Cold-Climate Beekeeping and Winter Feeding Insights with Etienne Tardif (368) — Beekeeping Today Podcast

In this episode of Beekeeping Today Podcast, Jeff Ott and Becky Masterman welcome back cold-climate beekeeper and data-driven researcher Etienne Tardif, joining the conversation from Canada's far north. Etienne keeps bees in the Yukon—well above the 60th parallel—where winter temperatures routinely reach extremes few beekeepers ever experience.

The discussion begins with a listener question about queen genetics and whether mating across multiple bee lines can combine desirable traits like winter hardiness, rapid spring buildup, and large populations. Becky explores the realities of bee breeding, emphasizing selection over time, the value of diverse genetics within an apiary, and why no single "perfect bee" exists across all environments.

From there, the conversation turns to Etienne's recent observations on winter feeding—particularly how late-season fondant feeding can unexpectedly trigger brood rearing. Drawing on extensive sensor data, including temperature, humidity, and CO₂ levels inside his hives, Etienne explains how even small changes in feed availability can shift colony behavior, energy use, and risk during winter.

The episode dives deep into practical wintering strategies, including insulation, volume reduction, feeding timing, moisture management, and why mixing wintering methods can sometimes work against the bees. Etienne also explains how debris trays, hive sensors, and even basic microscopy can help beekeepers better understand what's happening inside the colony without opening hives in cold weather.

Whether you keep bees in Alaska, Minnesota, or milder climates, this episode offers a thoughtful, science-informed look at winter preparation, feeding decisions, and how understanding bee biology—rather than reacting to fear—leads to better overwintering success.

Websites from the episode and others we recommend:

Etienne's Website: https://www.northof60beekeeping.com
Etienne's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@etiennetardif/
Project Apis m. (PAm): https://www.projectapism.org
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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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

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