Course Description

This course teaches students how to produce and market bee products commercially. Based on the principles of honey bee ecology, the course begins with choosing and setting up each apiary. We will show how to manage and super hives for honey production, as well as how to remove supers for honey extraction. Videos of state-of-the-art honey plants illustrate the next steps in processing honey and wax by highlighting facilities that use automated extraction lines for high throughput of honey. Filmed demonstrations include making creamed honey, maximizing wax yield, and producing slumgum for value-added products. This course summarizes food product safety and personnel safety. Since honey is a food product, the class introduces the idea of implementing a Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) program. The HACCP ensures food safety by tracking and reporting all steps in producing honey to trace each batch back to its source. During the course, students will learn about record keeping, food and personnel safety, and other requirements in the food production industry. Students will learn how to classify and differentiate their bee products from others on the market, to improve their sales. This course teaches you how to maximize yields, ease production, and find profitable markets for your bees' products.

Beekeepers who wish to expand their operations to a large scale or commercial level should take this course. The content also helps small and backyard beekeepers looking to maximize honey yields.

The course is structured with weekly topics, discussion forums, assignments, and quizzes. There are deadlines to complete each weekly assessment. However, there are no scheduled class meeting times when all students need to be logged in and “attending” the course at the same time. Instead, students work on the course at whatever times best fit their schedule. Instructions for logging on to the online course will be sent to registrants about one week before the class begins. Participants must have access to an internet-connected computer and should allow for 7-10 hours per week of study time. The course is taught online through Moodle, the University of Montana’s online learning system. View the computer system requirements.

Upon successful completion of the course, 5.0 CEUs (Continuing Education Units) will be awarded and a certificate issued.

Prerequisites

• Successful completion of UM's Apprentice Level Beekeeping Course (or test out of the Apprentice course)

Required Course Materials

The Hive and the Honey Bee
Joe Graham, Editor, 2015 Revision
ISBN 978-0-915698-16-5 (Hardcover)
Available through Dadant.

Beekeeping in Western Canada
John Guszka, Editor. Information Services, Agriculture Canada in Ottawa, Ont.
ISBN 0-7732-6139-7 (pbl.: alk.Paper). The 1998 edition or newer is required.
Printed version available through Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development.
Free, electronic version available through Biodiversity Heritage Library. 

Honeybee Ecology: A Study of Adaptation in Social Life
Thomas A. Seeley
ISBN 0-691-08391-6
Available in Hardcover, Paperback, and Kindle format through Amazon or other retailers.