Texas A&M Extension Apiculture Program

10/08/2026

Earlier this year, we hosted a workshop on Honey Bee Breeding, Drone Quality, and Behavioral and Hygienic Selection in conjunction with the 2026 American Beekeeping Federation.

We were pleased to bring together several apiculture scientists and queen producers for an active and engaging discussion on these important topics. One of the key insights from the workshop has now been published in the October issue of the American Bee Journal. We encourage you to read the article, or contact us if you would like a copy.

We are excited to announce that we will be hosting another workshop at the 2027 American Beekeeping Federation Annual Convention in Galveston, Texas. We invite researchers, queen producers, beekeepers, and everyone interested in honey bee breeding and selection to join us!

We look forward to another productive discussion and to continuing to build collaboration between scientists and the beekeeping community. 🐝

Mississippi State University Extension Service, Apiculture Extension at Penn State, Texas A&M Extension Apiculture Program, UNCG Honey Bee LabAmerican Beekeeping FederationAmerican Bee Journal

10/07/2026

10/01/2026

:
🐝📸 We’re officially in the final month!
There’s still time to submit your photos to the Texas Beekeeping Photo Contest: Bee Smiled!
📅 Entries close October 31.
Don’t miss your chance to participate! 🐝📷

Have a great shot of honey bees or beekeeping in action? 🐝 📸

Enter it in the Texas Beekeeping Photo Contest. The contest is open to amateur photographers across the state, and selected images will help build a photo library for bee education and outreach. Top photos in each category will be recognized, with finalists competing for a People's Choice Award.

Submit by Oct. 31 at: tx.ag/BeekeepingPhotoContest

Texas Beekeepers Association | Texas A&M Entomology

09/30/2026

Second Steps in Beekeeping - coming up October 20, 22 & 27, 6-8pm. For more information or to register visit https://agriliferegister.tamu.edu/ereg/newreg.php?eventid=889782&language=eng

09/18/2026

https://agriliferegister.tamu.edu/ereg/newreg.php?eventid=891132&language=eng%20%20%20

There's still time to sign up for Beekeeping 101 in San Antonio!

Friday, Sept 25, 2026 9am-3pm at the Bexar County AgriLIfe Extension Office (1615 Sherman, San Antonio, TX 78202)
Field Day Options Saturday 9/26 (Boerne) or Monday 9/28 (San Antonio)

- or -
Online, at your own pace! Field Day Sunday 9/27 (Boerne) or Monday 9/28 (San Antonio)

09/01/2026

🍯🔬 Behind the scenes of Honey 101!

A huge thank you to Dr. Slater and our amazing AgriLife Apiculture lab team for working hard to process and analyze Honey 101 participant samples! Your dedication and attention to detail are helping make this program a success. 🐝💛

08/27/2026

🐝🧬 One field season, many samples—connecting colony performance and genetics.

This summer, our team had the opportunity to work with commercial honey bee colonies in North Dakota as part of a larger research project focused on genomic selection in honey bees.

Evaluating colonies under commercial beekeeping conditions and collecting samples are important steps in this research. Combined with other components of the project, this work will help us explore how honey bee genetics relate to colony performance and support efforts to select bees with desirable traits.

Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at our team in the field—working with bees, evaluating colonies, and collecting samples for the next steps of the project. 🐝🔬

08/25/2026

🍀🐝📸 Calling All Young Photographers!📸🐝🍀

Do you enjoy photography, honey bees, or beekeeping? Here’s your chance to put those interests together!

The Texas Beekeeping Photo Contest: Bee Smiled includes a special Youth Category for photographers 18 years of age and under, and we’d love to see Texas 4-H members participate!

Whether you keep bees, help with a family apiary, participate in beekeeping activities, or simply enjoy photographing honey bees and beekeeping, grab your camera or phone and show us Texas beekeeping through your lens! 🐝📷

🌟 Youth Category: 18 years and under
✅ No entry fee
📅 Submission Deadline: October 31, 2026, at 8:00 PM

👉 Register and view the complete contest rules:
https://agriliferegister.tamu.edu/ereg/newreg.php?eventid=887388&

📣 Please help us spread the word by sharing this post with 4-H members, families, clubs, leaders, and Extension agents across Texas!

We can’t wait to see what our young Texas photographers capture! 🍀🐝📸

08/20/2026

Beekeeping 101 San Antonio Fall Classes now open for registration!
Two options available:
In Person - Sept 25, 2026
- or -
Online, at your own pace

Both options offer a field day for hands on inside the hive. Please visit https://agriliferegister.tamu.edu/ereg/newreg.php?eventid=891132&language=eng
for more information and to register.

08/13/2026

Got Bees? Wondering "what's next?". Second Steps in Beekeeping is a virtual program covering the next steps in beekeeping:
winter prep, spring chores, mite management, recognizing queen health, and honey extraction and sensory and much more!

Join us October 22, 24 & 27 6-8pm. ALL sessions are recorded for later viewing.

Register here - https://agriliferegister.tamu.edu/ereg/newreg.php...