmer on the combs Then some of the southern strains.

Looking forward to find out about buckfast

I find the darker the bees the more aggresive the temperment but the tdnd to be more hygenic and better honey producers

Thank u fred it was very educational interesting. I have wild bees in 5 layens hives near selinsgrove n one in hobesound fla.it is nice to find out about weaver bees if I need a queen

Was very interested in this subject. After watching the entire video I went to the bee weaver site and saw that all of their hives have been chemical free for around 20 years. Do you know if Daniel uses any non chemical mite control methods or if the bees just survive and prosper in spite of any mites that might be present? I know you use and recommend bee weaver queens so what has your experience been with them? I am in NC and am constantly fighting mites. If bee weaver queens could eliminate my mite problems I would definitely be interested in getting some. Thanks

I just couldn't make it work for me. I'm tiered of buying bees every season.

Very interesting. I have always leaned towards treating, but that is just me. If there is a way to successfully keep Bees and not treat, kudos. My 2020 season ended a failure because of Mites, so I stay on top of that now.

thanks for sharing

I think they travel further than 2 miles after You,,and Cloud up, at you long before you get too the hive..,🇱🇨👍🏼♥️

What would Kamon Reynolds say???

Hi Fred I have a question Do you know if they sell packages of bees and if they ship them to other states. I'm asking because I live in Wisconsin and I can't go there to pick up the package of bees from their farm Thanks for your time and your amazing and very informative videos Dimitri

Revis Russians and no treatment for 20 years. Love working these bees.

Wow my head is about to burst.

I keep bees in Ga. which is the varroa mite and SHB capital of the world

Hello

I would love to find out if the bee weaver strain of bees would handle out here in south central Wisconsin.

I am curious what apis mellifera the bee weaver bees are. I was reading something that said they were not going to cross breed even in close proximity. Meaning Italians and carniolions wouldn’t make a hybrid. I wonder if what I was reading is false. The reason I got on this line of thought is because of the possibility of a cross with AHBs (apis milifira silica). Thanks if someone answers. 😊

Frederick, thanks for setting up this interview. I watched all of it with great interest but I have a question. What does all this mean for me as a beekeeper in NC? I went on the bee weaver site as saw that all of his bees have been chemical free for around 20 years. Does he use any treatments or mite control that are not considered chemical or do the bee weaver bees just survive and prosper without any intervention? I know you recommend and use bee weaver queens so what has your experience with them shown? If I could replace my stock with bee weaver queens and not have to worry about mites and their associated viruses I would be crazy not to do it, but it just sounds too good to be true. Thanks, Gary

Was it your BeeWeaver stock that was chewing on the mite's legs?

Fred, do the drones from a bee Weaver queen hive help to spread the strain of the queens trait of bee?

I got my Ankle Biters from Frank and Zelma Boggess! It’s good to see them listed as legit!

Thank you for the instruction.The genetics are the right way to go- similar mentality as the founder/developer of the Beefmaster cattle breed,, Tom Lasater. God has many secrets in Nature we still need to discover

I think if you can locate remote enough and spare the loss of 80% for several seasons it would most likely work.

7 years took me too to have good genetics with no treatment my bees no any issues with nosemosa mites etc the best of the best wintering in northen indiana single deep double deep no any insulation for winter cant see mites see them how they flyaway beatlle out of hive free treatment is only possible with huge losses and no other bee keepers in 3 4 milles area and takes 7 to 9 years to sort out bees usually with any mites queens should be killed or hive destroyed in prevention to not mess up good genetics

First again :)

This Africanize Breed of Bees,,we still have them thriving all over the Caribbean,,Very Defensive,,but they produce a lot of honey and wax,,😂🇱🇨👍🏼♥️